Starling Bank savings rates — compare every account, plus switch offers and guides

Who they are

Starling Bank was founded as a digital challenger bank by Anne Boden in January 2014. Boden is the first female founder of a UK bank - a notable milestone in what remains a male-dominated industry. The company received its banking licence from the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority in July 2016, and launched its personal current accounts in early 2017.

By mid-2026 it served approximately 3.5 million personal and business customers, and May 2026 saw the announcement of a fifth consecutive year of profitability: pre-tax profit of £217.1 million on revenues of £887.4 million for the financial year ending March 2026. For a digital bank that launched less than a decade ago, that is a meaningful track record. Starling does not have physical branches, but has partnered with the Post Office to offer cash deposit services in branches and other designated locations across the UK. There are no monthly account fees, and Starling does not charge extra for spending abroad, using Mastercard's exchange rate for foreign card payments and ATM withdrawals.

One thing worth knowing: in October 2024 the FCA fined Starling £28.9 million for financial crime control failings, including inadequate sanctions screening and accounts opened for high-risk customers without proper checks. Starling cooperated with the investigation and put remediation programmes in place. It is a mark against the bank's history, even if the underlying account remains fully operational and protected.

Savings accounts

Starling offers three savings products, and all three carry FSCS protection up to £120,000 - higher than the standard £85,000 limit, which is worth noting if you hold a larger balance.

The Easy Saver is the most flexible option. It pays 4.00% AER variable and is open from just £1, with instant access whenever you need it. That 4.00% includes a 1.50% bonus rate on top of a 2.50% base, so once the 12-month boost expires, the rate drops back. Bear that in mind if you are planning to leave money here long term.

If you want to shelter savings from tax, the Flexible Cash ISA pays 2.50% AER variable with no minimum beyond £1 and unlimited withdrawals. A flexible ISA means you can take money out and replace it within the same tax year without eating into your annual £20,000 ISA allowance - a genuinely useful feature that not every cash ISA offers.

For savers who can lock money away, the 1-Year Fixed Saver pays 3.70% AER fixed for 12 months. You need at least £2,000 to open it and cannot access the money until maturity. In return, the rate is locked in regardless of what happens to the Bank of England base rate in the meantime.

Switching to Starling

Starling currently has a switch offer running on its Personal Current Account, though it is an unusual one. Rather than cash, new customers receive a SURI Pro 2.0 electric toothbrush and UV clean-and-charge case - with an RRP of £105. The offer is open to UK residents aged 18 and over who open a new Starling Personal Current Account between 10 August and 11 October 2026, and complete a full Current Account Switch Service (CASS) transfer from another bank within 30 days of opening. There is no minimum deposit, no direct debit requirement and no spending criteria - just a completed switch.

A full CASS switch means your old account closes, so do not use an account you want to keep as the donor. Once your switch completes, Starling emails a voucher code to redeem on SURI's website. The account itself carries no monthly fee.

Is it right for you?

Starling consistently rates among the highest of any UK bank on the app stores: 4.9 out of 5 on iOS and 4.5 out of 5 on Google Play. Praise centres on the app experience, instant notifications, and zero-fee travel. Complaints mainly cover payment delays in edge cases and the removal of current account interest in early 2025.

Starling suits people who want a clean, fee-free current account with solid savings options built in - particularly if you travel regularly or want to deposit cash via the Post Office. The Easy Saver bonus rate makes it competitive right now, but do check when your boost period ends. If you have already used your FSCS allowance elsewhere, the £120,000 protection limit here gives a little extra headroom too.

The switch offer is worth a look if a quality electric toothbrush was already on your list - or if you have exhausted eligibility for cash bonuses elsewhere. If you would rather have money in your pocket, some rivals are paying more in straight cash for switching.

As always, the live rates and full offer details shown on this page are the most up-to-date figures - specific numbers change, so check them before you apply.