Starling Bank’s app crashes after Martin Lewis recommends its bank account
Thousands of people tried to sign up to the bank after The Money Saving Expert named it the best account to use abroad
THOUSANDS of customers struggled to open a Starling bank account last night after the app crashed.
There was an influx of customers grappling to open an account after Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis recommended the bank for holidaymakers on his ITV consumer show.
The money guru praised the bank as the best for travellers because it doesn't charge any fees for paying or withdrawing cash abroad.
It's a better deal for holidaymakers than competitors like Monzo who now charge for withdrawing cash from ATMs abroad.
Customers hoping to sign up for a current account with the challenger bank last night experienced delays as the app struggled to cope.
The app-based bank prides itself on customers being able to open an account with them in three minutes, using a selfie.
Unlike traditional high street banks, you can start spending money from the account from the moment it's opened, even if you don't have a debit card.
Some complained about seeing a "server error" message when they tried to get on to the website, while others didn't receive the verification text message needed to open an account.
Last night, the bank tweeted: "Thousands of people are signing up for accounts as a result of Martin Lewis recommendation on TV this evening.
"We are revamping up capacity now to cater for demand and hope to open your accounts ASAP."
Top boss at the bank Anne Boden told The Sun today that the problems were fixed within 50 minutes and that customers hoping to open an account now shouldn't be affected.
The bank has also added a new feature to the app which blocks betting and gambling merchant codes, aimed at tackling gambling addiction.
Monzo announced a similar opt-in feature last month, and Barclays already lets users stop gambling transactions on its Barclaycard credit card.
MOST READ IN MONEY
Digital-only banks are on the rise, offering customers anything from savings and current accounts - and some even offer mortgages.
Controlled primarily through an app, the aren't constrained by the same things traditional banks are. For example, Revolut now lets customers pay online with "disposable" card details in a bid to tackle the rise of online crime.
Not sure where to start? Here are the challenger banks you should be looking out for - and some of them are great news for your savings.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 78 24516. Don't forget to join the for the latest bargains and money-saving advice.