Starling Euro Account UK: Fees, Features and Is It Worth It? (2026)
Unlike most UK banks, Starling actually offers a proper euro account. The Starling euro account is a real euro current account with its own Euro IBAN, no monthly fee, and full SEPA access, which already puts it ahead of the SWIFT-only foreign currency accounts at HSBC, Barclays, NatWest, and Lloyds. If you are choosing a euro account in the UK, the Starling euro account is one of the genuinely good options. This guide covers what it offers, what it costs, the catches, and where Wise is the better fit.
Here is the honest summary up front: the Starling euro account is a strong product, and if you are already a Starling customer it is well worth using. But it has two limits that send many people to Wise instead: you must already hold a Starling personal current account in sterling to open it, and it holds euros only. If you want a single account that holds euros alongside dollars, pounds, and 40+ other currencies, Wise is the better choice.
Does Starling offer a euro account with a Euro IBAN? Yes, a genuine one, which is rare among UK banks. Does the Starling euro account charge a monthly fee? No. Does it give you SEPA access? Yes. On those points it matches or beats a Wise euro account. The difference is breadth: Wise is a multi-currency account you can open on its own, while the Starling euro account is a single-currency add-on to your Starling banking.
Below we break down the Starling euro account fees, how to open one, and a fair comparison with Wise. If you want the wider view of euro accounts across the market, our guide to euro accounts across all the major UK banks puts Starling, Wise, and the high street banks side by side.
The Starling euro account is one of the best bank euro accounts in the UK, with a Euro IBAN and no monthly fee. Wise is the better pick if you want more than euros in one account, or you are not a Starling customer.
- Choose Starling if: you already bank with Starling and only need euros with a Euro IBAN and SEPA
- Choose Wise if: you want to hold euros plus dollars, pounds, and 40+ currencies in one account
- Choose Wise if: you are not a Starling customer and want to open a euro account on its own
- Choose Wise if: you want a debit card that spends any currency at the mid-market rate
Does Starling Offer a Euro Account in the UK?
Yes, and it is a real one. Starling offers a euro account in the UK that works as a full euro current account, not just a place to park euros. The Starling euro account comes with its own Euro IBAN, so you can receive SEPA transfers and euro payments directly, which the foreign currency accounts at the big high street banks cannot do. It is available to existing Starling personal current account holders in the UK.
What the Starling Euro Account Includes
The Starling euro account gives you a Euro IBAN, SEPA credit transfer and direct debit access, and no monthly account fee. You can hold euros, receive euros from Europe, and send SEPA payments out. Currency conversion between your sterling and euro balances is done at the mid-market rate with a small fee of around 0.4%. For a UK bank, this is an unusually complete euro account, and it is why the Starling euro account regularly appears in best euro account UK roundups.
The Catches With the Starling Euro Account
There are two real limits. First, you cannot open the Starling euro account on its own; you must already hold a Starling personal current account in sterling, and the euro account is added on top. Second, it is euro only. If you also deal with US dollars or other currencies, the Starling euro account will not hold them, and you would need separate accounts. A Wise account avoids both limits: you can open it directly without any existing bank account, and it holds euros alongside 40+ other currencies. For the full comparison across providers, see our best euro account UK guide.
Starling Euro Account Fees
The Starling euro account is genuinely low cost, which is part of what makes it a strong option. Here is what you actually pay.
Monthly Fee and Conversion Cost
The Starling euro account charges no monthly fee. Currency conversion between sterling and euros is at the mid-market rate with a fee of around 0.4%, which is very competitive and close to what Wise charges. SEPA payments in and out are typically free. On cost alone, the Starling euro account and a Wise euro account are in the same league; the difference is what else the account can do.
What You Need First
The main non-money cost of the Starling euro account is the requirement to hold a Starling personal current account first. If you are happy to bank with Starling in sterling, that is no obstacle. If you would rather not switch or add a bank, or you want a euro account you can open in minutes on its own, Wise is the more direct route. The table below sets the two side by side.
