How to open a Starling current account

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 16 or over, and a 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 personal current account?

A smartphone (and signal)
Valid photo ID such as a UK passport or driving licence
About 5 minutes of your time.

What do you need to open a business bank account?

A smartphone (and signal)
Valid photo ID such as a UK passport or driving licence
To be self employed or owner of a limited company
About 10 minutes of your time.

What do you need to open a joint bank account?

Both of you need to be Starling personal current account holders
Be physically near the person you want to open the account with.

How to apply and open a personal or business account in minutes

Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Get started by entering your phone number followed by the verification code we’ll send you.
Create an account by telling us who you are; your name, date of birth, email address and current home address.
Verify who you are by recording a short selfie 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 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.

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, Garmin 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 in the personal current account. 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.

current account switch guarantee

Screenshot of Starling app card management screen

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.

The Financial Conduct Authority requires us to share service information about opening an account with us. Read it here.