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We only list companies that are trustworthy and appropriately licensed. Our aim is to give you a comprehensive view of the regulated money transfer marketplace.
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MoneyTransfers aims to help users find the best money transfer provider for their needs. To support our free service, we may earn a commission from some of the providers listed in our search results. The commission may also impact the ordering of the providers shown. Our reviews are independent from this and are based on our editorial policy, research and testing of dozens of remittance providers on the market.
On this page
Starling Bank is based in London and offers access to multiple banking products.
These include joint bank accounts, multi-currency accounts, and under-16 accounts (protected by FSCS)
Here, I'll go over Starling Banks's fees, rates, transfer options, features, and how it compares to other money transfer apps.
Due to its business model - the bank functions solely as a digital entity - the company’s overheads are substantially lower than traditional brick-and-mortar banks such as HSBC and Barclays.
This means Starling is in a better position to offer better deals on financial services including no ATM or transaction fees overseas and no monthly fees.
Further advantages of banking with Starling include quick and easy onboarding for new customers, 24/7 customer support, digital spending reports, and instant payment notifications.
RATING BREAKDOWN
Scoring Starling Bank
Using our scoring system, we’ve looked at how Starling Bank stacks up against other neobanks in terms of speed, limits, exchange rates, and fees. Here's how it looks in summary.
Pros
Multi-currency functionality: although standard Starling Bank accounts are held in GBP, customers have the option to hold money in Euros and to send and receive this currency with no fee
Slick and easy to use: the app has a near-perfect rating on both the App Store and Google Play Store
Transparent fee structure: two type of flat-fee rates applied to international transfers, with all costs displayed clearly throughout the payment process
Cons
No physical bank branches: a potential deal-breaker for customers who prefer in-person services
Accessible via smartphone only: another deal-breaker for any infrequent smartphone users or those reliant on browser-based internet banking
Limited global reach: international transfers can only be converted from GBP to 20 currencies and 38 countries
We've also looked at the online user reviews for Starling Bank to see how users are rating international transfers.
Average online reviews for Starling Bank international transfers. 0s represent no reviews for the given period.
COST
Starling Bank exchange rate and international transfer fees
If you're making a small or one-off transfer abroad, and you already have Starling account, then it makes sense to use it.
But I would personally not open a new acc. just to send money abroad, since money transfer apps like Revolut or Monzo are generally cheaper for this.
We've manually collected and analysed Starling Bank's exchange rates and fees for international transfers:
GBP
Currency pair
They get (after fees)
Transfer fee
Markup
Transfer time
No results, please ensure you have currencies selected
Starling exchange rates
As one of the best online banks in the UK, Starling is keen to appeal to customers of long-standing financial institutions who are looking elsewhere for more competitive international banking services.
One way to entice these customers is by offering highly desirable, bank-beating exchange rates.
According to their website, the most common international remittances are Euro, US Dollar, South African Rand, Polish Zloty, and Thai Baht transfers.
To better understand the bank’s rate of exchange, we utilized Starling’s Foreign Exchange Rates function to research each of these top international transfers.
We discovered the bank’s profit margins range from as low as 0.003% to 0.13%.
Here's how users rate Starling Bank online for its exchange rates.
Average online reviews for Starling Bank rates. 0s represent no reviews for the given period.
International transfer fees
Starling Bank applies a flat fee to each international transfer and these fees are determined by the type of payment chosen.
There are two options to choose from:
Low-Cost Payment
For customers prioritizing price over speed, this option cannot be recalled or canceled, transfer fees for this service cost 0.4% of the total amount (minimum £0.30 per transfer)
SWIFT Payment
This type of transfer is sent via the SWIFT network which makes it far easier to track the status of these payments.
Transfers sent using this option will be deposited directly in the recipient’s bank and costs the sender the same 0.4% in transfer fees, but with an additional delivery fee of £5.50.
Additional costs
In addition to the 0.4% transfer fee, local network fees apply to the following countries:
Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Estonia
Eurozone
Finland
France
Germany
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
United States
Here's how users rate Starling Bank's transfer fees.
Average online reviews for Starling Bank fees. 0s represent no reviews for the given period.
Here's how users rate Starling Bank online for its transfer speed.
Average online reviews for Starling Bank transfer speed. 0s represent no reviews for the given period.
LIMITS
Transfer limits
5.0
Transfer Limits
Starling Bank transfer limits
1
9.8
2
9.5
3
9.5
4
9.0
5
8.0
Starling Bank has a daily limit of £10,000 on both Personal and Business Starling Bank accounts.
Here's how users rate Starling Bank online for its transfer limits.
