Guide to sending large payments with Starling Business UK, including transfer limits

If you run a business, you’re bound to have invoices to pay and purchases to make - and this can involve moving large sums of money. Choosing the right business account for these high-value payments can make a real difference to transfer speed, costs and security.

Starling Business is a UK-based digital bank offering app-first business accounts designed to simplify everyday banking.

In this guide, we’ll look at how large payments work with Starling Business UK, including supported payment methods, processing times, fees and security considerations.

We’ll also look at instances when Starling might not be suitable and why some companies use a specialist provider like Wise Business alongside their main business bank account.

💡 Learn more about Wise Business

Can you use Starling Business UK for large transfers?

Yes, Starling Business UK can be used for large GBP transfers within the UK banking system. Starling provides access to the main UK payment rails, making it suitable for routine and higher-value domestic transactions.

While Starling does also support international payments, its core strength remains in UK-based banking. Therefore, businesses that regularly send large sums of money overseas or manage multiple currencies may find its international capabilities are more limited compared to a specialist provider.

See how to open a Starling Business Account here..

How Starling Business handles large payments

Starling Business supports various payment types, each suited to different scenarios.

Faster Payments

Faster Payments are used for most UK business transfers. Payments are typically processed quickly (often within seconds) and it can also be used for higher-value transfers within the UK up to a value of £1 million.¹

Many businesses find that Faster Payments covers the majority of their payment needs, including supplier payments and invoice settlements.

CHAPS

For very large and time-critical payments, Starling Business uses CHAPS. This is the UK’s same-day high-value payment system and is often used for transactions associated with property completions, large supplier payments or internal corporate transfers where timing is critical.²

Because CHAPS payments are processed during UK banking hours and are generally irreversible once settled, careful planning and verification is essential.

International payments

Starling Business facilitates international payments in selected currencies to 34 countries,³ which usually take place via the SWIFT network. This means businesses are able to send money overseas, but international transfers may take longer to arrive and can involve intermediary banks.

💡 Read more about: UK Business Bank Account Fees

Is Starling Business UK safe for large payments?

Starling Bank is a fully licensed UK bank and is authorised and regulated, making it safe for large payments. Eligible deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).⁴

To further protect high-value payments, Starling Business has a range of security measures in place. This includes:

• Secure app-based authentication
• Payment confirmation and approval checks
• Monitoring for unusual or suspicious account activity
• The ability to manage user access and permissions

Businesses should still follow best practice when sending large payments. This includes double-checking beneficiary details, setting up payees in advance and using internal approval processes where possible.

As mentioned above, these steps are particularly important for CHAPS payments which are difficult to reverse once completed.

How to make Starling Business UK large transfers

Large payments with Starling Business can be made entirely online through the Starling mobile app or desktop interface. The general process involves:

1. Logging in to your Starling Business account
2. Selecting the option to make a payment
3. Entering the beneficiary’s details
4. Choosing the payment amount
5. Reviewing and confirming the transaction

For GBP payments, Starling automatically chooses and routes the payment using the most appropriate method based on the value and urgency of the transfer.

How long do Starling Business UK large payments take?

The Starling Business UK large transfer time depends on the payment method used. Let’s take a look:

Payment type	Typical processing time
Starling to Starling (GBP)	Instant or up to two hours⁵
UK Faster Payments	Instant or up to two hours⁵
UK CHAPS	Same working day if submitted before the cut-off of 3pm ⁶
International payments	Up to 3 working days via SWIFT priority delivery, local networks can take longer⁷

Businesses should note that because CHAPS payments are processed during UK banking hours, time-sensitive transfers should be planned beforehand to avoid missing the cut-off time.

What are the Starling Business UK transfer limits?

Transfer limits depend on individual accounts and businesses. Occasionally, Starling may request additional information before approving a transfer.

Businesses should note that there is a transaction limit of £1 million for Faster Payments.¹ Therefore, if you need to send a payment over this amount, you’ll need to create multiple transactions.

What are the fees for Starling Business UK large payments?

Starling Business positions itself as a low-fee digital bank. A standard business account can be opened for free with a Euro business account and Dollar business account costing just £2 and £5 per month, respectively.⁸

That being said, there may be Starling Business UK large transfer fees for international and urgent transfers. This is why it’s important to check your account details before sending any money.

Payment type	Typical fees⁹
UK Faster Payments	Usually free
UK CHAPS	£20
International payments	Fees and FX charges may apply

Top tips for managing large payments with Starling Business

When initiating a large transaction, a little preparation can help to reduce any risk and avoid delays.

1. Plan ahead: When it comes to time-critical payments (especially for CHAPS), submitting payments early in the day increases the chances of a same-day settlement.

2. Add payees in advance: Setting up and verifying new beneficiaries ahead of time can help to reduce last-minute stress and issues.

3. Use internal controls: If your business has multiple team members, consider approval workflows to reduce errors or fraud.

4. Keep records: Maintaining clear payment records helps with reconciliation and accounting.

These steps can be particularly beneficial when dealing with high-value payments that are difficult to reverse.

When Starling Business UK might not be suitable

While Starling Business can be a good option for UK companies, it’s important to understand where it may fall short. This typically occurs in cases where businesses need to:

• Send large international payments frequently
• Hold and manage multiple foreign currencies
• Know predictable pricing for high-value overseas transfers
• Access advanced international treasury features

If any of these relate to your own business set-up, it may be that you need to use Starling alongside a specialist international payment provider for greater flexibility.

💡 Compare: Starling's sole trader vs Business account

Starling Business UK alternative: use Wise Business for large and international transfers

Starling Business is well-suited to organisations that value reliability and structured payment processes. However, for those that prioritise ease and cost transparency for international payments, its traditional banking model might feel restrictive. That’s why so many choose to pair Starling with a specialist provider like Wise Business.

In fact, Wise is designed specifically for cross-border payments and offers:

• No monthly fees
• International payments at the mid-market rate
• Multiple currency management all in one place
• Integrations with popular accounting software

Not just that but Wise Business also has a dedicated secure service for sending large payments. Transfer limits depend on what currency is being sent, here's a few of the most popular:

• GBP - £20 million GBP per transfer
• EUR - €20 million EUR per transfer
• USD - $20 million USD when paying from your USD account, $1.6 million per SWIFT transfer.

It’s also worth knowing that Wise offers discounts for sending large amounts over £20,000 (or the currency equivalent). The more you send, the more you save.

💸 On a £50k transfer, you could save up to £1,000 with Wise vs your bank 💸

See High Amount Transfer Comparison 2026 for more info.

What’s more, you can sign up for a Wise Business account online in minutes.

Register with Wise Business🚀

*Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QuickPay QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.

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Sources used:

1. Starling - Payment services
2. Starling - CHAPS
3. Starling - Sending money abroad
4. Starling - About
5. Starling - Payment timeline
6. Starling - CHAPS timeline
7. Starling - International transfers
8. Starling - Business fees
9. Starling - Transfer fees

Sources last checked on date: 26-Jan-2026