Open a bank account online with Starling

Meet your new bank account. From personal to business, start your money MOT with powerful money management features and insights into your spending.

Starling app and video id

Having the right documents to hand will help speed up your application.

When you apply for a current account with us, we’ll need proof of identity and proof of your address. As an international student, we accept letters from your university that confirm your term time address.

Your university letter must be from a recognised university, and you must be living at the address on the letter. We’ll need to be able to match your student housing address to the address in your application. If you’re living in a flat, or room number is needed, you’ll need to follow this format:

Line 1: Flat or Room 1
Line 2: 12 Smithe Street
Line 3: Optional
Post Town: Glasgow
Postcode: G1 1AA

We can also accept a tenancy agreement, as long as it is from a solicitor, housing association, local council or letting agency. We can’t accept a private agreement between you and the landlord.

Your tenancy must have already started, and last for a minimum of six months. So for example if today is the 24th August, we wouldn’t be able to accept a tenancy agreement that starts any date after the 24th August.

Our online bank accounts for individuals

Current account

Free to open and easy to manage, with instant notifications, spending insights and no monthly fees. Find out more about the current account.

Joint account

Spend, save and manage your money together, from the same app-based account. Apply online in minutes. Find out more about the joint account.

Euro account

Hold, send and receive euros for free, and make transfers back into pounds 24/7. Find out more about the euro account.

Teen account

It’s designed for 16-17 year olds and can be opened with just a passport as ID. Find out more about the teen account.

To open a joint account, both parties need to have a Starling current account.
To open a euro account, you first need to open a current account. We’re not accepting applications for euro or US dollar accounts at the moment, but they’ll be available to apply for again soon.

Apply for a bank account online in minutes

Apply now

Our online bank accounts for businesses

Business account

Enjoy no monthly fees and clever features to help your business grow. Find out more about the business account.

Sole trader account

It’s free to apply, easy to set up and you’ll benefit from 24/7 support. Find out more about the sole trader account.

Euro business account

Hold, send and receive euro payments, all for just £2 a month.* Find out more about the euro business account.

USD business account

For £5 a month, you can hold, send and receive dollar payments.* Find out more about the USD business account.

To open a euro business account, you first need to have a business or sole trader account.
To open a USD business account, you first need to have a business account.
We’re not accepting applications for euro or US dollar accounts at the moment, but they’ll be available to apply for again soon.

*Multi-currency business accounts are subject to eligibility criteria and will only be visible in the app to businesses that are eligible. Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm if you will be eligible until you have opened a business account.

Apply for a Starling bank account online today

Apply now

What do I need to apply for a bank account online?

  • A smartphone (and signal)
  • A valid photo ID (passport or driving licence)
  • About 5-10 minutes of your time

To apply for a business account, please read the full eligibility requirements.

Apply now

It’s easy to switch to Starling

Already have an account with another bank? No problem. Use the Current Account Switch Service and switch your bank account to Starling. Seamlessly move existing payees, direct debits and standing orders.

We’ll take care of everything for you, within seven working days.

Switch your current account.
Switch your business account.

Apply online for an award-winning bank account today and enjoy app-based banking at its best.

Start your application

What happens after I’ve opened my bank account online?

Read our article explaining bank accounts.

Once your account has been opened, you can order your new contactless Mastercard debit card from within the app and it should arrive in 5-7 working days.

If you want to start spending straight away, you can set up your card in your Apple Pay wallet or Google Pay before your physical card arrives in the post. Samsung Pay and Garmin Pay can be set up once your card has arrived.

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, Apple, Apple Wallet and Touch ID are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. Android™, Google Pay and Google Play are trademarks of Google LLC.

Business and sole trader accounts are subject to eligibility checks, which include looking at credit data and understanding the nature of your business.

To open a business account, submitting documents which confirm the nature of your business at hand will help support your application. Examples could be a trade registration or bank statement which shows your business activity. Then it’s over to our team to approve your details and open your account. Read the full eligibility requirements.

The Financial Conduct Authority requires us to share service information about opening an account with us:

Personal current account service information.
Business account service information.

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