Average online reviews for Starling Bank transfer limits. 0s represent no reviews for the given period.
PRODUCT
Product offering
5.0
Product Offering
Product offering
1
9.3
2
9.0
3
8.8
4
8.0
5
8.0
Here's how users rate Starling Bank online for its features.
Average online reviews for Starling Bank features. 0s represent no reviews for the given period.
USABILITY
Ease of use
7.0
Ease of Use
Starling ease of use
1
10.0
2
9.0
3
9.0
4
9.0
5
9.0
Starling Bank accounts are entirely managed via the mobile app which can be downloaded for free on iOS and Android.
The application has been awarded 4.8/5 stars by Google Play Store customers and 4.9/5 by App Store: these high scores are higher than many competitors in the financial services sector.
Here's how users rate Starling Bank for its ease of use.
Average online reviews for Starling Bank ease of use. 0s represent no reviews for the given period.
Starling Bank customer support
Designed to function solely as a smartphone application, there is no browser-based interface or physical branch locations, which may be problematic for anyone who prefers in-person or desktop banking.
However, the following customer services are available:
24/7 in-app live chat: also available through the website
Phone: UK-based emergency helpline for lost or stolen cards: 0207 930 4450
FAQ Help Centre: with transparent and detailed information categorized for Personal, Business, and Joint Account holders
Social media channels: Starling Bank is active on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Flipboard
And here's how users rated Starling Bank for its customer support over the past year.
Average online reviews for Starling Bank customer support. 0s represent no reviews for the given period.
SAFETY
Safety and trust
9.0
Safety & Trust
Starling security & trust
1
9.5
2
9.2
3
9.0
4
9.0
5
9.0
Here's how users rate Starling Bank online for its safety features.
Average online reviews for Starling Bank safety. 0s represent no reviews for the given period.
REVIEWS
Customer feedback
8.0
Customer Feedback
User feedback
1
9.0
2
8.7
3
8.5
4
8.5
5
8.4
ANALYSIS OF USER REVIEWS
The reviews for Starling Bank are overwhelmingly positive, with users frequently praising the ease of use and efficiency of the banking service.
Customers love the straightforward setup and management of accounts, particularly highlighting the utility of both personal and business banking.
Users seem to enjoy the bank for its great customer support, seamless money transfers, and the effective use of the Starling card.
However, some users reported issues with customer service responsiveness and occasional technical glitches.
Here's how users see Starling Bank based on online reviews.
Jan 24
Feb 24
Mar 24
Apr 24
May 24
Jun 24
Jul 24
Customer Support
1
1
1
2
1
0
0
Ease of Use
4
5
4
4
3
3
0
Exchange Rates
5
5
5
5
5
4
0
Features
0
5
0
5
0
0
0
Fees
1
0
5
0
0
0
0
International Transfers
5
4
4
5
5
5
0
Limit
0
0
0
0
0
5
5
Safety
4
3
4
4
4
5
5
Speed
0
0
0
4
3
4
0
*0s represent no reviews for the given month.
SIGN UP
How to sign up with Starling Bank
Customers will need a government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, passport, or UK residence card as well as proof of address, such as a utility bill, council tax letter, or a statement from another UK bank.
Opening a multi-currency account
Customers looking to open a Starling account in EUR must first apply for a UK current account.
Once your account has been approved you will be able to add a Euro account through the app.
Opening an account
Registering for a Starling Bank account is easy and the entire process can be completed online by following these 5 steps:
Download Starling Bank app
Download the Starling Bank app by clicking Get the App on the company’s website. Once downloaded you will need to select I’m New to Starling to begin the sign-up process.
Pick an account
You will be able to choose from a Personal or Business account and, after selecting from these options, you will be asked to enter a mobile number.
Once you have entered your phone number, you will receive a 6-digit verification code via SMS and be asked to set up further security authentication in the form of a passcode and fingerprint ID.
Enter your details
Next, you will need to enter your details such as full name, home address (you will need to confirm whether you have resided at this address for more than 6 months) date of birth, and email address.
Once you have completed this section, the Starling app will verify your identity by checking it against a government-issued photo ID and selfie video.
At this point, you will be asked to upload a copy of your photo ID before following the video guidelines using your smartphone camera.
Complete income questionnaire
After verifying your identity, Starling will ask a few questions regarding your total income and where your income comes from.
When you have entered this information you will be asked to review the bank’s terms and conditions, rates, fees, as well as the privacy notice.
If you are happy with the terms outlined in this section, click Submit Application.
Wait for the verification
On average Starling Bank takes 3 - 5 working days to verify your information and approve your application for a Personal or Business account.
