Starling Bank vs Found.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Found (F69/100), 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 Found 3-2.
| F Found №39 · FDIC 69 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 69 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Full bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | £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 | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.6 | — |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Found if…
The tightest 1099-workflow loop in US neobanking — deposit lands → user-defined percentage auto-routes to a Taxes Pocket → quarterly tax estimator computes the federal liability → in-app federal payment closes the loop. Plus and Pro tiers add APY (1.50% capped at $20K / 2.50% uncapped) and Pro layers in 1% cashback on a metal debit card. Sponsor bank migrated from Piermont Bank to Lead Bank in October 2025 — legacy customers should verify their rails have moved.
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 Tied
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Found won 1 of 2
Starling Bank vs Found — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Found better than Starling Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Starling Bank leads Found 3–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Found 69/100 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 Found or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Found: €0; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Found: 1.00%; 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, Found or Starling Bank?
Found holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Found and Starling Bank?
Found 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.