Feature | Starling Euro Account | Wise |
|---|---|---|
Euro IBAN / SEPA | Yes | Yes |
Monthly fee | None | None |
FX conversion cost | Around 0.4% | From 0.43% |
Holds other currencies | No, euro only | Yes, 40+ |
Needs an existing account | Yes, Starling GBP account | No |
Debit card | Yes | Yes |
Read More: Best Euro Account UK | UK Banks Euro Account Compared
How to Open a Starling Euro Account
Opening a Starling euro account is a two-step process, and there is a one-step alternative if you would rather skip the bank requirement.
Starling Euro Account Requirements
To open the Starling euro account, you first need a Starling personal current account in sterling, which you open through the Starling app with UK ID and proof of address. Once your sterling account is active, you can add the euro account in the app. The euro account then gives you a Euro IBAN and SEPA access. New customers therefore open two things: the Starling current account, then the euro account on top.
The One-Step Alternative: A Wise Euro Account
If you would rather open a euro account directly, without first opening a UK bank account, Wise is the alternative. You open a Wise account online in under ten minutes with a passport or driving licence, and you get a Euro IBAN plus account details for dollars, pounds, and more. Our guide to using Wise for international transfers shows how it works end to end. For anyone who wants more than euros, this is the more flexible option than the Starling euro account.
Where the Starling euro account holds euros only and needs a Starling current account first, Wise holds 40+ currencies and opens on its own. Both give you a Euro IBAN and SEPA; Wise adds breadth.
- Euro IBAN plus 40+ currencies: hold euros, dollars, and pounds in one account
- No existing bank account needed: open Wise directly, unlike the Starling euro account
- Mid-market conversion from 0.43%: comparable to the Starling euro account, across every currency
Starling Euro Account vs Wise: An Honest Comparison
Both the Starling euro account and Wise are genuinely good euro accounts with a Euro IBAN and SEPA access. This is not a case of one being broken. It comes down to what you need.
Where the Starling Euro Account Wins
If you already bank with Starling and only need euros, the Starling euro account is excellent and tightly integrated with your sterling account in one app. Its 0.4% conversion fee is marginally lower than the headline Wise fee, and moving money between your Starling sterling and euro balances is seamless. For a Starling-first customer with euro-only needs, the Starling euro account is hard to beat.
Where Wise Wins
Wise wins on breadth and accessibility. You can open it without any existing bank account, which the Starling euro account requires. It holds 40+ currencies, not just euros, so it doubles as a dollar and pound account too. And its debit card spends any of those currencies at the mid-market rate. If you deal with more than euros, or you are not a Starling customer, Wise is the better euro account. Use the tool below to see what a euro transfer would cost.
If you bank with Starling and need euros only, the Starling euro account is a great choice. If you want a euro account plus dollars and pounds in one place, or you are not a Starling customer, Wise is the better fit.
Both give you a Euro IBAN and SEPA. Wise simply covers more currencies and opens on its own. Open a Wise account online in minutes and hold euros alongside everything else.
Compare a Euro Transfer Right Now
Whether you use the Starling euro account or Wise, it pays to compare a real transfer. The tool below shows what Wise and other providers would charge on your specific amount.
Read More: How Long Does a Wire Transfer Take? | How to Compare International Money Transfers
Starling Euro Account UK: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Starling offer a euro account in the UK?
Yes. Starling offers a genuine euro account in the UK with its own Euro IBAN, SEPA access, and no monthly fee. This makes the Starling euro account one of the few UK bank euro accounts that can actually receive SEPA transfers, unlike the SWIFT-only foreign currency accounts at HSBC, Barclays, NatWest, and Lloyds. The main requirement is that you already hold a Starling personal current account in sterling. If you want a euro account that also holds dollars and other currencies, Wise is the more flexible alternative.
Does the Starling euro account have a Euro IBAN?
