# Starling Bank

10 Hacker News commenters recommended Starling Bank and 9 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended as a well-run UK neobank with no problems for some users; critics report account lockouts and app-security cut-offs.

## Why people recommend it

- Reliable bank with no issues (3 comments): "I don't think I've ever had an issue with Starling, it's great" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50165236)) "the neobanks are arguably some of the best in the world" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49934300)) "my actually good bank (Starling)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48260460))

## What people warn about

- Cut off by app security checks (3 comments): "I was cut off by Starling for something similar and had to choose between a factory reset of my phone and my bank." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46431608)) "Starling has gone out of their way twice to exempt GrapheneOS from their checks, but only after users complained" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46431943)) "I had rooted the phone and it gave me 90 days to reset with no extension at the end." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46437472))
- Lockouts and enforced app use (3 comments): "I switched bank in the UK due to enforced app use, from Starling to Nationwide." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47048820)) "Starling left me without any access to any of my bank accounts at the time" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49467496)) "It's a hard requirement to access the account." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47062849))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Mercury Bank](https://hackerapproved.com/p/mercury.md): 44 recommend
- [Revolut](https://hackerapproved.com/p/revolut.md): 43 recommend
- [Monzo](https://hackerapproved.com/p/monzo.md): 19 recommend
- [N26](https://hackerapproved.com/p/n26.md): 8 recommend

## Where to get it

- [Visit the official site](https://www.starlingbank.com/)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Starling Bank", https://hackerapproved.com/p/starling-bank/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).