Starling Bank vs Meem.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Meem (M74/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Meem leads Starling Bank 3-2.
| M Meem №24 · SAMA 74 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 74 /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 | Full bank SAMA | Full bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS | £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 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 | — |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Meem if…
Digital banking arm of Gulf International Bank — one of the first KSA digital-only banking offerings (launched 2014). Sharia-compliant by structure (profit-share rather than interest). SA Deposit Protection cover via the GIB licence. Distinguishes itself vs. stc Bank by depth of wealth-management access through the GIB private-banking heritage.
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 Meem won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Meem won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Meem won 1 of 2
Starling Bank vs Meem — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Meem better than Starling Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Meem leads Starling Bank 3–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Meem 74/100 vs Starling Bank 77/100. Meem is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Meem or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Meem: €0; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Meem: 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, Meem or Starling Bank?
Meem holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Meem is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Meem and Starling Bank?
Meem 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.