PensionBee available to Starling sole traders through Marketplace integration

All Starling Bank’s business and personal customers can set up a PensionBee pension directly from their bank accounts, after sole traders were added to Starling’s Business Marketplace.

Starling first struck a partnership with PensionBee in 2018, when the pension provider became the digital bank’s financial services Marketplace integration.

Starling launched its Marketplace in September 2017, becoming the first digital bank to debut a comprehensive third-party offering with day one integrations from fintechs like Flux and MoneyBox.

Marketplace initially let consumers share their financial data between these apps and services, becoming one of the first mainstream examples of open banking.

In the years since, Starling's Marketplace has undergone a series of changes, both in strategy and leadership.

Starling and PensionBee have since enhanced their two-way, API integration by developing new features through open banking.

The new integration is aimed at sole traders, including those who have never had a pension before. 

PensionBee said: “Now all Starling customers can sign up easily, and even combine their old pensions in a few clicks without leaving the app. 

“Open banking enables PensionBee to use existing customer information held by the digital bank, making the process seamless for customers. 

“Mutual customers can make contributions from their Starling bank account to their PensionBee pension and view their balance at any time all from within the Starling app."

Jasper Martens, chief marketing officer at PensionBee, said: “ It couldn’t be simpler for Starling customers to manage their pension savings without ever leaving their banking app. 

“Together PensionBee and Starling have a long history of innovation and we look forward to making it even easier for our customers to manage their money for today alongside their  money for tomorrow with further product features in the future.”

Will Boocock, head of marketplace and business support at Starling, commented: “Saving for a pension often ends up as another thing to do on a to-do list.

"Our new sole trader PensionBee partnership makes saving for the future much quicker and easier as you can sign up via the Starling Bank app allowing you to combine old pensions and invest in new ones.”