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Starling Bank VS State Bank of India (UK): Business Banking Review & Fee Comparison


By: Ian Wright | Last Updated: May 22, 2025

Is Starling Bank or State Bank of India (UK) better for your small business?



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Below we look at both Starling Bank and State Bank of India (UK) 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.

Starling Bank Homepage
Starling Bank Homepage


State Bank of India (UK) Homepage
State Bank of India (UK) Homepage
 

Starling Bank vs State Bank of India (UK) Trustpilot Reviews

Starling BankState Bank of India (UK)
Trustpilot Review Score (out of 5)4.33.7
Percent 5-Star Reviews76%33%
Percent 1- Star Reviews11%34%
Total Number of Reviews38,8693
Sources:
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/starlingbank.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/sbiuk.statebank

Starling Bank vs State Bank of India (UK) App Reviews

Starling BankState Bank of India (UK)
iPhone Review Score (out of 5)4.92.4
Number of iPhone Reviews477,500253
Android Review Score (out of 5)4.51.7
Number of Android Reviews114,0001,640
Sources:
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/starling-bank-mobile-banking/id956806430
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/yono-sbi-uk/id1454780358

Starling Bank vs State Bank of India (UK) Account Fees & Charges

Starling BankState Bank of India (UK)
Free Business Bank AccountYesNo
Free Business Account Term LengthNo LimitNA
Cheapest Monthly Account FeeNo£80
Most Expensive Monthly Account FeeNo£120
Electronic Payment Cost (in/out)FreeFree
Cash Payments Cost (in/out)0.70%£3 / Free
Cheques (in/out)Free£10.00 per cheque
CHAPS Payments Cost£20£25
SEPA Payments CostNo£25

Starling Bank vs State Bank of India (UK) Business Savings Rates

Starling BankState Bank of India (UK)
Types of Business Savings AccountsNoneInstant Access, Notice Savings, Fixed Deposit, Limited Access
Lowest Savings Rate (AER)NA1.95%
Maximum Savings Rate (AER)NA5.00%
Minimum Savings AmountNo£1
Interest Paid On Foreign CurrenciesYesYes
 

Starling Bank vs State Bank of India (UK) Account Opening Times

Starling BankState Bank of India (UK)
Can You Apply Online?YesYes
How Long Does Opening An
Account Typically Take?
1 to 5 Working days3 to 4 Working days
Do They Check Your Credit?YesYes
Current Account Switch ServiceYesYes

Starling Bank vs State Bank of India (UK) Features & Account Types

Starling Bank Account Types
Starling Bank Features & Account Types


State Bank of India (UK) Account Types
State Bank of India (UK) Features & Account Types


Starling BankState Bank of India (UK)
Business Current AccountYesYes
Business Savings AccountYesYes
Business Credit CardNoYes
Business OverdraftYesYes
Accounts For StartupsYesYes
Accounts For CharitiesYesYes
Accounts For Sole TradersYesYes
Joint Business Accounts AvailableYesYes
Card TypeMastercardMastercard
Online BankingYesYes
Mobile BankingYesYes
In Person/Branch BankingYesYes
Branch LocationsNone, but can use post office locations for some servicesLimited locations in London and Midlands

Starling Bank vs State Bank of India (UK) Customer Support Options

Starling BankState Bank of India (UK)
Phone Support AvailableYesYes
Email Support AvailableYesYes
App Based Support YesYes
Web Based SupportYesYes
In person Customer SupportYesYes

Starling Bank vs State Bank of India (UK) Foreign Currency Accounts

Starling BankState Bank of India (UK)
US Dollar (USD) Bank AccountsYesYes
Euro (EUR) Bank AccountsYesYes
Other Currencies Available:
  • CAD (Canadian Dollar)
  • Indian Rupee (INR)
  • Australian Dollar (AUD)
  • Singapore Dollar (SGD)
  • Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
  • Swiss Franc (CHF)
  • Canadian Dollar (CAD)
  • New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
  • Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)

Other Business Services From Starling Bank and State Bank of India (UK)

Starling Bank Account Types
Other Starling Bank Services


State Bank of India (UK) Account Types
Other State Bank of India (UK) Services


Starling BankState Bank of India (UK)
Business LoansYesYes
Commercial MortgagesNoYes
Invoice FinancingNoYes
International PaymentsYesYes
Merchant Payment ServicesYesNo
Card MachinesYesNo
Free Accounting SoftwareNoNo

Starling Bank vs State Bank of India (UK) Banking Basics

Starling BankState Bank of India (UK)
Bank TypeChallengerForeign Bank
FSCS ProtectionYes, up to £85,000Yes, up to £85,000
FCA Number730166757156
WebsiteStarling Bank WebsiteState Bank of India (UK) Website

Common Comparison Questions

Does Starling Bank or State Bank of India (UK) 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, State Bank of India (UK) scores 3.7 out of 5 based 3 Trustpilot reviews. Of which 33% are 5-star and 34% are 1-star.

Does Starling Bank or State Bank of India (UK) 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, State Bank of India (UK)’s iPhone App is rated 2.4 out of 5 based on 253 reviews. And it’s Android App is rated 1.7 out of 5 based on 1,640 reviews.

Does Starling Bank or State Bank of India (UK) 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, State Bank of India (UK) offers Instant Access, Notice Savings, Fixed Deposit, Limited Access accounts with interest rates ranging from 1.95% to 5.00% (AER).

See Other Comparisons:
Starling Bank vs Charity Bank
Starling Bank vs Cumberland Building Society
Starling Bank vs Redwood Bank
Starling Bank vs Amaiz
Starling Bank vs ICICI Bank UK


For other business bank accounts see our guide here.

 



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