Starling bank

eskbanker

Lions_89 said:

I think a the first poster says, its really down to what you are after from your bank.

My point was that the first poster didn't say that, hence my attempt to tease out the basis of their comparison!

Emmia

Rob5342 said:

Emmia said:

maxmycardagain said:

eskbanker said:

Outperform in what way?

People will always have subjective opinions about what they like, but that doesn't necessarily make one objectively better than the other, or are you referring to, for example, measurable financial performance?

no, its actual app/online access/info performane

That's all quite subjective, I didn't like Starling or Monzo when I tried them and shut the accounts quickly. 

What didn't you like about them? I have accounts with both and find other banks archaic in comparison.

I just didn't like them - just as you find the coop archaic. I use Barclays and HSBC both apps are fine.

Accounts with Monzo and Starling were opened 4+(?) years ago so I can't remember what exactly it was about them / the app I didn't like. Wouldn't open accounts with them again though.

penners324

Emmia said:

Rob5342 said:

Emmia said:

maxmycardagain said:

eskbanker said:

Outperform in what way?

People will always have subjective opinions about what they like, but that doesn't necessarily make one objectively better than the other, or are you referring to, for example, measurable financial performance?

no, its actual app/online access/info performane

That's all quite subjective, I didn't like Starling or Monzo when I tried them and shut the accounts quickly. 

What didn't you like about them? I have accounts with both and find other banks archaic in comparison.

I just didn't like them - just as you find the coop archaic. I use Barclays and HSBC both apps are fine.

Accounts with Monzo and Starling were opened 4+(?) years ago so I can't remember what exactly it was about them / the app I didn't like. Wouldn't open accounts with them again though.

I've found all other banking apps pretty old fashioned and clunky compared to Starling and Monzo. 

400ixl

Starling built their own platform and it was built to be sellable to other digital banks globally, which they have now started to do.

It has very different capabilities to 4 years ago. People would have found it quite basic back then, although it was still more advanced than HSBC, Barclays etc.

Being a digitally native company they have not got to try to make things work with legacy offerings and in many cases legacy customers who expect things in a certain way which other demographics don't.

Hence, some like it some don't.

Rob5342

penners324 said:

Emmia said:

Rob5342 said:

Emmia said:

maxmycardagain said:

eskbanker said:

Outperform in what way?

People will always have subjective opinions about what they like, but that doesn't necessarily make one objectively better than the other, or are you referring to, for example, measurable financial performance?

no, its actual app/online access/info performane

That's all quite subjective, I didn't like Starling or Monzo when I tried them and shut the accounts quickly. 

What didn't you like about them? I have accounts with both and find other banks archaic in comparison.

I just didn't like them - just as you find the coop archaic. I use Barclays and HSBC both apps are fine.

Accounts with Monzo and Starling were opened 4+(?) years ago so I can't remember what exactly it was about them / the app I didn't like. Wouldn't open accounts with them again though.

I've found all other banking apps pretty old fashioned and clunky compared to Starling and Monzo. 

Same here. With Starling and Monzo the app is clearly a priority, the old fashioned banks seems seem to treat the app as an afterthought. Nationwide are the worst and don't seem at all interested in having an app that does anything remotely modern.

Emmia

penners324 said:

Emmia said:

Rob5342 said:

Emmia said:

maxmycardagain said:

eskbanker said:

Outperform in what way?

People will always have subjective opinions about what they like, but that doesn't necessarily make one objectively better than the other, or are you referring to, for example, measurable financial performance?

no, its actual app/online access/info performane

That's all quite subjective, I didn't like Starling or Monzo when I tried them and shut the accounts quickly. 

What didn't you like about them? I have accounts with both and find other banks archaic in comparison.

I just didn't like them - just as you find the coop archaic. I use Barclays and HSBC both apps are fine.

Accounts with Monzo and Starling were opened 4+(?) years ago so I can't remember what exactly it was about them / the app I didn't like. Wouldn't open accounts with them again though.

I've found all other banking apps pretty old fashioned and clunky compared to Starling and Monzo. 

This is only your opinion. 

The great thing is that we're able to choose who to bank with, on whatever criteria/basis we prefer, so you can use Monzo/Starling... And I can use HSBC/Barclays - everyone wins.

friolento

400ixl said:

Starling built their own platform and it was built to be sellable to other digital banks globally, which they have now started to do.

It has very different capabilities to 4 years ago. People would have found it quite basic back then, although it was still more advanced than HSBC, Barclays etc.

Being a digitally native company they have not got to try to make things work with legacy offerings and in many cases legacy customers who expect things in a certain way which other demographics don't.

Hence, some like it some don't.

What I like about Starling is that their fraud detection and checking seems much more advanced, and a lot less user-hostile, than some other banks I could mention (Santander, Halifax, HSBC, Monzo, Kroo). They still pull you up from time to time on a seemingly random basis but they will normally release your payment rather swiftly, and without having to spend a lot of time on the phone to them. I have to say, there is still room for improvement, even with Starling.

For sending money abroad, and receiving money from abroad, Starling and Wise are neck and neck, both with their pros and cons. I might give Zing a try and see how I get on with them. For actual spending abroad, it's still the Halifax Clarity for me as I dislike spending on debit cards.

Ponchos

maxmycardagain said:

Of all the bank accounts ive had (and thats quite a few) im finding Starling very good, how come a new comer can outperform the coop (which i have)?

I've been with Starling for 5-6 years now and I find the app really easy to use and the features offered very helpful. Whenever I've contacted support I have either been able to have a live text conversation with someone (a real person, not a bot) without having to wait ages, or when I've left a message they have replied to me quickly.

Several yeas ago I was travelling (the main reason I got the account was for the 0% fees on using the card overseas) and realised I had lost my card while in Bali. I got on the app immediately, turned off my card for use and contacted support. They cancelled the card and had a new one sent out to me. I contacted them on a Friday and I had a new card (sent to Indonesia) by the following Thursday, and it would have arrived even sooner if there wasn't a weekend involved. I had to pay for the replacement card but only because it was overseas, if I'd lost it in the UK it would have been free. What could have been a very difficult experience was made much easier. They are the only account I've kept while I've been doing bank switches lately (though I will be keeping First Direct as well once that's all sorted).

One small downside, I couldn't pay money into a savings account from Starling (the savings account wouldn't allow it, rather than Starling), but as many people have multiple accounts these days this wasn't a problem (I was with Nationwide at the time).

Overall, I'd highly recommend Startling Bank.

Nasqueron

We opened an account with them to use as a joint account for bills - I had previously been a member to use for switching but they had my details and I was able to quickly open a new account then once we had both got solo ones, could easily activate a joint account (you have a solo and joint on the app) - paying interest on the account is good also

pridehappy

I've never really experienced the Cooperative Bank, but I'm about to!

I've had Starling Bank for a short while now, and if I'm being honest, not to the best start. The payments link didn't work as expected from opening, and there's no mention of eligibility criteria on the website. After a quick complaint they seemed to agree and compensated alongside promising to change the website (which they still haven't).

When using them, it seems a little weird to me. I feel a little more free, but they don't offer a lot of services which most people need and plenty of alternative products so I couldn't imagine using them as a main or even secondary account. 

I keep the account mainly because of virtual cards and online subscriptions, but I wouldn't say they are the best or worst either.