Anyone tried Starling Bank?

rainbowskies

Really impressed!

First of all, when I signed up - the app said there would be a two week wait to get my code. However, there are so many people giving out their friend codes via social media. You can use any one of these to sign up right away instead of waiting. I got my code off someone on Twitter.

The actual sign up process too less than five minutes! Got my sort code and account number right away and was informed that my debit card would be dispatched in the next two days. So far, so good!

TheTracker

lessavyfav wrote: »

I have both Monzo and Starling - I admit I barely use Monzo anymore simply because the current account suits my needs more and Starling got in there first. But I do love the pink Monzo card!

Starling did get there first, but Monzo are now rolling out current accounts. I have one myself!

But not much difference with Starling, to be sure, I use both.

d123

TheTracker wrote: »

Starling did get there first, but Monzo are now rolling out current accounts. I have one myself!

But not much difference with Starling, to be sure, I use both.

I thought Monzo was quite a bit weaker, can you have the app on more than one device now? Can you get .pdf and paper statements? Does Monzo now support ApplePay? Does Monzo have a cash deposit facility now?

SouthLondonUser

How does the Starling app work in terms of security?

The app for the Monzo prepaid debit card does not require any login/security, but that's OK because it's not a bank account and you cannot use it to wire money to other accounts.

Most banking apps (eg HSBC and First Direct) require a number of passwords and codes to login and be able to operate the account.

Hoe does Starling do it? Can you see push notifications of your debit card expenses without logging in, but then you need to login to wire money out?

SnowTiger

SouthLondonUser wrote: »

How does the Starling app work in terms of security?

The app for the Monzo prepaid debit card does not require any login/security, but that's OK because it's not a bank account and you cannot use it to wire money to other accounts.

Most banking apps (eg HSBC and First Direct) require a number of passwords and codes to login and be able to operate the account.

Many bank apps, such as Barclays, Natwest, B, Cooperative and Nationwide require a PIN to access their app. Barclays PIN is five digits, most of the others are six.

Halifax and Lloyds request three characters from a passcode.

Starling Bank requires a 4 digit PIN to access their app. To access your account someone would need physical access to your phone and have to know you're PIN. And, if you keep your phone locked, they would also have to unlock it.

Once inside the app, the most damaging thing someone could do is transfer money to an account already in your payee list. To add a new payee they would also have to know your Starling Bank password.

SouthLondonUser wrote: »

Hoe does Starling do it? Can you see push notifications of your debit card expenses without logging in, but then you need to login to wire money out?

Starling Bank offers push notifications of debit card purchases.

SouthLondonUser

Thank you.
Just to be clear, you can read push notifications without entering all these passwords, right?

SnowTiger

SouthLondonUser wrote: »

Thank you.
Just to be clear, you can read push notifications without entering all these passwords, right?

On Android phones they appear as notifications in the usual way in the pull down list.

Presumably it's similar on iThings.

d123

SouthLondonUser wrote: »

Thank you.
Just to be clear, you can read push notifications without entering all these passwords, right?

Yes, the iOS App also allows the fingerprint reader to be used for access, Android is only via a code, but both have push notifications that pop up just like system notifications without needing code input.

SouthLondonUser

Monzo shows where you have used the card, eg it doesn't just say "Tesco", but it shows the address on google maps. Does Starling do the same?
Does location data come from the phone (eg the phone tracks where you were at the time of the transaction) or from the card? Would location data appear even if the phone was off while you made the transaction?

Does Starling offer any kind of "proof of wire transfer"? Let me explain: AFAIK all UK banks would show in a statement that I made a payment of £x to such and such on a given date; none would show exactly what account (sort code and cct #) I paid the money to. Does Starling? I ask because I once got in a dispute with the freeholder about this.

Finally, does Starling charge you for sending paper statements in the post? Have you used them as proof of address? Have they been accepted?

walesrob

SouthLondonUser wrote: »

Monzo shows where you have used the card, eg it doesn't just say "Tesco", but it shows the address on google maps. Does Starling do the same?
Does location data come from the phone (eg the phone tracks where you were at the time of the transaction) or from the card? Would location data appear even if the phone was off while you made the transaction?

I used my Starling Card in Morrisons this morning and the app showed an map of the store as a 'background' picture to the transaction details. Used the card again a little later in B & M, and this time, there was no map.