Starling Bank vs Bank Zero.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Bank Zero (B50/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Starling Bank leads Bank Zero 4-1.
| B Bank Zero №75 · SARB 50 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 50 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 2.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Payment inst. SARB | Full bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded ZA.CODI | £85,000 GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.4 | — |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Bank Zero if…
South Africa's first fully-digital mutual bank — SARB-licensed since 2018, operationally live since 2021. Founded by ex-FNB executives (Yatin Narsai, Michael Jordaan). Owner-operator model: no shareholders, profits flow back to depositors via lower fees and competitive sub-account interest. The fee-free counterpart to Discovery Bank's premium tier-based model.
Pick Starling Bank if…
Pick if you bank in the UK and want a clearing bank for personal + business with no retail crypto, no brokerage.
- Best for fees Starling Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Starling Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Bank Zero won 1 of 2
Starling Bank vs Bank Zero — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Bank Zero better than Starling Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Starling Bank leads Bank Zero 4–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Bank Zero 50/100 vs Starling Bank 77/100. Starling Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Bank Zero or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Bank Zero: €0; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Bank Zero: 2.00%; Starling Bank: Interbank. Starling Bank wins more fee rows (1 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Bank Zero or Starling Bank?
Bank Zero holds a Payment inst. licence under SARB; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Starling Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Bank Zero and Starling Bank?
Bank Zero operates in 1 country; Starling Bank operates in 1 country. Check each provider's signup page for the live country list — eligibility depends on residency, not just the licence footprint.
Want a 3- or 4-way comparison?
The dynamic compare picker handles up to four banks. Add this pair plus one or two more and we'll resolve every row.