Starling Bank

Today we’re celebrating Sarah MacNeill who has won the ‘Outstanding Woman in Tech’ award at the Women in Tech Employer Awards 2024. This award aims to recognise an influential woman working in tech who is inspiring to her colleagues and team, and is a role model to other women in tech. Sarah has won this award for her work internally here at Starling, as well as teaching with Code First Girls. At Starling, Sarah is a DevEx Engineer who is also involved in our #WithWomen network and our Code First Girls partnership. On her win, Sarah has said: ‘I hope I can inspire others to not let being early in your career stop you from starting projects, sharing ideas and getting involved with causes you care about’.  There were 17 other women on the shortlist so winning this award is a huge achievement. Congratulations Sarah! 🎉

Confused why you might feel happy or a bit down after a purchase? Ever looked at your account balance at the end of the month and wondered what you actually spent it on? Here’s how a mindful spending diary could help you out 🖊️

Christmas has come early – the Easy Saver is now live! ⚡️ It's our savings account you can add money to and withdraw from at any time, via your Starling current account, with no penalties or notice period. There's no minimum amount to open an Easy Saver and you'll earn interest on balances up to £1m. Learn more via the link 🔗 T&Cs apply. http://spkl.io/6044fZDXo

“Dear reader, I was wondering if you could lend a hand? You see, I’m a wheelchair user and I need an able-bodied companion for a 24-hour trip to London. Don’t worry – I’ll cover your expenses. And be uncomfortably honest about how much everything costs along the way.” For International Day of Persons with Disabilities, guest writer Anthony documents the reality of being a wheelchair user. From accessible hotel rooms deemed ‘luxury’ and unplanned taxis to heating bills and flat modifications, there are many hidden costs. Read the full piece on Noteworthy - link in the comments 🔗

Starling Bank welcomes Adeel Hyder!   Adeel joins as Managing Director of SME Banking, and will also be on the Executive Committee. He joins Starling from TSB, where he most recently served as Business Banking Director, playing a pivotal role in shaping and executing the bank’s SME strategy. Prior to this, he was Director of Strategy at TSB, a strategy consultant at McKinsey and a corporate banker at RBS. Raman Bhatia, Group CEO at Starling, said: “Adeel’s extensive experience and proven track record make him the ideal leader to drive our business banking division forward. We are confident that under his leadership, Starling will continue to empower small businesses across the UK with the tools and support they need to succeed. “This appointment will strengthen our senior leadership team as we embark on our next phase of growth.” Adeel said: “Starling is deeply committed to supporting the ambitions of UK entrepreneurs and I am passionate about leveraging technology and innovation to deliver exceptional banking experiences for our small business customers.”

Stop. Hang up. Dial 159 🛑 If you think you’re being scammed, hang up, dial 159 immediately and you’ll be directed to your bank’s fraud team safely and securely. Remember: your bank will never call and ask you to move money or make payments to keep your money safe. With Starling, you can also see if it’s really us calling by checking the Call Status Indicators, head to the ‘help’ section of the app to find this. #BBCScamSafe

Scam phishing texts like this one are doing the rounds. Check out the red flags to watch out for, below 👀 🚩 Don’t recognise the number? Look it up to see if it’s associated with any scams. 🚩 Asked to act quickly? Stop and think – this is usually a telltale sign of a scam. 🚩 Does the message contain any links? Don’t tap on them and contact the organisation through contact details on their website.

You may have heard that scams are on the rise – but do you know what to do to avoid one? This #BBCScamSafe week we’re sharing some of their top tips to keep you one step ahead 👉

Starling Bank welcomes Michele Rousseau!    Michele joins as Chief Marketing Officer, bringing with her more than 20 years of experience working for some of the world’s largest digital businesses such as Expedia Group and Apple. "Michele's exceptional track record in marketing makes her the ideal leader to elevate our brand and accelerate our market positioning," said Group CEO, Raman Bhatia. "Her strategic vision and passion for customer experience will be crucial to our continued expansion.” She will be responsible for driving Starling’s next phase of growth through brand development, customer engagement, and product marketing. Michele said, “Starling’s relentless focus on the customer, combined with its industry-leading technology, puts it in a unique position for growth. I’m delighted to join a team of passionate marketers as we elevate Starling’s brand and marketing efforts to the next level." In her spare time you might catch Michele sea swimming in her home town of Brighton; “refreshingly cold and good for the soul”.

We’ve been named as a Which? Recommended Provider for the sixth year in a row, placing in the top 3 this year! Customers rated our online and mobile banking highly, and said that they value our fee-free spending abroad and budgeting tools. Thank you to our loyal customers and to Team Starling for all their hard work 👏