What are Starling Spaces?

Starling Spaces are a way to save money for whatever is important to you, whether that's a holiday, a new laptop or even a new wardrobe. They are designed to help you ring-fence your money for different goals and save up for them at your own pace. You can round up transactions that count towards a specific goal. However, you won't earn any interest on this cash.

What should I do if my debit card is lost or stolen?

If you still have access to the app, you can lock your card so that it can't be used by anyone else. If you find your card again, simply unlock the card and use it as usual. If not, you can cancel your old card and order a new one in the app.

What happens if I lose my phone?

If you lose your phone, contact the customer service team on 0207 930 4450 and Starling will disable the app from your device – you'll still be able to use your app on an iPad or tablet.

Will I be charged for using my debit card abroad?

No. Starling will not charge you a fee for spending or withdrawing cash on your card overseas. However, bear in mind that some ATM providers will charge a fee, so always check first.

Starling teen account review

Our verdict

Looking to set your teenager up with a bank account? Find out what the Starling teen account has to offer.

Finder Awards 2025 winner

Customer Satisfaction Award

The Starling teen account has a lot going for it and could be a great option if you want to encourage your teenager to get better at managing their own money. Managed by an app, it's easy to use and allows teens to easily keep track of what they're spending. What's more, thanks to its Savings Spaces feature, your teen can also learn more about saving up for what they want.

Although there is no option to go into a bank branch to carry out transactions, account holders can still withdraw cash and make payments at any Post Office branch.

If this account is not for you, you can check out our guide to best bank accounts for teens for more information.

Pros

Account is free to open and operate
App is packed with features to help young people better manage their money
24/7 customer support

Cons

Account can only be operated via the app
Your teen will need to have a mobile phone
Only available to 16- and 17-year-olds

Details

Product overview

Account name	Current Account - Age 16-17
Provider	Starling Bank
Account fee	£0
Interest (AER)	0% AER
ATM withdrawal limit	£300
Debit network	Mastercard
Card type	Cash / Debit
Minimum eligibility age	16 Years
Minimum operating balance	£0.01
Minimum opening balance	£0
Direct debits
Current account switch guarantee
Cheque Book

Fees

Currency conversion withdrawal for overseas cash withdrawal in Europe (EEA)	£0
Currency conversion withdrawal for overseas cash withdrawal in non-Europe (EEA)	£0
Foreign cash transaction fee in Europe	£0
Foreign cash transaction fee in rest of world	£0

Overdraft information

Arranged overdraft available

Digital-only Starling’s teen account is designed with young people in mind. Managed via mobile phone, the account can be applied for in a matter of minutes and offers a range of nifty features and spending tools to help your teenager keep track of their spending.

What is the Starling teen account?

The Starling teen account is an app-based bank account for 16- and 17-year-olds. It comes with a Mastercard debit card, but it also allows account holders to use Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay if they forget to bring their bank card out and about with them.

How does it work?

The Starling teen account offers the following key features:

A single app for spending, saving and earning money
Instant payment notifications
Spending insights so you can see what you’re spending and where you might want to cut back
Savings Spaces to help you put money aside for clothes, trips, tech or whatever else takes your fancy (no interest is paid on Spaces)
Make instant payments to friends and settle IOUs by sending payment links from your mobile
24/7 customer support
Pay cash in or withdraw money at any Post Office branch

Who is the Starling teen account for?

The teen account is for those aged between 16 and 17 years old. If you have a child younger than 16 years old, Starling also offers a debit card called Starling Kite, which is connected to a parent or guardian’s current account.

How to sign up

Signing up for the Starling teen account can be completed in around 5 minutes – just follow the steps below:

Download the Starling bank app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
Enter your phone number and the verification code you’ll be sent
Create an account by entering your name, date of birth, email address and current home address
Verify who you are by recording a short selfie video and taking a photo of your passport ID

Is the Starling teen account safe?

Starling is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the PRA. This means that your money is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the event the bank goes bust. Deposits of up to £120,000 per person, per banking institution are covered.

Customer service information for the Starling teen account

Email support
Telephone support
In-app or live chat
Contact form
Branch support

Starling Bank and Finder Awards

Our Finder Awards celebrate brands that truly stand out in their field, creating innovative personal finance products and providing outstanding service to their customers. Starling Bank is one of these brands and was named our 2025 Teen Card Provider of the Year Award winner!

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Defaqto. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.

Frequently asked questions

Starling Spaces are a way to save money for whatever is important to you, whether that's a holiday, a new laptop or even a new wardrobe. They are designed to help you ring-fence your money for different goals and save up for them at your own pace. You can round up transactions that count towards a specific goal. However, you won't earn any interest on this cash.

Sources

Finder writers are subject matter experts and use primary sources, in-depth research and interviews with other experts to ensure you're getting accurate, up-to-date information. Articles are fact checked in line with our editorial guidelines.
1. Financial Services Compensation Scheme

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Rachel Wait is a freelance journalist and has been writing about personal finance for more than a decade, covering everything from insurance to mortgages. She has written for a range of personal finance websites and national newspapers, including The Observer, The Mail on Sunday, The Sun and the Evening Standard. Rachel is a keen baker in her spare time. See full profile

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Starling teen account review

Pros

Cons

What is the Starling teen account?

How does it work?

Who is the Starling teen account for?

How to sign up

Is the Starling teen account safe?

Customer service information for the Starling teen account

Starling Bank and Finder Awards

What are Starling Spaces?

What should I do if my debit card is lost or stolen?

What happens if I lose my phone?

Will I be charged for using my debit card abroad?

Sources

Sources

Your reviews

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