Starling Bank vs stc Bank.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and stc Bank (s76/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. A close tie.
| S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | s stc Bank №17 · SAMA 76 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 77 /100 | 76 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 1.50% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank FCA | Full bank SAMA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | £85,000 GB.FSCS | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS |
| 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 4.6 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
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.
Pick stc Bank if…
First SAMA-licensed digital full bank in Saudi Arabia (received bank licence 2023, originally launched as stc pay in 2017). Backed by Saudi Telecom (stc) — telecom-grade reach across the Kingdom. Multi-currency support and instant onboarding via Absher distinguish it from legacy KSA banks. SAMA Deposit Protection Fund cover.
- Best for fees Starling Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection stc Bank won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux stc Bank won 1 of 2
Starling Bank vs stc Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Starling Bank better than stc Bank?
Starling Bank and stc Bank are tied 2–2 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Starling Bank 77/100 vs stc Bank 76/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Starling Bank or stc Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Starling Bank: €0; stc Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Starling Bank: Interbank; stc Bank: 1.50%. 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, Starling Bank or stc Bank?
Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. stc Bank holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. stc Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Starling Bank and stc Bank?
Starling Bank operates in 1 country; stc 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.