How Starling Boosts Travel Offering with Global eSIM Plans

In a move to bolster its industry-leading travel offering, Starling has expanded its service ecosystem beyond digital banking by launching competitive, transparent eSIM data-roaming plans.

To deliver the new connectivity service, the bank joined hands with telecom infrastructure platform Gigs.

The digital SIMs connect users to the best available network provider across more than 130 countries worldwide, ensuring high-quality mobile coverage on arrival.

By embedding mobile data directly into its banking app, Starling continues to strengthen its travel proposition without imposing hidden fees or unexpected charges.

Harriet Rees, Group Chief Information Officer at Starling, says: “Moving beyond core banking infrastructure into connectivity required seamless API integration and a robust ecosystem. 

“By partnering with Gigs, we’ve embedded global telecom capabilities directly into the Starling app allowing customers to avoid roaming fees and stay connected in more than 130 countries instantly.”

Flexible data plans

The digital SIM plan includes fee-free spending abroad and a daily fee-free ATM withdrawal allowance of £300 (US$392). 

Customers will also receive free access to a variety of handy in-app financial tools designed for international travel.

Starling offers four distinct 30-day data packages designed to suit various trip lengths and data needs: 1GB, 3GB, 5GB and 10GB.

Users can purchase plans seamlessly inside the Starling app before departure, which will activate automatically upon landing at the destination. 

Data allowance can also be topped up mid-trip, if required. Even if a customer exhausts their purchased data allowance while abroad, the bank will ensure global access to its mobile banking app without incurring roaming charges.

Hermann Frank, CEO and Co-Founder of Gigs, says: “Starling is already the UK’s trusted travel companion for fee-free and secure spending abroad. The key piece missing was staying connected overseas. Starling’s eSIM completes the travel toolkit, with users online the moment they hit the tarmac.”

Enhancing financial management

The eSIM feature joins Starling’s existing suite of travel tools, including its Travel Hub, which displays real-time exchange rates for local currencies. 

Customers can track holiday expenses using Spending Trackers or organise trip budgets using custom tags for better clarity and expense tracking.

Bernadette Smith, Chief Customer and Banking Officer at Starling, says: “When Starling launched ten years ago, our fee-free travel offering set the bar for traditional banks to follow. Our travel offering remains industry leading, and our eSIMs add to the convenient experience our customers love us for.”

She recommends using the real-time Mastercard exchange rate alongside tools like Starling Assistant and Spending Intelligence to budget effectively before, during and after a trip.

Bernadette also advises protecting finances and splitting group costs using features such as Scam Intelligence, temporary virtual cards, Split the Bill and Joint Accounts.