Starling Bank Fees UK 2026 — What Does Starling Charge?

This guide is part of the Starling Bank hub, covering Starling’s account features, fees, limits, and reviews.

Starling Bank’s personal current account is free of monthly fees and charges very little for day-to-day use. Here is a complete breakdown of what Starling does and does not charge in 2026.

Starling Fees — Full Summary

Fees correct as of May 2026. Verify at starlingbank.com before making decisions.

Monthly Account Fee

The Starling personal current account has no monthly fee. There is no minimum deposit, no minimum balance, and no charge for having the account open with little activity. Starling generates revenue through interchange (the fee charged to merchants on card transactions) and through its business banking and lending products.

Starling Business accounts cost £7/month — reasonable for a business current account compared to many high-street alternatives. For a full assessment of whether Starling Business is worth it, see the Starling Business account review.

UK ATM Fees

Starling charges nothing for ATM withdrawals in the UK. There is no daily limit beyond the balance in your account (or arranged overdraft, if applicable), though individual ATMs typically dispense a maximum of £300–£500 per transaction. The Starling ATM withdrawal limit guide covers the full daily and contactless limits.

Overseas ATM Fees

This is where Starling stands out among UK app banks. Starling charges £0 on all overseas ATM withdrawals, worldwide, with no monthly limit. There is no fair-use policy, no EEA/non-EEA distinction, and no cap above which charges kick in.

For frequent travellers or people visiting cash-intensive destinations, Starling’s ATM policy is the strongest available on a free account. For a broader comparison of travel-friendly card options, see Best Travel Money Cards UK.

Foreign Transaction Fee

Starling charges 0% on all foreign currency card payments. The exchange rate applied is the Mastercard network rate — very close to the mid-market rate — with no additional margin added by Starling. This applies to all purchases in foreign currencies, whether made in person abroad or from a foreign online merchant.

Bank Transfer Fees

Faster Payments transfers (UK bank-to-bank, instant, available 24/7) are free to send and receive. There is no per-transfer fee and no monthly limit on the number of transfers.

CHAPS (same-day guaranteed large transfers) are not offered by Starling. For urgent large transfers — for example, a property purchase completion — use Faster Payments on the same working day, which is typically sufficient.

International transfers: Starling offers international payments in the app using the real exchange rate, with a small transparent conversion fee built into the rate shown before you confirm. The total cost is displayed before you send.

Cash Deposits — Free

Starling allows free cash deposits at Post Office branches — a genuine advantage over Monzo, which charges £1 or 3% per deposit. You can deposit up to £10,000 per day, and funds clear immediately.

This is particularly useful for sole traders, market traders, or anyone handling cash regularly. See Starling cash deposit guide for step-by-step instructions including which Post Office locations accept Starling deposits.

Overdraft Rate

Starling offers arranged overdrafts to eligible customers at a flat 15% EAR — significantly lower than most UK app banks and well below the 35–40% EAR common on high-street arranged overdrafts.

No arrangement fee. No monthly overdraft charge. Interest is calculated daily and charged monthly. Eligibility for an overdraft is assessed when you apply — it is not automatically available to all account holders.

Starling Spaces

Starling Spaces are savings pots within your account — free to create and use, with no cap on the number of Spaces. You can set saving goals, schedule automatic transfers, and earn interest in certain Space types. There is no fee to set up, use, or close Spaces.

Card Replacement

Card replacement is free on Starling personal accounts — both standard delivery (3–5 working days) and for lost/stolen cards. This contrasts with Monzo (£5 for a replacement card on the free plan).

What Starling Does Not Charge For

• Opening an account
• Monthly maintenance
• UK ATM withdrawals
• Overseas ATM withdrawals (any country, no cap)
• Foreign currency card transactions
• UK bank transfers (Faster Payments)
• Receiving transfers
• Setting up or using Starling Spaces
• Direct Debits and standing orders
• Cash deposits at Post Office
• Card replacement

Summary

Starling’s fee structure is one of the most straightforward among UK banks:

• No monthly fee on the personal account
• No ATM fees anywhere in the world — no cap, no fair-use limit
• No foreign transaction fees on card spending
• No transfer fees for UK Faster Payments
• Free cash deposits at the Post Office
• 15% EAR overdraft — the lowest rate among major UK app banks
• Free card replacement

For the full Starling account overview including features, pros and cons, and how it compares to Monzo and Chase, see the Starling Bank review 2026.