Starling Bank vs Discovery Bank.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Discovery Bank (D45/100), 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 Discovery Bank 5-2.
| D Discovery Bank №82 · SARB 45 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 45 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €95 /mo | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.50% | 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 | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 | — |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Discovery Bank if…
Premium ZA digital-first bank backed by JSE-listed Discovery Group. SARB full-bank licence since 2019. Vitality Money behavioural-banking model — your rates and rewards rise with healthy financial behaviour, integrated with Discovery Health/Life. CODI cover. The only ZA digital bank with a serious premium-tier offering (Black tier with metal card, lounges, Vitality Travel).
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 2 of 4
- Best for protection Starling Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Discovery Bank won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Discovery Bank won 1 of 2
Starling Bank vs Discovery Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Discovery Bank better than Starling Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Starling Bank leads Discovery Bank 5–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Discovery Bank 45/100 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 Discovery Bank or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Discovery Bank: €95; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Discovery Bank: 1.50%; Starling Bank: Interbank. Starling Bank wins more fee rows (2 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Discovery Bank or Starling Bank?
Discovery Bank 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 Discovery Bank and Starling Bank?
Discovery Bank 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?
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