Is Starling Bank or RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) better for your small business?
Below we look at both Starling Bank and RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) 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.

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Starling Bank vs RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) Trustpilot Reviews
Starling Bank | RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) | |
Trustpilot Review Score (out of 5) | 4.3 | 1.3 |
Percent 5-Star Reviews | 76% | 7% |
Percent 1- Star Reviews | 11% | 89% |
Total Number of Reviews | 38,869 | 838 |
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/starlingbank.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.rbs.co.uk
Starling Bank vs RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) App Reviews
Starling Bank | RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) | |
iPhone Review Score (out of 5) | 4.9 | 4.8 |
Number of iPhone Reviews | 477,500 | 106,900 |
Android Review Score (out of 5) | 4.5 | 4.3 |
Number of Android Reviews | 114,000 | 81,700 |
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/starling-bank-mobile-banking/id956806430
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/royal-bank-of-scotland/id334852412
Starling Bank vs RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) Account Fees & Charges
Starling Bank | RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) | |
Free Business Bank Account | Yes | Yes |
Free Business Account Term Length | No Limit | 24 Months |
Cheapest Monthly Account Fee | No | Free |
Most Expensive Monthly Account Fee | No | Free |
Electronic Payment Cost (in/out) | Free | 35p |
Cash Payments Cost (in/out) | 0.70% | 70p per £100 |
Cheques (in/out) | Free | 70p per item |
CHAPS Payments Cost | £20 | £20 |
SEPA Payments Cost | No | 45p |
Starling Bank vs RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) Business Savings Rates
Starling Bank | RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) | |
Types of Business Savings Accounts | None | Business reserve, Liquidity manager notice, Treasury reserve, Client deposit manager, Client account manager |
Lowest Savings Rate (AER) | NA | 1.46% |
Maximum Savings Rate (AER) | NA | 4.25% |
Minimum Savings Amount | No | No |
Interest Paid On Foreign Currencies | Yes | Yes |
Starling Bank vs RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) Account Opening Times
Starling Bank | RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) | |
Can You Apply Online? | Yes | Yes |
How Long Does Opening An Account Typically Take? | 1 to 5 Working days | 5 to 7 Working days |
Do They Check Your Credit? | Yes | Yes |
Current Account Switch Service | Yes | Yes |
Starling Bank vs RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) Features & Account Types

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Starling Bank | RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) | |
Business Current Account | Yes | Yes |
Business Savings Account | Yes | Yes |
Business Credit Card | No | Yes |
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 | None, but can use post office locations for some services | UK-wide including the ability to use some Natwest locations |
Starling Bank vs RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) Customer Support Options
Starling Bank | RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) | |
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 |
Starling Bank vs RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) Foreign Currency Accounts
Starling Bank | RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) | |
US Dollar (USD) Bank Accounts | Yes | Yes |
Euro (EUR) Bank Accounts | Yes | Yes |
Other Currencies Available: |
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Other Business Services From Starling Bank and RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland)

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Starling Bank | RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) | |
Business Loans | Yes | Yes |
Commercial Mortgages | No | Yes |
Invoice Financing | No | Yes |
International Payments | Yes | Yes |
Merchant Payment Services | Yes | Yes |
Card Machines | Yes | Yes |
Free Accounting Software | No | Yes |
Starling Bank vs RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) Banking Basics
Starling Bank | RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) | |
Bank Type | Challenger | High Street |
FSCS Protection | Yes, up to £85,000 | Yes, up to £85,000 |
FCA Number | 730166 | 114724 |
Website | Starling Bank Website | RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) Website |
Common Comparison Questions
Does Starling Bank or RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) have better customer reviews?
Starling Bank scores 4.3 out of 5 based 38,869 Trustpilot reviews. Of these reviews 76% are 5-star and 11% are 1-star.
Whereas, RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) scores 1.3 out of 5 based 838 Trustpilot reviews. Of which 7% are 5-star and 89% are 1-star.
Does Starling Bank or RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) have a better App?
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.
In comparison, RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland)’s iPhone App is rated 4.8 out of 5 based on 106,900 reviews. And it’s Android App is rated 4.3 out of 5 based on 81,700 reviews.
Does Starling Bank or RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) have better business savings rates?
Starling Bank offers the following types of business savings accounts: None with interest rates ranging from NA to NA. (AER)
In contrast, RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) offers Business reserve, Liquidity manager notice, Treasury reserve, Client deposit manager, Client account manager accounts with interest rates ranging from 1.46% to 4.25% (AER).
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For other business bank accounts see our guide here.