Women now make up 41% of Starling Bank’s senior management

Starling Bank, as of the end of August 2021, had over 680 women in its workforce, making up a record 43 per cent of the total headcount (1,601).

The figure was announced yesterday and reached as part of Starling’s voluntary commitment to HM Treasury’s Women in Finance Charter that it signed up to in 2017.

Back then just 27 per cent of its senior roles were held by women, a figure it pledged to improve to 30 per cent by 2018, and 40 per cent by 2021—targets the bank says it has now hit.

“We have met our ambitious target of 40 per cent of women in senior roles by 2021,” said CEO and founder Anne Boden.  “However, more work is needed on all fronts across the financial sector to deliver the commitments in the Women in Finance Charter.” 

“This includes tackling the gender pay gap, paying women fairly and supporting women to flourish and thrive so they can access leadership and technical jobs that are valued and highly paid.”

Starling says women make up 41 per cent of its senior managers, which includes employees with senior management functions and significant line management responsibilities.

Not all the figures were a slam dunk for the bank, however, as its executive team and board both saw the number of women slip to 39 per cent, down from 46 per cent and 40 per cent respectively in 2020.

UPDATE 22-12-2021 – An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Starling Bank employed 1,600 women, this figure in fact refers to Starling's total headcount.