PRESS RELEASE
Starling launches Student Account, complete with interest-free overdraft, student perks, and chance to have tuition fees covered
12th August 2026
Starling first UK digital bank to launch bespoke student account
Offers new student-savvy spending tools and a £50 Amazon.co.uk Gift Card
Bank to cover tuition fees for three student customers this year, as Starling’s ‘student-flation’ index reveals cost of university living surges by 47% in ten years
12th August 2026: Starling Bank has launched a current account for university students - the first dedicated student account from a digital bank. The free account offers an interest-free overdraft, 4.00% AER bonus savings rate and a £50 Amazon.co.uk Gift Card.
The account includes an AI-powered assistant built specifically for students, and gives all cardholders a chance to win a year’s tuition fees on Starling. Starling’s student account launches as the bank’s research reveals student living costs have surged by 47% in ten years, greater than the rate of UK inflation (41%) and maintenance loan increases (32%) in that time.
“University should give you the keys to a good career and a good salary, but increasingly, the cost of studying is leaving students saddled with debt. We want to give students the opportunity to have their fees paid for, as well as perks and savvy spending tools that set them up with good money habits that they’ll lean on for life,” said Bernadette Smith, Chief Customer and Banking Officer at Starling Bank.
Applications are open from today, and will be available to all in the coming week. The application process is carried out entirely via the Starling app. Benefits of the account include:
| Feature | Overview |
|---|---|
| Interest-free overdraft* | Students can apply for a £500 interest free overdraft to use as a buffer for day-to-day expenses. |
| 4.00% AER savings boost** | Starling’s Easy Saver offers an introductory 4.00% AER (3.92% gross) variable interest to new customers, so they can put their maintenance loan aside to generate interest, enjoy unlimited penalty free withdrawals, and keep it separate from their day-to-day account balance. |
| £50 Amazon.co.uk Gift Card*** | Whether they’re kitting out their room or buying study supplies, all new student customers receive a £50 Amazon.co.uk Gift Card. |
| Tuition fee prize draw*** | All students who open an account before 31st October 2026 will be eligible to win a £10,000 lump sum payment, to cover the cost of one year of tuition fees. Three prizes of £10,000 are available. |
| Student AI mode | Starling’s AI assistant can help students better budget their maintenance loan and day to day expenses, before setting up relevant Spaces and transfers to keep them in budget. |
| Spending tools | All the regular features of Starling’s personal current account, which has been awarded Which? Recommended Provider status for seven years in a row. Students can split bills, request money, analyse their spending habits and more with a simple tap. |
Students can apply for a personal account on the Starling app in minutes, with the process 100% digital. Once a personal account is opened, they must verify their student credentials in the app, with student accounts subject to eligibility. International students with a registered UK address can also apply.
Ends
Notes to editors
*Students can apply for an overdraft once registered for an account. They must have at least two years of study remaining from 1st September 2026 in order to apply for an overdraft.
** Starling’s Easy Saver currently pays 4.00% AER (3.92% gross) to new customers, which consists of a standard 2.5% rate and an additional 1.5% bonus rate for new customers for 12 months. The rate is variable. Easy Saver customers can enjoy unlimited penalty-free withdrawals. The Easy Saver requires an additional application within the Starling app.
***Students who have opened an account and completed digital student verification are automatically eligible for a £50 Amazon.co.uk Gift Card. Restrictions apply, see www.amazon.co.uk/gc-legal
**** All successful student account applications will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win £10,000 towards their tuition fees. Account applications and student verification must be completed by 31st October 2026. The winners will be selected at random with £10,000 credited into their account. £10,000 covers the maximum annual fees charged to ‘Home’ students in the UK.
About Starling
Starling is an award-winning, fully-licensed and regulated bank with a mission to help customers be good with money by taking active control of their finances. It offers personal, business, joint and student current accounts alongside a children’s card.
Contact details:
Starling
Grace Wilson
VCCP Roar
Niamh Cherrett