{"id":109749,"date":"2018-05-23T16:58:00","date_gmt":"2018-05-23T15:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/?page_id=109749"},"modified":"2026-03-24T15:07:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T15:07:20","slug":"challenger-banks-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/digital-banking\/challenger-banks-list","title":{"rendered":"A list of challenger, fintech & digital banks in the UK 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Customers are spoilt for choice when it comes to banking. So much so, it can be confusing to navigate. There are not only many more banks to choose from compared to a decade ago, but also many different types, including the new breed of “challenger bank”, which are mainly digital-based.<\/p>

The main challenger banks and banking apps<\/h3>

Monzo<\/h4>

Monzo<\/a> was one of the first digital challenger banks to launch in the UK, hitting the market back in 2015. <\/p>

Monzo is well known for its \u201chot coral\u201d payment card and slick banking app, which includes its popular \u201cpots\u201d savings features, budgeting tools and spending notifications. <\/p>

Its fee-free overseas spending has made Monzo a hit with customers. It\u2018s also consistently added new features to its app including Monzo Flex, its own buy now, pay later product, and shared tabs, where you can split bills with friends and family. <\/p>

The bank has branched out into joint accounts, premium current accounts and business accounts, and now has over 10 million customers in the UK. <\/p>

Revolut<\/h4>

Revolut<\/a> opened its virtual doors in 2015 and is now a fully licenced bank in the UK, which means your cash is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. <\/p>

Revolut operates through its mobile banking app and offers 5 tiers of current account – Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal and Ultra. The monthly fees vary, but the more you pay, the more your monthly limits increase on things like free ATM withdrawals. Revolut also offers a kids\u2019 card, Revolut Kids & Teens, where your child can have their own app and spending card. <\/p>

In addition, Revolut has a more international reach – it\u2019s available in 48 countries and has more than 50 million customers across the world. It offers fee-free currency transfers in over 35 currencies for UK bank account holders. <\/p>

Starling<\/h4>

Starling<\/a> followed Monzo and Revolut and went live in 2017. Like its 2 main rivals, Starling\u2019s big draw is its intuitive banking app, through which you can open a bank account. <\/p>

Its current account is free and offers features such as spending insights, savings goals, cheque imaging, fee-free spending abroad plus an overdraft option. <\/p>

Starling has expanded into savings and is now offering fixed savings accounts. It also has a business banking offering and a kids\u2019 debit card, Starling Kite. <\/p>

Monese<\/h4>

Monese<\/a> is a digital banking app and card, which can be opened across Europe, including in the UK. It has the option of adding a Eurozone account alongside your UK account. <\/p>

In the UK there is the free basic bank account (Simple), and 2 fee-paying ones (Classic and Premium) to choose from. You get the usual debit card with ATM and payment functionality, plus the ability to set up direct debits or foreign money transfers – though the monthly fee you pay determines your free payment limits. <\/p>

Chase<\/h4>

Chase<\/a> is a relative newcomer to the UK, launching in September 2021. However, it is part of the American banking giant that is JPMorgan Chase. <\/p>

It has no branch presence in the UK, but it offers all the things you would expect from a digital bank, including 24\/7 in-app support, budgeting features, no monthly fees and no charges for using the card abroad. Its main limitation is that you can\u2019t deposit cash or cheques into the account. <\/p>

Chase offers cashback on debit card spending, interest on current account balances, a linked savings account and interest on savings round-ups.<\/p>

Zempler<\/h4>

Zempler<\/a> offers digital-only current accounts, available to manage through its app or online, and there are a couple of different fee-paying accounts to choose from.<\/p>

Zempler specialises in offering accounts to customers with bad credit. You get all the standard features of a current account, such as a card, ATM withdrawals, direct debits and overdraft option. But it also aims to help build up your credit score by “lending” the monthly account fee to you, which you then pay back, counting as a timely repayment on your credit file.<\/p>

A list of challenger banks and banking apps in the UK<\/h3>
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