Personal Finance Bank accounts

How to close a Starling account

Zorica Lončar

08.07.22 (updated more than 1 year ago)

Read time 2 minutes

Have a Starling Bank account but no longer use it? Or perhaps you’re considering switching banks? Whichever is the case, we’re here to help.

Read on for all the info you need on how to close a Starling account. We’ll cover the quickest and easier way to do it, and things to consider before you get started.

And if you’re looking for a new way to manage your money after moving on from Starling, check out Wise. Later in this guide, we’ll show you how the Wise multi-currency account could save you a bundle - especially on international payments and travel spending.

But first, let’s get that Starling Bank account closed down for you.

How to close an account with Starling Bank - your options

The fastest and most convenient way to close an account with Starling Bank is online. In fact, you should be able to do it in just a few taps in the app.

Here’s what you need to do to close a Starling personal account¹:

Login to your account on the Starling app
Click on your account icon
Drag down the menu
Click on the three dots next to the account you’d like to close.
Select ‘Close Account’ and follow the steps.

An important thing to remember is that once your Starling account is closed, you won’t be able to open a new one for at least 12 months¹. So, only go ahead if you’re absolutely sure you want to close the account.

Contacting Starling customer services

If you have any questions or need help with closing your account, you can also call Starling customer services. The number to call is 0800 0234 617 (or +44 20 7930 4450 from outside the UK). This is available 24/7².

How to close a Starling Business account

If you have a Starling Business account rather than a personal one, the process of closing it is slightly different.

You’ll need to contact the Customer Service team, which you can do by calling or using the app. In the app, head to the ‘Help’ section and send a message to kickstart the process³.

Before you do, it’s a good idea to cancel any payment instructions and Direct Debits. And you’ll need to transfer your remaining balance to another account.

Once your account is closed, you’ll receive an email with an encrypted link to download the transaction history for your records³.

Is there any charge to close a Starling Bank account?

There are no account closure charges included on Starling’s list of fees, for either personal or business accounts.

Business account holders will just need to check that they’ve cancelled any subscriptions³. For example, the business Toolkit or a Business Euro Account. Otherwise, there’s the risk of racking up further charges while your account closure request is being processed by Starling.

Things to consider before closing your Starling account

Before you can close your Starling account, you’ll just need to quickly check the following:

That you’ve withdrawn all of your remaining balance or transferred it to another account.
That there are no transactions or charges pending - if so, you’ll need to cancel them or wait for them to be processed.
That you’ve opted in to receiving your transaction history (if you want it) - you can do this when closing your account in the app or by contacting customer services⁴.

Wise - a money-saving alternative to banks

A bank account is handy to have, but it isn’t the only solution out there for managing your money. And when it comes to international payments, a traditional bank is certainly not the cheapest or most convenient option.

So if you send or receive overseas payments, or have an overseas trip planned, check out Wise.

Open a Wise multi-currency account online and you’ll be able to make fast, secure international transfers for low fees and the mid-market exchange rate. You can manage 40+ currencies at once and receive money from abroad for free.

What’s more, you can spend like a local on your holidays or business trips using the Wise international debit card. This clever contactless card can be used in 160+ countries, and automatically converts currency at the best rate whenever you spend.

Join Wise today

Sources used for this article:

Starling Bank - close my account
Starling Bank - contact number
Starling Bank - close my business account
Starling Bank - transaction history

Sources checked on 08-Jul-2022.

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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