Starling Bank has added virtual cards to the in-app features it offers personal current account customers.
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A virtual card works just like a normal debit card for payments, but it’s linked to a Saving Space in the Starling app, instead of the main account balance. Like physical cards, virtual cards have a unique card number, expiry date and CVV.
Customers can use their virtual card for all sorts of payments, depending on how they want to organise their personal finances. In addition to Starling’s Bills Manager feature which is used to pay for direct debits and standing orders from a particular Space, virtual cards can make it easier to manage subscriptions straight from a Space.
By setting up a ‘Subscriptions’ Space and virtual card, customers will be able to see all their payments for streaming platforms, magazines, apps, and organisations in one place. This can make it easier to review or cancel.
“Our customers asked for virtual cards and we’ve delivered,” said Helen Bierton, Starling’s chief banking officer.
“Virtual cards allow people to completely compartmentalise their personal finances for better control of their spending, making it easier to stick to budgets.”
Customers can have as many as five virtual cards at a time and can assign each one to a Space that might be dedicated to travel or groceries, for example, according to the press release.
“We’re constantly thinking of how we can help our customers manage their money better. We’ve been busy building these new features, as well as our new Budget Planner, to help us continue this mission,” added Bierton.
