Starling Bank Adds In-App eSIM Plans Powered by Gigs, Joining Monzo and Revolut in Travel Connectivity
Starling Bank Adds In-App eSIM Plans Powered by Gigs, Joining Monzo and Revolut in Travel Connectivity #
Starling Bank has launched an in-app eSIM service that lets retail customers buy and activate international data plans within the Starling mobile app.
The service is built on a partnership with Gigs, the mobile services platform that also powers Santander’s recently launched eSIM product. Customers can choose from four 30-day data bundles (1GB, 3GB, 5GB, or 10GB) covering more than 130 countries, with prices starting at £3. Plans can be purchased before departure and activate automatically on arrival in a new country.
After a customer uses up their data allowance, the Starling app remains accessible, so users can still check their balance or make payments without standard roaming charges from their primary SIM. Top-ups are also available from abroad.
Harriet Rees, Starling’s Group Chief Information Officer, said the integration required seamless API connectivity to embed global telecom capabilities directly into the bank’s existing infrastructure. Bernadette Smith, Chief Customer and Banking Officer, said eSIMs make it easier for customers to stay connected abroad and described the launch as a natural extension of the bank’s existing fee-free travel credentials.
Monzo and Revolut both already offer in-app eSIM plans. All three banks offer curated data bundles rather than operating their own telecoms networks.
Starling’s travel offering already includes fee-free overseas card spending. The bank is headquartered in London, holds a full UK banking licence, and also operates Engine, a software-as-a-service business that licenses its core banking platform to other financial institutions.
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