Yes. The Starling euro account comes with its own Euro IBAN, so you can receive SEPA credit transfers and euro payments directly, and send SEPA payments out. This is a real advantage over most UK high street bank euro accounts, which are SWIFT only and have no IBAN. Wise also provides a Euro IBAN, so on this specific point the Starling euro account and Wise are equivalent; the difference is that Wise also holds 40+ other currencies in the same account.
What are the Starling euro account fees?
The Starling euro account has no monthly fee. Currency conversion between sterling and euros is at the mid-market rate with a fee of around 0.4%, and SEPA payments are typically free. That makes the Starling euro account genuinely low cost and competitive with Wise, which charges from around 0.43%. The two are close on price; the practical difference is that Wise holds many currencies and can be opened without an existing bank account, while the Starling euro account is euro only and needs a Starling current account first.
Can I open a Starling euro account without a Starling current account?
No. To open the Starling euro account you must already hold a Starling personal current account in sterling; the euro account is added on top within the app. If you do not want to open a Starling current account first, Wise is the alternative: you can open a Wise account directly, with no existing UK bank account, and get a Euro IBAN plus account details for dollars and pounds in the same account. For many people that is the simpler route to a euro account.
Starling euro account or Wise: which is better?
Both are strong euro accounts with a Euro IBAN and SEPA access, so it depends on your needs. The Starling euro account is excellent if you already bank with Starling and only need euros; it is tightly integrated and low cost at around 0.4%. Wise is better if you want to hold euros plus dollars, pounds, and 40+ currencies in one account, or if you are not a Starling customer and want to open a euro account on its own. For multi-currency needs, Wise wins; for euro-only Starling customers, the Starling euro account is hard to beat.
Does the Starling euro account come with a card?
The Starling euro account is managed within your Starling app alongside your sterling account, and Starling provides a debit card linked to your Starling banking. Wise also includes a Mastercard debit card, with the added benefit that it spends any of your 40+ currency balances at the mid-market rate, not just euros. If spending in multiple currencies matters, the Wise card is more versatile than relying on the Starling euro account alone.
Can the Starling euro account receive a European salary?
Yes. Because the Starling euro account has a Euro IBAN and SEPA access, a European employer can pay your salary into it by SEPA transfer, which is a real advantage over SWIFT-only bank euro accounts. Wise can do the same with its Euro IBAN. So for receiving a European salary, both the Starling euro account and Wise work well; choose Starling if you want euro-only inside your Starling banking, or Wise if you also want to hold and spend other currencies.
Is the Starling euro account better than a high street bank euro account?
For most people, yes. The Starling euro account has a Euro IBAN and SEPA access, which the HSBC, Barclays, NatWest, and Lloyds euro accounts do not, and it charges no monthly fee with low conversion costs. It is one of the best bank euro accounts in the UK. The main alternative worth comparing it against is not the high street banks but Wise, which matches it on the Euro IBAN and adds multi-currency holding and standalone opening.
The Starling euro account is one of the best euro accounts a UK bank offers: a real Euro IBAN, SEPA access, no monthly fee, and low conversion costs. If you already bank with Starling and only need euros, it is an excellent choice. The two reasons to pick Wise instead are breadth and accessibility: Wise holds euros alongside dollars, pounds, and 40+ currencies, and you can open it on its own without a Starling current account. Compare both against the rest of the market in our UK banks euro account guide, or see the HSBC euro account guide to understand why Starling and Wise beat the SWIFT-only banks.
Read More: Best Euro Account UK | How to Open a Euro Account in the UK | How to Use Wise
Mohammad Humaid
Verified AuthorMo is the founder of MoneyTransferStore. As an expat who has experienced the challenges of sending money across borders himself, he set out to help others like him avoid hidden fees and unfair exchange rates on international transfers. With a background spanning fintech, payments, and Web3, Mo brings years of practical experience to building a platform focused on transparency and trust.
