You can get an interest-free overdraft and a welcome bonus with the account
Starling has launched its first-ever student bank account, just in time for the new influx of young adults heading off to university this Autumn. The digital bank has added extra features for students, including an overdraft and welcome offer. Here’s everything you need to know about the Starling student account and how it compares to some of the other student bank accounts on offer.
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What is the Starling student account?
The Starling student account is the first one from a digital-only bank. It’s been introduced to rival the existing student accounts offered by high-street banks. It offers an interest-free overdraft, a 4% savings account and even has a welcome offer.
The account is available for all students, as long as you have at least one year left. You’ll be prompted to verify your student status in the app after signing up.
Starling student account welcome offer
Offer: £50 Amazon Gift Card for new student account customers
Starling is offering a £50 Amazon gift card for new student account customers from 10 August 2026.
To get it, you just need to open an account and verify your student status digitally. The gift card will be sent to you by email within seven working days of confirming that your student status has been successfully verified.
Plus, all successful student account applications will be entered automatically into a prize draw to win £10,000 towards their tuition fees. Account applications and student verification must be completed by 31st October 2026 to be entered, and the winners will be selected at random.
Do you get an overdraft with the Starling student account?
One of the best ways to compare student accounts is to compare the interest-free overdrafts offered. Student accounts typically offer fairly large overdrafts to help with the turbulent nature of student finances. This lets you run into a negative balance without any fees — so if you have a £500 interest-free overdraft limit, you can go overdrawn by up to £500, with your balance showing as -£500. This isn’t free money — you’ll have to pay it back.
You can get a £500 interest-free overdraft with Starling. The overdraft isn’t guaranteed, and will be subject to credit checks. This doesn’t come close to the offering from other banks — the best on offer is from NatWest, offering £3,250 by your final year.
To be eligible for the Starling overdraft, you need to be a verified student, have at least two years left on your degree, and have three years of UK address history.
How to open a Starling student account
To open a student account with Starling, you need to download the Starling app and sign up for an account.
Once in, you can verify your student status in the app under Account > Student information to get the extra benefits for students and access the overdraft.
You’ll need to provide:
- Your university and full-time course details
- Your course start date and length
- A copy of your university acceptance letter
What extra benefits are available with the Starling student account?
With Starling’s student account, you can:
- Get a welcome offer of a £50 Amazon gift card
- Apply for an interest-free overdraft of up to £500
- Create “Spaces” to help you budget
- Spend abroad without any fees
- Send instant links to get paid back with Settle Up
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Plus, new Quidco customers get a high paying £18 welcome offer
Starling Easy Saver
An additional benefit of having a Starling account is that you get access to its Easy Saver savings account. This pays 4% AER (variable) to new customers (not just of the Starling account). The rate is made up of a 2.5% rate and an additional 1.5% bonus rate for new customers for 12 months.
This account can be beaten by other easy access savings accounts, so it’s worth taking a look at other options before you sign up.
Can my student loan be paid into the Starling student account?
Yep! There’s no requirement to have your student loan paid into the account to have it. You just need to give your details to the Student Loans Company to have it paid into your account.
What happens to the Starling student account and overdraft when you graduate?
After your course has ended, your account will automatically turn into a personal account. While verifying your student status, you’ll provide to Starling the start date and length of your degree — this information is then used to determine when to turn your account into a personal account.
At this point, your student account benefits will stop.
Your student overdraft will be turned into a personal overdraft, but Starling says that this won’t happen straight away. It’ll get in touch with you to tell you when you’ll start paying interest and the rate you’ll be charged.
Featured investing offer
Customer rating
3.8/5
- Offerfree £50 in fractional shares*
- Annual fee£0
- Investment stylesShares, funds or ready-made portfolios
- Minimum deposit$50
- FSCS Protected? Yes
- Interest on uninvested cash 3% on balances up to $50,000, 3.8% on balances over this
- Fractional shares Yes
- Foreign exchange fee 0.7%
- Fund fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees, which cost on average ~0.16% per year, with additional market-spread effects up to 0.05%
- Offer You need to sign up, verify your account and deposit at least £200 to get the free assets. ISA deposits aren't included in the £200 requirement to get the offer.
- Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes, FRN 583263
- Risk warning The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. ISA powered by Moneyfarm. ISA rules apply. UK residents only.
- Accounts available General investment account, stocks and shares ISA (additional fees apply)
What are the pros and cons of a Starling student account?
Pros
- £500 interest-free overdraft
- Welcome offer
- Budgeting tools
- Spend abroad for free
Cons
- Overdraft isn’t as large as with other student banks
- Welcome offer isn’t as lucrative as other student banks
Is the Starling student account any good?
Zoe’s analysis
We’ve been waiting a while for a digital bank to launch a student account. I was at university when Monzo launched its beta account, and I really benefited from the budgeting tools it offered.
Starling’s account isn’t quite as good as the high-street banks, with a lower overdraft and a welcome offer of only £50 versus £100 or more offered by other banks. Early on, £500 is probably fine, but later on, you might need a larger overdraft.
However, digital banks are known for having great tools to help you stay within your budget. We think pretty highly of Starling’s current account in general, and over at our sister site, Smart Money People, its customers rate it pretty highly too.
