Starling Bank

Defining moments. Every founder has them. Christina had 20 years of structural engineering experience and was passionate about trying to make a difference with design – but admits she found it daunting leaving a big company to start Matter “I realised I knew nothing about marketing, sales or recruitment. I had all the technical knowledge, but starting a company is really hard.” As part of our March series, 'I Built My Business, My Business Built Me', Christina shares three defining moments that made her realise that despite all the challenges along the way – this was something she could really do. And she’s not alone. Partnering with Small Business Britain, we asked 1,000 women founders how their lives had changed – and 80% said they felt more confident since starting out on their own. Over the next month, we'll share their stories.

We’re proud to have been named top UK digital bank in a country ranking created by The Banker, part of the Financial Times. This follows our recently-awarded place in the Deloitte Fast 50 - given to the fastest-growing technology companies in the UK. On the #1 ranking, Starling’s Group CFO, Declan Ferguson, said: ‘We're grateful to the millions of consumers and small business owners who've trusted us with their money - our focus will continue to be on helping them make the most of it, combining the best in product with Starling’s award-winning customer service’.

“Over half of respondents feel proud of achieving things they never previously thought possible.” To kick off our month-long celebration for International Women’s Day, we teamed up with Small Business Britain to ask 1,000 women founders how their lives changed after starting a business. Our Chief Customer Officer, Maria Vidler CEMAP DIPRBCB shared the wider findings with 200 female entrepreneurs at Small Business Britain’s ‘International Women’s Day’ event at the House of Lords on Friday. The main finding? 80% of respondents said they felt more confident since starting a business. As Maria said during her speech on Friday, “The numbers from the survey tell a story, but so do you. Your ambitions, challenges and successes all contribute to the future of the UK’s small business landscape.” Keep an eye out for our series ‘I Built My Business, My Business Built Me’, which will tell the stories of these women founders and the moments that gave them the confidence to start and grow their businesses.

In partnership with Small Business Britain, we asked 1,000 women entrepreneurs how their lives and self-perception changed after starting a business. We’re celebrating #IWD2025 for the whole month of March - watch this space for their stories, coming soon!

“Be the role model that you wish you had at the start of your career.” To kick off our International Women’s Month events, our CEO Raman Bhatia interviewed Cynthia V Davis CBE in our London office, broadcast across Zoom for other offices. Cynthia is the founder and CEO of two equality and diversity businesses. In November 2023, she was awarded an CBE for her exceptional contributions to equality and diversity. She has been running her recruitment company, Diversifying Group since 2025 and her pro-diversity job board, Diversifying Jobs, since 2020. When asked about mentoring and what it means to her, Cynthia said “you find time for the things that you love,” so she makes time for mentoring. “Growing up I didn't have role models that I could ask for advice. It’s so powerful for us to be visible to younger generations.” Raman and Cynthia spoke about the legacy that Cynthia wants to leave for her daughter: “If you can change one person's life, you’ve made a difference. My daughter has seen that no matter where you start or where you are, you can still make somebody’s day by being kind and helping them.” As for women facing barriers, Cynthia said “imposter syndrome can be the thing that stops us from moving forward. I’ve had to learn to overcome this. Don’t self-disqualify. Don’t be afraid, push yourself and put yourself out there.” Our internal network, #WithWomen have more events planned to celebrate International Women’s Month, stay tuned!

We’re proud to be the first digital bank to be awarded Gold at the Office of the Small Business Commissioner’s Fair Payment Code Awards. We received this recognition for our record of paying over 95% of our invoices to suppliers - many of whom are small businesses - within 30 days. According to the Commissioner, many SMEs say cash flow issues and late payments are major obstacles to their success. At Starling, we're here to help founders keep their business flowing with tools to get paid faster, forecast with confidence, and stay ahead of the curve. Declan Ferguson, Chief Financial Officer, Starling Group, said: “This award is a testament to Starling’s commitment to doing business the right way. Paying suppliers promptly isn’t just good business practice; it’s about fairness and integrity. We’re proud to be recognised as the digital bank leading the way in responsible payments.” Adeel H., MD of SME Banking at Starling Bank, said: “This Gold award reflects our deep commitment to the businesses we serve. With around 500,000 UK SMEs banking with us, we know that trust matters. When small businesses choose Starling, they’re choosing a bank that truly understands their needs and stands by its principles.”

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We’ve placed 2nd in the latest Institute of Customer Service UK Customer Service Index! The index surveys members of the public and ranks household brands on their customer service and satisfaction. We’re honoured to be included. A huge thank you to our customers who’ve voted for us and our customer operations teams who work tirelessly 24/7 to provide the best possible outcomes for our customers. Maria Vidler, Chief Customer Officer at Starling said: “Our commitment to exceptional customer experience is at the heart of everything we do. This latest achievement demonstrates that a seamless digital platform, bolstered by the expertise and dedication of our human teams, is the winning formula. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our incredible teams in Cardiff, Manchester, Southampton, and London who continue to deliver exceptional results for our customers. Their hard work and unwavering commitment are a testament to our shared mission of customer satisfaction."

Starling Bank welcomes Joe Gordon! We’re pleased to announce that Joe will be joining us next week as our new Chief Operating Officer (COO), subject to regulatory approval. Joe will be responsible for customer operations across the bank. He is the latest appointment to our Executive Team by Group CEO Raman Bhatia as we prepare for our next phase of growth. Our current COO ??Steven Newson will handover to Joe and take on a new role as Group Chief Technology Officer (Group CTO) Over the last 20 years, Joe has been working to deliver the best customer and business outcomes in a number of roles. Most recently, he was COO at OVO Energy, supporting a team of 7,500 and helping build a reputation for leading customer service. Prior to this, he was the CEO at first direct, and earlier in his career had leadership roles across retail, finance and telecoms. Raman Bhatia, Starling’s Group CEO said: ‘Operational and technological excellence are fundamental to delighting customers and Starling’s future success. Welcoming Joe and Steve to their new roles, with all their relevant experience, will ensure these are at the forefront of everything we do’ Joe said: ‘Starling has transformed customer experience in UK banking. With my brilliant colleagues across the bank, I’m looking forward to further innovation for customers to set us apart and help us grow.’ Alongside his passion for people and customers, Joe serves as a trustee of the charity Muscular Dystrophy UK.

Starling Bank welcomes Raghu Narula! Raghu joins as Chief Banking Officer, and will be on the Executive Committee. This appointment follows the recent addition of Michele Rousseau as Chief Marketing Officer and Adeel H. as Managing Director of SME Banking. Raghu brings over 20 years of experience in retail, wealth, and commercial banking to Starling, having previously led customer engagement and service transformation across channels at Natwest Group. Prior to Natwest, Raghu held leadership roles at HSBC helping to build and grow businesses from their initial launch to large-scale transformation. Raghu will be responsible for driving customer and commercial growth and innovation across both business and retail, with a focus on the development and launch of new products, customer propositions and go-to-market strategies. Raman Bhatia, Group CEO at Starling Bank, said: “Raghu’s vast knowledge across retail, wealth management, and commercial banking, coupled with his deep understanding of digital transformation in financial services, make him an ideal fit for Starling. He understands how technology will continue to change the way we bank, and how to lead teams to deliver exceptional results. This appointment further strengthens our leadership team as we embark on our next phase of growth.” Raghu said: “I’m looking forward to joining Starling as it embarks on its next phase of innovation and growth. “My goal is to work with my exceptional colleagues to continue to challenge and change how banking customers can be best served in the UK. I'm confident we can make a tangible difference, not just for our existing customers but also for many more customers going forward, both individuals and small businesses."