Starling Bank launches online portal due to “customer demand”
UK challenger bank Starling has launched an online banking portal for its personal and joint bank account customers.
“Many customers told us they wanted to do their banking online,” says Starling CEO Anne Boden
According to the bank, the new service has been developed in response to customer demand. It offers account balance updates, spending insights, standing order controls, and savings goals.
Starling Bank is positioning the release as part of a range of new developments “built in response to customer needs during the coronavirus pandemic”.
These include the bank’s Business Toolkit, Connected Card, and cheque imaging services.
“Many customers told us they wanted to do their banking online as well as on their smartphones,” says Anne Boden, Starling Bank CEO and founder.
“By making accounts accessible on laptops and desktops, we’re giving them even more flexibility to bank the way that best suits them.
“As we’re all spending more time at home than usual, it’s important that our customers can manage their money from anywhere they wish at any time.”
The challenger has also announced a partnership with Trillion Trees, a joint venture initiative for forest protection. Starling promises to plant a tree every time a customer refers a friend.
The bank teased followers on social media over the partnership, announcing that it would be revealing its “first branch”.
In September Starling Bank announced several new charges to its card and services.
In an email to customers, Starling says it will begin charging users £5 for replacement cards. The challenger is also levying a £20 charge on users who want to send large payments via CHAPS. Customers can still send payments through Faster Payments for free.
Related: Ex-Starling CTO’s start-up Ziglu launches crypto P2P payments
