How to open a Starling current account

In 3 minutes

Opening a bank account can take weeks. At Starling, we’ve decided to do things a little differently — our account set up is quick, straightforward and transparent.

As long as you’re over 18 years old and a tax resident in the UK only, you’ll be able to apply for your bank account online via your mobile phone (no branch visits here) and in most cases, get an instant decision.

What do you need to open a bank account?

  • Blue tick in green circle A smartphone (and signal)
  • Blue tick in green circle Valid photo ID such as a UK passport or driving licence
  • Blue tick in green circle About 3 minutes of your time

Apply and open an account in minutes

  1. Onboarding download app

    Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

  2. Onboarding enter phone number

    Get started by entering your phone number followed by the verification code we’ll send you.

  3. Onboarding enter personal details

    Create an account by telling us who you are; your name, date of birth, email address and current home address.

  4. Onboarding ID scan

    Verify who you are by recording a short video and taking a photo of your ID.

We'll carry out some quick checks at a UK Credit Reference Agency, and if you’re approved, start making the most of all the features in your current account to help you manage your money and enjoy simple banking.

What’s next?

Once you’re all set up, order your new contactless Mastercard debit card from within the app and it should arrive in 2-3 business days. For iOS users that want to start spending straight away, you can set up in your Apple Pay wallet before your physical card arrives in the post. Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Fitbit Pay can be setup once your card has arrived.

We also know that sometimes you need a little short term financial help so we’ve created a flexible overdraft. If you’re eligible, this will be available to you as soon as your identity documents have been verified and your account has been opened.

Ready to make the switch? You can painlessly do so with our Current Account Switch Service in-app, which comes with a Current Account Switch Guarantee. No need for any paperwork or bank branch visits. Further details in our FAQs.

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The small print

When you apply for a current account with us, we’ll carry out some quick checks at a UK Credit Reference Agency. The initial checks leave a soft footprint on your credit file, and the overdraft check leaves a hard credit check footprint. If we need additional proof of address information we’ll get in touch via the app.

Apple Pay and Touch ID are trademarks of Apple Inc.
Android™, Google Pay and Google Play are trademarks of Google LLC.

Onboarding card management