Starling Bank launches “spare” debit card feature to help those self-isolating
Starling Bank has launched its ‘Connected Card’ feature, which allows customers to give a second, “spare” debit card linked to their account to someone who can spend on their behalf.
Customers can apply for one through their banking app
As coronavirus continues to force countries into lockdown, this new feature offered by the UK challenger bank is designed to help those self-isolating to give a trusted other buying power on their account whilst they stay at home.
The card is PIN protected and has a balance limit of just £200, only permitting users to spend in-store, and not online.
Customers can apply for one through their banking app, taking five working days to arrive in the post.
“We know that getting in groceries and other essential items is a challenge for those who are self-isolating during the coronavirus emergency,” says Starling’s founder and CEO Anne Boden.
“So we came up with a solution to help our customers pay for supplies bought for them by trusted friends and neighbours without the hassle of transferring money or handling cash.”
On Monday, the challenger bank also launched mobile cheque deposits to make banking from home easier for customers.
The service works for cheques up to £500, those over this amount must still be sent via a free postal service offered by the bank.
At the beginning of April, Starling launched its ‘Coronavirus Support Scheme’, which included allowing customers to apply for three-month interest holidays.
This means all interest charged on Starling customers’ overdrafts will be waived and will not accumulate any interest over this period.
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