Is Santander or Starling Bank better for your small business?
Below we look at both Santander and Starling Bank reviews on Trustpilot along with their App reviews from Apple and Google.
We then look at typical fees, business savings rates, foreign currency options and a whole bunch of other account features to help you make up your mind.
Santander vs Starling Bank Trustpilot Reviews
| Santander | Starling Bank | |
| Trustpilot Review Score (out of 5) | 1.4 | 4.3 |
| Percent 5-Star Reviews | 8% | 76% |
| Percent 1- Star Reviews | 85% | 11% |
| Total Number of Reviews | 6,868 | 38,869 |
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.santander.co.uk
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/starlingbank.com
Santander vs Starling Bank App Reviews
| Santander | Starling Bank | |
| iPhone Review Score (out of 5) | 4.8 | 4.9 |
| Number of iPhone Reviews | 1,100,000 | 477,500 |
| Android Review Score (out of 5) | 4.4 | 4.5 |
| Number of Android Reviews | 54,300 | 114,000 |
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/santander-mobile-banking/id482973524
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/starling-bank-mobile-banking/id956806430
Santander vs Starling Bank Account Fees & Charges
| Santander | Starling Bank | |
| Free Business Bank Account | Yes | Yes |
| Free Business Account Term Length | 18 Months | No Limit |
| Cheapest Monthly Account Fee | Free | No |
| Most Expensive Monthly Account Fee | £7.50 | No |
| Electronic Payment Cost (in/out) | Free | Free |
| Cash Payments Cost (in/out) | 70p per £100 | 0.70% |
| Cheques (in/out) | Unknown | Free |
| CHAPS Payments Cost | £25 | £20 |
| SEPA Payments Cost | No | No |
Santander vs Starling Bank Business Savings Rates
| Santander | Starling Bank | |
| Types of Business Savings Accounts | Instant access, Business Reward Saver, Fixed Rate Business Bond, Treasurer’s Savings Account | None |
| Lowest Savings Rate (AER) | 0.40% | NA |
| Maximum Savings Rate (AER) | 3.60% | NA |
| Minimum Savings Amount | £1 | No |
| Interest Paid On Foreign Currencies | Yes | Yes |
Santander vs Starling Bank Account Opening Times
| Santander | Starling Bank | |
| Can You Apply Online? | Yes | Yes |
| How Long Does Opening An Account Typically Take? | Few minutes | 1 to 5 Working days |
| Do They Check Your Credit? | Yes | Yes |
| Current Account Switch Service | Yes | Yes |
Santander vs Starling Bank Features & Account Types
| Santander | Starling Bank | |
| Business Current Account | Yes | Yes |
| Business Savings Account | Yes | Yes |
| Business Credit Card | Yes | No |
| Business Overdraft | Yes | Yes |
| Accounts For Startups | Yes | Yes |
| Accounts For Charities | Yes | Yes |
| Accounts For Sole Traders | Yes | Yes |
| Joint Business Accounts Available | Yes | Yes |
| Card Type | Mastercard | Mastercard |
| Online Banking | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Banking | Yes | Yes |
| In Person/Branch Banking | Yes | Yes |
| Branch Locations | UK-wide | None, but can use post office locations for some services |
Santander vs Starling Bank Customer Support Options
| Santander | Starling Bank | |
| Phone Support Available | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support Available | Yes | Yes |
| App Based Support | Yes | Yes |
| Web Based Support | Yes | Yes |
| In person Customer Support | Yes | Yes |
Santander vs Starling Bank Foreign Currency Accounts
| Santander | Starling Bank | |
| US Dollar (USD) Bank Accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Euro (EUR) Bank Accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Other Currencies Available: |
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Other Business Services From Santander and Starling Bank
| Santander | Starling Bank | |
| Business Loans | Yes | Yes |
| Commercial Mortgages | Yes | No |
| Invoice Financing | Yes | No |
| International Payments | Yes | Yes |
| Merchant Payment Services | Yes | Yes |
| Card Machines | Yes | Yes |
| Free Accounting Software | Yes | No |
Santander vs Starling Bank Banking Basics
| Santander | Starling Bank | |
| Bank Type | High Street | Challenger |
| FSCS Protection | Yes, up to £85,000 | Yes, up to £85,000 |
| FCA Number | 106054 | 730166 |
| Website | Santander Website | Starling Bank Website |
Common Comparison Questions
Does Santander or Starling Bank have better customer reviews?
Santander scores 1.4 out of 5 based 6,868 Trustpilot reviews. Of these reviews 8% are 5-star and 85% are 1-star.
Whereas, Starling Bank scores 4.3 out of 5 based 38,869 Trustpilot reviews. Of which 76% are 5-star and 11% are 1-star.
Does Santander or Starling Bank have a better App?
Santander’s iPhone App is rated 4.8 out of 5 based on 1,100,000 reviews. And it’s Android App is rated 4.4 out of 5 based on 54,300 reviews.
In comparison, Starling Bank’s iPhone App is rated 4.9 out of 5 based on 477,500 reviews. And it’s Android App is rated 4.5 out of 5 based on 114,000 reviews.
Does Santander or Starling Bank have better business savings rates?
Santander offers the following types of business savings accounts: Instant access, Business Reward Saver, Fixed Rate Business Bond, Treasurer’s Savings Account with interest rates ranging from 0.40% to 3.60%. (AER)
In contrast, Starling Bank offers None accounts with interest rates ranging from NA to NA (AER).
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For other business bank accounts see our guide here.