Starling Bank has unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of its banking app, introducing a refreshed brand identity and a suite of artificial intelligence-powered money management tools.

The centrepiece, Spending Intelligence, leverages AI to help customers better understand and manage their spending habits, aligning with Starling’s stated mission to support financial wellbeing across the UK.

The bank’s own research highlights the scale of the challenge: 53 per cent of Britons find money management difficult, 38 per cent worry about finances daily, and 44 per cent wish to improve their skills, though 22 per cent are unsure how to do so. Starling claims its app redesign and new features are intended to encourage more proactive financial behaviour, enabling users to rethink budgeting, spending, and saving.

Raghu Narula, chief customer and banking officer, said the changes reflect Starling’s responsibility to empower customers to develop positive money habits, with the new app and branding representing “the first step of many” in this direction. He added that the bank will focus on launching further AI-driven products and smart in-app features to help both business and retail customers save time and money.

The visual overhaul draws inspiration from the colours of starling birds, introducing a new logo and updated purple and teal tones. Personal Account customers will soon be able to use updated teal cards in their mobile wallets, while Joint Account cards will transition from green to taupe. Physical cards with the new design will be issued to new customers and those requesting replacements from February 2026.

Starling states that the rebrand is designed to make the app more engaging and accessible, supporting the development of good money habits. Additional product updates include a Cash ISA, currently in limited testing, with a wider rollout planned in the coming months. The Easy Saver product will also be enhanced with a Spaces feature, allowing users to categorise savings for specific goals such as holidays or emergency funds. Customers with iPhone 15 Pro and above will be able to personalise these Spaces with AI-generated images.

While the new features and branding are positioned as steps towards greater financial empowerment, independent evidence of their effectiveness is not yet available.

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