Banking app features inspired by Starling customers – Starling Bank

Starling was created to deliver a banking app designed around the real needs of customers. That’s why, when a customer tells us about a feature they’d like to see in the app, we take that feedback on board and, often, build it and release it. It’s something we’ve always done. And something we’ll always do.

Here, we highlight what we’ve added following your ideas and feedback.

Budgeting made simple

Spaces is the feature that enables you to keep money for a specific purpose, such as ‘Bills’ or ‘Groceries’, separate from your main balance. And Bills Manager and virtual cards are the features suggested by customers that enable you to spend from a particular Space.

Bills Manager can be used to pay Direct Debits and standing orders from a Space, while virtual cards can be used to make online, over the phone, or mobile wallet card payments from a Space. Virtual cards are very similar to normal debit cards – you’ll have a card number, CVV and expiry date, you just won’t receive a physical debit card in the post.

You can use these features to budget. For example, you could avoid dipping into money for rent or household bills by moving money for these essential costs into a ‘House’ or ‘Flat’ Space on payday and then paying particular Direct Debits or standing orders straight from that Space throughout the month. You could also create Spaces for ‘Entertainment’ or ‘Shopping’, top them up with the amount you plan to spend and then use a virtual card to make purchases.