Responsible banking, the Starling way
Responsible banking, the Starling way
Policy, partnerships and using tech for good. We’re on a mission to make value-led banking the industry standard.
Climate change won’t wait
So neither will we. As a branchless, largely paperless bank with debit cards made of 95% recycled plastic – and as a founding member of Tech Zero – we’re greener by design. But our sustainability mission doesn’t stop there.
Woman-founded. And it shows.
Our founder Anne is the only woman in British history to start a bank. In the traditionally male industries of finance and tech, women make up 45% of our leadership team, and we’re signed to the Women in Finance charter to improve that every year.
Partnerships with purpose
National Trust
Providing people with better access to nature, and investing in sustainability projects. Successfully refer a friend to Starling and earn a two-person National Trust day pass!
Trillion Trees
We funded the planting of 100,000 trees through our three-year partnership with TT. We planted a tree every time someone referred a friend.
Kew Gardens
We supported the summer programme at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, helping to look after our parks and gardens, and fight pollution.
Instavolt
Between July 2021 and January 2023, we helped Instavolt – the electric car charging network – accelerate their ambitions in green transport.
Tech Zero
We’re a founding member of TechZero: a climate action group for UK tech companies committed to fighting the climate crisis.
Women in Tech
Encouraging more women to apply for roles at Starling – particularly in engineering.
UEFA Women’s Euro 2022
The now iconic summer of 2022 was #OurTime to change the game, and champion women’s football. We’re still supporting women’s football today.
SportsAid
Supporting five young women football players with grants to support their professional development!
Southampton FC Women
We’re championing the team as their official principal partner, and shirt sponsor. Southampton is home to one of our UK offices.
Smart Works
Supporting an award-winning charity giving unemployed women the tools and confidence they need to get a job and secure financial independence.
Action for Children
Supporting Action for Children as they make sure more children in the UK have a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.
Seat at the table
Sponsoring the climate activist YouTube documentary series.
No hidden fees
We prefer not to charge fees – and mostly don’t. But if we do, we make it clear how much you’ll pay and what it’s for, upfront, so you’ve got all the information to make the right decision for you.
No banking jargon
Selling customers products they don’t need? Not really our thing. Plus we make sure the language we use is clear, transparent and inclusive, so you’re never confused, left out or in the dark.
#MakingMoneyEqual
Innovation, meet action. Our first #MakeMoneyEqual mission showed how women and men are spoken to differently about money – and advocated for change. Then we campaigned to get better representation of women in financial imagery. Now we’re taking on the gender play gap in kids!
Using tech for good
Great technology: great responsibility. We’re committed to sharing what we build equally across society, and minimising our social, economic and environmental impact.
Fighting fraud
Innovating and educating to fight fraud and money laundering, to protect you (and help you protect yourself).
Data privacy
Maintaining best-in-class practices to protect your data and personal information – always.
Bias-free banking
Monitoring our algorithms, technology and language to check we’re free from bias and inclusive to all.
Supportive products
Money management features, gambling blocks and supporting vulnerable customers (meet our Connected card).
How we invest
We never invest in businesses that are harmful to individuals, groups or society in general (for example, arms manufacturers, tobacco companies or the fossil fuel industry).
Taking care of the team
We’re a Living Wage employer, and we’re embracing flexible working, because it works best for our people. We work hard to make sure Starling’s a fair, open and safe working environment with compassion and inclusion at its core.
Diversity isn’t a box to tick
A different kind of bank needs different kinds of people to build it. That’s how you build something that makes money work for everyone.
We’re a signatory of the If Not Now, When? campaign for Black inclusion, and run an employee-led Diversity & Inclusion forum that works across LGBTQ+, race and ethnicity, mental health and disability.
We’re also a Disability Confident employer, and a member of Neurodiversity in Business, to improve Starling for neurodivergent Starlings and provide better access to neurodivergent talent.
Looking after vulnerable customers
Inclusive banking means looking after everyone. We ask people with disabilities what they’d like us to build, and run accessibility audits to make sure our app, cards and customer service are accessible for all types of people.
Plus small things can make a big difference. We’ll add notes to an account – with permission – so that our vulnerable customers don’t have to repeatedly explain themselves. And offer kind, patient support when it comes to lending and collections.
Modern slavery
We have a zero-tolerance stance towards slavery and trafficking, and protect human rights by constantly creating and improving our systems and controls.
Our modern slavery statement
Tax policy
Our tax affairs will always line up with the law in the UK or any other country.
Charity policy
We support charities and non-profit organisations, and we’re transparent about our donations. Our team receives 16 hours of paid voluntary leave each year.