Opening second Starling account for switching 19 December 2022 at 11:22AM in Budgeting & bank accounts 18 replies 1.1K views

PlatinumChaos

Sorry if I'm asking what's already been asked, but has anybody opened a second Starling personal account for the purposes of obtaining a switching bonus from another bank (in my case, First Direct)? Am I right in thinking that only the second (newly opened) account would be closed when switching? (I really like Starling and want to keep my current personal account with them.) Do I need to set up any direct debits that have to be switched to First Direct? Is there anything else I need to watch out for? Thanks very much for any advice and/or suggestions.

Katiehound

When you fill in the form you specify exactly which account is going to be switched  ie a/c number & sort code. You also need your debit card to hand because you have to record some of the digits on it.
 If you don't have a debit card that's fine, however if you are awaiting one in the post you'll need to wait.

you need to read the t&cs of First Direct.

I have cut & pasted below- but it doesn't seem that you need any DDs or SOs

How to get the £20 bonus: 

Open an account and use mobile or online banking within three months. The £20 is then paid within the first four months.

 

How to get the £175 bonus:
Open a 1st Account and within three months switch another account into it, plus pay in £1,000+. (You must switch in a non-First Direct account; it can be an HSBC account, but only if it was opened before January 2019.) The £175 is then paid within 28 days. You can request the switch online or by phone.

 

Band7

I don't think you can get a second Starling current account. Try Monzo or Metro if you need a burner account.

gizmo111

Band7 said:

I don't think you can get a second Starling current account. Try Monzo or Metro if you need a burner account.

You can have 2 accounts - i opened a 2nd last week

k_man

Band7 said:

I don't think you can get a second Starling current account. Try Monzo or Metro if you need a burner account.

A second Starling account is possible, and has been for a few weeks at least (set mine up a while ago):

https://help.starlingbank.com/personal/topics/setting-up-an-account/how-many-additional-personal-gbp-accounts-can-i-have/

How many additional personal GBP accounts can I have?

You can have one additional personal GBP current account giving you a total of two accounts in GBP held at Starling.

Band7

I stand corrected. Need to go out more!

flaneurs_lobster

This must be Starling reacting to the number of people who only have an account for as long as it takes to switch it elsewhere.

Clever, I think a fair few people will keep a Starling account open since it's a decent operator (and the card is a nice colour). 

EarthBoy

Don't waste your time opening a second Starling account if you only want it for switching. The help section in the Starting app, and on their website, says that switching in, or out, with the Current Account Switch Service is not available on the second current account:

https://help.starlingbank.com/personal/topics/setting-up-an-account/who-can-get-an-additional-personal-current-account/

Who can get an additional personal current account?

Additional GBP accounts are available to personal customers. Find out how to open an additional GBP account here. Please note, there are some features available on your first main GBP account which are not available:

• Personal overdrafts
• In-credit interest
• Switching in or out (CASS)

flaneurs_lobster

That implies (but does not state) that you can't switch from the "first main current account"  and retain the additional account?

Does is state elsewhere that closing the "main" account will close the secondary?

EarthBoy

flaneurs_lobster said:

That implies (but does not state) that you can't switch from the "first main current account"  and retain the additional account?

Does is state elsewhere that closing the "main" account will close the secondary?

It doesn't state that explicitly, as far as I an see, but I agree that it implies as much.  The second account doesn't have its own debit card, -instead you just have one card and you can change which account it's linked to in the app.  Also you can close the second account at any time, and if you later decide to open a second account again, they will just reopen the old one with the same account number.  Whereas if you close the main account it's closed for good, and if you later open a new one (if they let you) it will have a new account number.

PlatinumChaos

Thanks very much for all the advice! Looks like my best bet will be to open a dummy account with Metro or Monzo. Has anyone used either of these for the purpose of switching? Any advice here?