Starling or Metro Bank? 

Here’s a comparison of Starling Bank Business Banking and Metro Bank Business Banking across key features:

1. Account Types

• Starling:
• Free Business Current Account (no monthly fees)
• Sole Trader and Limited Company accounts
• Multi-currency account (FX services via partner)
• Metro Bank:
• Business Current Account (£5/month, waived if balance ≥ £6k)
• Community Current Account (for charities, £5/month)
• Foreign Currency Accounts (USD, EUR – £10/month each)

2. Fees & Charges

Feature Starling Bank Metro Bank Monthly Fee Free £5 (waived if balance ≥ £6k) UK Payments Free Free (except CHAPS) ATM Withdrawals Free (UK & abroad, up to £300/day) Free in UK, fees abroad CHAPS/Faster Payments Free (Faster Payments), £20 (CHAPS) £25 (CHAPS) Cash Deposits£3 per £1,000 (via Post Office) Free (£1-£5k/month), then 0.7% fee

3. Digital & Mobile Banking

• Starling:
• Fully app-based, no branches
• Advanced spending insights, invoicing tools, integration with accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks)
• Open API for third-party integrations
• Metro Bank:
• Online + mobile banking + physical branches (open 7 days/week)
• Less advanced analytics than Starling
• Cheque deposits via app

4. Lending & Overdrafts

• Starling:
• Overdrafts (up to £150k, interest charged daily)
• Business loans (via Funding Circle partnership)
• Metro Bank:
• Overdrafts (arranged, interest applies)
• Business loans & commercial mortgages (direct offering)

5. International Payments

• Starling:
• Competitive FX rates (Mastercard rate + 0.4%)
• Multi-currency account (via partner)
• Metro Bank:
• Foreign currency accounts (USD, EUR)
• SWIFT/SEPA payments (fees apply)

6. Customer Support

• Starling:
• 24/7 in-app chat & phone support
• No branches
• Metro Bank:
• Branch support (7 days/week) + phone/online

7. Additional Features

• Starling:
• Free accounting integrations
• Marketplace for business tools
• Metro Bank:
• Free coin counting (in-branch)
• Business debit card rewards

Which is Better?

✅ Choose Starling if:

• You want no monthly fees
• Prefer digital-first banking with great analytics
• Need low-cost international payments

✅ Choose Metro Bank if:

• You want branch access (for cash/cheque deposits)
• Need foreign currency accounts
• Prefer face-to-face customer service

Would you like a comparison on specific features like loans or cash flow tools?