Does Starling Bank have a subscription fee?

No — Starling Bank's personal current account is completely free. There are no monthly fees, so there is no subscription to cancel. This guide covers full account closure only.

What happens to my Direct Debits and standing orders when I close my account?

All Direct Debits and standing orders on your Starling account will be cancelled when the account is closed. You should update any linked subscriptions or billers with a new payment method before closing.

Can I reopen my Starling Bank account after closing it?

Starling does not reopen closed accounts, but you can apply for a new Starling account in the future. Previous account history will not be carried over.

How to Cancel Starling Bank (2026)

Starling Bank plans start from $0.00/month. Follow our 5-step guide to cancel your subscription in about 5 minutes — with tips to avoid retention offers.

Updated: March 2026

from $0.00/month

(≈ ZAR 0.00)

Easy

Estimated Time:5 minutes

Cancel Method:App

Open the Starling Bank app

Launch the Starling Bank app on your smartphone and log in to your account.

Transfer or withdraw your balance

Before closing, move your remaining balance to another bank account using a bank transfer. Also cancel any standing orders or Direct Debits set up from this account.

Go to Settings

Tap the profile icon or navigate to 'Settings' within the app.

Select Close account

Scroll down to find the 'Close account' option and tap it. Starling will confirm whether your balance is clear and no payments are pending.

Confirm account closure

Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm the account closure. You'll receive a confirmation message once your Starling account has been closed.

Retention Tips

We're sorry to hear you're thinking of closing your Starling account. Since Starling is completely free with no monthly fees, there's no cost to keeping your account open. You could simply leave it dormant and return to it whenever you need it — your sort code and account number stay the same. Many customers find it useful to keep as a backup account. Would you consider keeping it open just in case?