You can deposit cash into Starling Bank at Post Office branches, free of charge. The limit is £5,000 per transaction and £25,000 per rolling 6 months — making Starling by far the most cash-friendly of the major UK app banks.
Compare that to Monzo, which charges £1 per deposit and caps deposits at £1,000 per 6 months. Chase UK and Revolut do not accept cash deposits at all. This page is part of the Starling Bank UK complete guide, which covers all Starling features, limits, and account types.
Starling Cash Deposit — Key Facts
| Detail | Amount |
|---|---|
| Where to deposit | Post Office branches |
| Fee | £0 (Starling charges nothing) |
| Maximum per transaction | £5,000 |
| Maximum per 6 months | £25,000 |
| How long it takes | Up to 2 hours (often instant) |
| Minimum deposit | £1 |
How to Deposit Cash into Starling
Step 1: Find a Post Office Use the Post Office branch finder or search Google Maps for “Post Office near me”. Not all Post Office counters are open the same hours — many are inside WHSmith or convenience stores with limited opening times.
Step 2: Go to the counter Take your Starling debit card and the cash you want to deposit. You do not need anything else.
Step 3: Request a cash deposit Tell the cashier you want to make a cash deposit to your bank account. Hand over your card and cash. The cashier processes it through the Post Office banking system.
Step 4: Money arrives The deposit typically appears in your Starling account within a couple of hours. You receive a push notification when it arrives. In some cases it is instant; in others it arrives at end of day.
The £5,000 Per Transaction Limit
The £5,000 per transaction cap means you can deposit up to £5,000 in a single Post Office visit. If you need to deposit more, you would need to make separate transactions — subject to the £25,000 per 6-month rolling cap.
Practical example: A market trader who takes £3,500 in cash over a busy weekend can deposit the full amount in one Post Office visit with no fee. The same trader could do this multiple times per month without hitting limits.
Starling vs Other Banks — Cash Deposit Comparison
| Bank | Where to deposit | Fee | Per transaction | Per 6 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starling | Post Office | £0 | £5,000 | £25,000 |
| Monzo | PayPoint / Post Office | £1 (PayPoint) | £300 | £1,000 |
| Chase UK | Not supported | — | — | — |
| Revolut | Not supported | — | — | — |
| Barclays | Branch + Post Office | Free | Varies | Varies |
| NatWest | Branch + Post Office | Free | Varies | Varies |
Starling’s cash deposit offering is genuinely competitive — even compared to some high-street banks. The £25,000 per 6-month limit covers the needs of most sole traders and regular cash users.
Is Starling Good for Cash-Heavy Businesses?
For sole traders who regularly receive cash — tradespeople, market stall operators, tutors, childminders — Starling Business is a strong option:
- Free deposits at the Post Office
- £5,000/day limit covers most trading situations
- Starling Spaces let you ring-fence cash — for example, moving 20% to a Tax Space immediately on deposit
- Xero and FreeAgent integrations mean cash income is captured automatically
See the Starling Business Account Review for a full breakdown of the business account features and how it compares to competitors like Monzo Business and Tide.
For businesses handling very large volumes of cash (tens of thousands per month), a traditional bank with branch access (Barclays, NatWest, Lloyds) remains more practical — they typically have higher or uncapped business cash deposit limits.
Tips for Cash Deposits with Starling
- Check Post Office opening times before you go — they vary, especially for those inside shops
- Note the 6-month rolling limit — £25,000 across 6 months averages £4,166/month
- Use Spaces to allocate cash for tax as soon as it’s deposited
- Keep receipts from the Post Office — your evidence if a deposit is delayed or disputed