Once you receive approval via email you will be able to make an international money transfer.
Transferring money
Navigate to Payments
Open the Starling Bank app and click on the Payments tab: on this page, you will see the Send Money button.
Once you click this there will be two options: Nearby Payments and Foreign Exchange Rates.
You will need to select the latter option to initiate an international bank transfer.
Enter the amount
On the Foreign Exchange Rates page, the total amount You Send in GBP will be displayed, followed by the amount They Receive in the chosen currency.
Underneath this information, the exchange rate and transfer fees will be presented, alongside the Available Delivery Options.
Enter the amount you wish to send in the You Send - GBP section, and this amount will be converted in the They Receive section.
Choose payment method
Select from SWIFT Payment or Low-Cost Payment and select Pay New at the bottom of the page.
This will bring you to the New Payee page where you will be asked for the full name, address, and bank details (including SWIFT/BIC and IBAN/Account number) of your recipient.
Once these details have been entered, click Next and Starling Bank will confirm the recipient’s bank account information which you can choose to Save for future use.
Confirm the details
Enter the amount you wish to transfer from funds available from your bank account balance along with a payment reference, the date you want to send the money, the frequency (one-off payment or every day/week/month), and the Reason for Payment.
Once you have completed each section and are happy with the transfer details, tap Pay.
Send away
After the payment has been submitted you will be able to view the transfer details by tapping the Home tab.
Delivery speed will be determined by the destination country and currency, as outlined in the above section.
International transfer requirements & details
To make an international transfer with Starling Bank, you will need the following details:
Full bank details of your recipient: you’ll need their name, address, and IBAN or SWIFT code.
To make a wire transfer abroad: you’ll need to have an account with Starling Bank and their app.
Starling Bank details for international transfers
Name
Details
Bank name
Starling Bank Limited
SWIFT code for GBP transfers
SRLGGB2L
SWIFT code for EUR transfers
SRLGGB3L
Sort Code
60-83-71
Address for international transfer
5th Floor, London Fruit and Wool Exchange, 1 Duval Square, London, E1 6PW, United Kingdom
If you're looking for a company specifically to receive money, I'd suggest reading our guide to receiving money from abroad where I go into more detail about the best apps for it.
ALTERNATIVES
Starling Bank alternatives
Starling is one of the more popular banking apps in the EEA and the UK (along with Monzo and Revolut).
They offer a range of features, transparent and low fees, and are easy to use.
However, if you're looking for frequent international transfers, large international transfers, or business banking, we'd suggest the following alternatives.
Fees & Rates
9.4
Transfer Speed
9.0
Safety & Trust
9.2
Product Offering
8.8
Transfer Limits
9.5
Ease of Use
10.0
Customer Feedback
8.5
9.2Overall
Fees & Rates
9.0
Transfer Speed
7.0
Safety & Trust
9.5
Product Offering
9.3
Transfer Limits
9.5
Ease of Use
9.0
Customer Feedback
8.5
8.8Overall
Fees & Rates
8.8
Transfer Speed
8.8
Safety & Trust
8.6
Product Offering
8.2
Transfer Limits
8.5
Ease of Use
8.2
Customer Feedback
8.5
8.5Overall
SUMMARY
Starling Bank - More than just another account
It is safe to say Starling Bank exceeds expectations laid out by its banking predecessors, and it is certainly an excellent bank account for anyone who frequently travels.
The secondary Euro account is likely to prove helpful for an array of customers such as international students, expats, or anyone making regular international transfers.
Starling Bank goes above and beyond to provide affordable and accessible international banking services and this extends to the exchange rates and transfer fees they offer.
FAQs
A bit more about Starling Bank
Can I use starling bank for international bank transfers?
Yes, customers can use the app to set up international bank transfers to 38 countries, choosing from a range of 20 different currencies.
It is worth noting that although multi-currency accounts are available, Starling international bank transfers must originate in Pound Sterling (GBP).
Can I open a Starling Bank account in any country?
Customers with a UK home address will be able to open a Starling Bank account.
During the sign-up process, customers will be asked to provide a UK phone number and proof of address.
This being said, customers do not have to be a UK tax resident, and phone numbers from the following countries can also be used when registering for an account:
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Belgium
Bulgaria
Canada
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Germany
Gibraltar
Great Britain
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
USA
Can I use a Starling Bank debit card when travelling abroad?
Yes, the Starling Bank debit card is designed for overseas use and can be used in nearly 200 countries. Most banks charge excessive foreign ATM or transaction fees but customers can enjoy fee-free payments when outside the UK: although some ATMs may charge their own provider fee.
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