Seeding Success: Starling launches customer tree planting refer-a-friend scheme

2nd October: Starling, the UK’s leading digital bank, has launched a new environmental initiative to plant one tree for every successful new personal and business customer referral.

In partnership with Trillion Trees, a joint venture between BirdLife International, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), this new scheme gives Starling customers the chance to refer as many people as they like. Trillion Trees was founded in 2017 to ensure one trillion trees are re-grown and saved from loss and better protected by 2050, a mission that from today, Starling customers can be a part of.

Anne Boden, CEO and Founder of Starling Bank said: “We know that many of our customers care deeply about the environment. Our partnership with Trillion Trees will enable us to make a permanent positive change to the planet which aligns perfectly with our desire to grow sustainably.”

John Lotspeich, Executive Director of Trillion Trees said “Forests are critical in combatting climate change, as habitats for countless species and for the wellbeing of millions of people. Starling’s new scheme will play an important role in our global efforts to restore forests around the world.”

To refer someone using the new scheme, Starling personal and business customers can access their personal referral link in the Starling app and share this with friends and family. Following someone successfully joining the bank, Starling will donate to Trillion Trees who will plant one tree, moving everyone closer to the goal of growing or saving as many trees as possible.

To get the green ball rolling, Starling will be making a one-off donation to Trillion Trees for 2,014 trees to be planted. The digital bank has chosen this number to mark when the Starling journey began.