Starling Bank
Pros
- FSCS-protected UK bank with no fees abroad at all
- Genuinely strong free business account
- Interest paid on the current-account balance
Cons
- Limited multi-currency holding beyond GBP, EUR and USD
- No cash-back or rewards programme
Neobank comparison
Starling Bank vs ZEN
Compare Starling Bank and ZEN side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.
Starling Bank
Best for business banking
Starling is the most complete UK bank account on this list: free abroad, FSCS protected, and with a business …
VS
ZEN
Best for cross-border shoppers
ZEN leans into rewards and multi-currency spending for cross-border shoppers, with a money-back guarantee tha…
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Starling Bank | ZEN |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Free | Free |
| FX markup | 0% | 0% |
| Savings APY | 3.25% | - |
| Currencies | 3 | 32 |
| Card network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
| Deposit protection | FSCS up to 85,000 GBP | Safeguarded (Lithuanian EMI licence) |
| Regulators | - | - |
| Best for | Best for business banking | Best for cross-border shoppers |
| Markets & account | ||
Pros & cons
ZEN
Pros
- Purchase money-back rewards on card spending
- Holds and converts 30+ currencies
- Quick onboarding for shoppers and small businesses
Cons
- Safeguarded e-money rather than a banking licence
- No in-app savings interest
Starling Bank
Starling is the most complete UK bank account on this list: free abroad, FSCS protected, and with a business account that punches far above its price.
Confirm current fees and rates on the provider's site. T&Cs apply.
ZEN
ZEN leans into rewards and multi-currency spending for cross-border shoppers, with a money-back guarantee that few rivals match.
Confirm current fees and rates on the provider's site. T&Cs apply.
Not the right match?
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