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Starling Bank for Travel

This new fintech bank with FSCS protection and token interest on the account looks like it could be useful for travelers, its card giving the MasterCard rate without fees for overseas purchases and ATM withdrawals.

I signed up and verified myself with their Android app on Friday when they sent me a code to do so - I must have put myself on their list sometime last year. There's likely to be a waiting list for those who do this now. All looks good so far, the card is due to arrive on Tuesday, I'll probably give it a spin next month...

https://www.starlingbank.com/
Evolution, not revolution

Comments

  • firefox1956
    firefox1956 Posts: 1,548 Forumite
    Sounds too good to be true ??
    I wonder just how they are going to make money out of this
    operation??
  • benjus
    benjus Posts: 5,433 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    Metro Bank managed to make it work for a few years at least, although they eventually reduced the benefit to being free in Europe only.

    But they have physical premises in expensive locations to pay for...
    Let's settle this like gentlemen: armed with heavy sticks
    On a rotating plate, with spikes like Flash Gordon
    And you're Peter Duncan; I gave you fair warning
  • A_T
    A_T Posts: 975 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    Similar to Monzo who are also zero % for non-sterling transactions and foreign ATM cash withdrawals.


    Both have the benefit of being able to freeze use of the card by way of the mobile app.
  • eDicky
    eDicky Posts: 6,835 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 17 May 2017 at 4:04AM
    A_T wrote: »
    Similar to Monzo who are also zero % for non-sterling transactions and foreign ATM cash withdrawals.
    The difference being that Starling is already a proper bank account with FSCS protection and various facilities. It's not yet known whether fee-free overseas use will continue when Monzo offer this. Meanwhile Monzo is just a prepaid card, and has relatively severe ATM withdrawal limits.
    Evolution, not revolution
  • dipsy
    dipsy Posts: 3,137 Forumite
    has anyone got the card yet and is it really too good to be true?
    2007 £1749
    2008 £291.99
    2009 JanMasscara £7.00 Feb megcabot books x 2 £20 XFactor tkts x 2 £58.00 (couldn't go though as they only phoned on day :-( ) foundation £7.99
    total so far for 09 £92.99
  • eDicky
    eDicky Posts: 6,835 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 1 June 2017 at 8:56PM
    dipsy wrote: »
    has anyone got the card yet and is it really too good to be true?
    My card has been working fine so far in the Netherlands, including contactless. A transaction appears immediately on the app, merchant name and time stamp, local currency amount and approximate GBP amount, updated next day or so at the relevant MasterCard rate and final GBP amount. First month's interest paid. East Asia next...
    Evolution, not revolution
  • bagand96
    bagand96 Posts: 6,721 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    MSE has caught up and is now recommending this card as the top travel Debit Card. I've also seen (i imagine targeted) advertising on Facebook by Starling Bank, mentioning they've been recommended by MSE.

    Be interesting to see how it unfolds. I wonder of thousands of people sign up just to use it a couple of times a year for holidays whether they'll change it....
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