Starling Bank vs Nequi.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Nequi (N75/100), 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.
| N Nequi №20 · Full Colombian banking licence via Bancolombia parent 75 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 75 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 3.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank | Full bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €50,000,000 CO.FOGAFIN | £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 Nequi if…
Bancolombia's digital banking arm — Colombia's largest neobank by user count (~17M). Operates under the Bancolombia full-bank licence; FOGAFIN cover applies. Mass-market reach + Bancolombia ATM network. The default Colombian neobank for COP-resident readers.
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 Nequi won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Nequi won 1 of 2
Starling Bank vs Nequi — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Nequi better than Starling Bank?
Nequi and Starling Bank are tied 2–2 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Nequi 75/100 vs Starling Bank 77/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Nequi or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Nequi: €0; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Nequi: 3.00%; 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, Nequi or Starling Bank?
Nequi holds a Full bank licence under Full Colombian banking licence via Bancolombia parent (Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia regulated); FOGAFIN member, COP 50,000,000 cover per depositor. // TODO(verify).; deposit guarantee per depositor: €50,000,000. Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Nequi is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Nequi and Starling Bank?
Nequi 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.