+£25
17 mins
Starling Bank
£25 Free Cash•17 mins
£25 Free Cash
+£25What is Starling Bank?
Starling Bank is a UK digital bank offering a free personal current account, debit card, and mobile banking app. Founded in 2014, Starling was one of the first app-only banks in the UK and now has over 5 million customers.
Launched
2014
Customers
5m+
Google Play
4.8 (137k)
★★★★★★
Key Terms
Profit
+£25
Credit checkSoft check
Free cash£25
Free cash arrives7 days
Step by Step Guide
Chris's overview
Optional·1 min read
Starling is offering £25 free cash when you open an account using a referral code and make any purchase within 30 days. There is no minimum spend, so even a 10p contactless payment counts.
This is one of the simplest bank offers available. Download the app, enter the referral code during sign-up, complete verification, and make any card payment. Your £25 is paid into a Starling Space within 7 days, and you can move it to your main balance and withdraw it straight away.
1
Sign up to Starling Bank
10 mins
- Copy the referral code shown above and download the Starling Bank app.
- During sign-up, enter the referral code when prompted.
- Complete your identity verification to open your account.
On desktop? Scan QR code on your phone
2
Make a payment
5 mins
- Transfer any amount (e.g. £1 or £5) or make any payment from your new Starling account within 30 days.
- Any card purchase counts, including contactless, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
- No minimum spend. Even a 10p purchase qualifies.
3
Receive £25 free cash+7d
2 mins
- Your free cash will be added to a Starling Space in your app within 7 days.
- Move it to your main balance and withdraw whenever you like.
Offer Complete
Done? Tick off each step above to see your total.
Starling Bank Full Review
Completed the offer? Awesome! Here's our full review on why Starling Bank could work well for you going forward.
Starling Bank gives you a free current account, debit card, and mobile banking app with no monthly fees. Real-time spending notifications, fee-free card use abroad, and Spaces for organising your money make it a practical everyday banking app. Founded in 2014, Starling now serves over 5 million customers. The bank holds a full UK banking licence and is authorised by the FCA, with deposits protected up to £120,000 by the FSCS.
Is Starling Bank safe?
Starling Bank holds a full UK banking licence and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Your deposits are protected up to £120,000 per person by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Starling has been operational since 2014 and now serves over 5 million customers across the UK.
Who is Starling Bank for?
Starling is a good fit for anyone who wants a fee-free current account with a strong mobile app. It handles everyday banking well, with real-time notifications, budgeting through Spaces, and no fees for spending abroad.
It works as either a primary or secondary account. If you already bank elsewhere, Starling makes a solid spending account for everyday purchases, particularly when travelling.
Top Features
1
Fee-free spending abroad
Use your Starling card anywhere in the world with no foreign transaction fees on purchases.
2
Real-time notifications
Get instant alerts for every transaction, so you always know what is leaving your account.
3
Spaces for saving
Organise your money into separate pots for different goals. Set up round-ups to save automatically.
4
Instant bank transfers
Send and receive Faster Payments instantly through the app, including to other Starling users.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- ✓No monthly fees on the current account
- ✓Fee-free spending and ATM withdrawals abroad
- ✓Highly rated app (4.9 on App Store, 4.8 on Google Play)
- ✓FSCS protected up to £120,000
- ✓Spaces feature for organising savings
Cons
- ✗App-only banking with no branches
Chris's Verdict
Starling is a well-designed current account app that handles everyday banking without unnecessary fees. Fee-free spending abroad and Spaces make it genuinely useful as both a primary and secondary account.
With 5 million customers and consistently high app store ratings, it is one of the more established app-only banks. If you want a straightforward current account that does the basics well, Starling delivers.
