Friday, 26 April 2024
Starling Bank receives UK banking licence
Starling Bank has received its UK banking licence with restrictions from the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority.
The new, digitally-native mobile bank, which will launch to customers by January 2017, is part of the next-generation of banks, disrupting the traditional banking model and streamlining the way consumers manage their money.
Whereas traditionally, customers have spread their finances over different accounts, loans and cards, Starling Bank will use data-led insights to give customers a clear picture of their entire financial situation, with the convenience of doing everything from one account.
The bank will also give customers insights about their spending habits, allowing a new level of control over spending and saving, as well as benefiting from the latest security features, card control technology and real-time notifications. Further features will be co-created with Starling Bank’s customer community in the coming months.
“We are delighted to have the confidence and support of the regulator, to move forward and introduce a new style of banking,” said Anne Boden, CEO, Starling Bank. “For the past year, our team has been focused on building our product and technology from the ground up. By 2020, the number of UK mobile banking users will double from 17.8 million to 32.6 million and our aim is to empower these people to better manage their finances with an incredible app, purpose-built for those who happily manage their lives on their phone.”
Starling Bank has also unveiled its new brand identity, launching its new website (www.starlingbank.com), and announcing that it will join Faster Payments, the UK’s 24/7 real-time payment service, later in the year.
“Starling Bank is on track to be the first next-generation bank to connect directly to the Faster Payments system. This will allow us to offer the best possible payments experience to our customers and partners,” continued Anne.
Craig Tillotson, Chief Executive of Faster Payments, said Starling Bank’s customers and partners would see the benefits of real time, 24/7 payments.
“Directly accessing Faster Payments is the only effective way for any bank to offer true real-time payments 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – we are delighted that Starling Bank have confirmed their intention to join using our new access model.”
Re-disseminated by The Asian Banker
