Open a bank account online with Starling
At Starling, we do things a little differently. Open a bank account online using only your smartphone - it’s quick, straight-forward and easy.
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 your campus at the official address on the letter. We’ll need to be able to match the address for the student housing to the application address, and, if a flat or room number is needed, you’ll need to follow this format:
Line 1: Flat 1
Line 2: 12 Smithe Street
Line 3: Optional
Post Town: Glasgow
Postcode: G1 1AA
Our online bank accounts for individuals
Current account
Free to open, easy to manage – with instant notifications, spending insights and more.
Joint account
Spend, save and manage your money together, from the same app-based account.
Euro account
Hold, send and receive euros for free, and make transfers back into pounds 24/7.
Teen account
It’s designed for 16-17 year olds and can be opened with just a passport as ID.
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.
Start your application for a Starling bank account today
Our online bank accounts for businesses
Business account
Enjoy no monthly fees and clever features to help your business grow.
Sole trader account
It’s free to apply, easy to set up and you’ll benefit from 24/7 support.
Euro business account
Hold, send and receive euro payments, all for just £2 a month.*
USD business account
For £5 a month, you can hold, send and receive dollar payments.*
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.
*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.
Start your application for a Starling bank account today
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.
It’s easy to switch to Starling
Already have an account with another bank? No problem. We’ll take care of everything for you.
Apply for an award-winning bank account today and enjoy app-based banking at its best.
Start your applicationWhat happens after I’ve opened my 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, Garmin Pay and Fitbit 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.