FCA Fines Starling Bank $38.5 Million for Compliance Lapses. Starling Bank, a prominent UK digital bank backed by Goldman Sachs. It has been fined $38.5 million for failing to maintain adequate financial crime controls. The fine, issued by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), comes after a series of regulatory investigations found Starling’s compliance systems to be “shockingly lax” in preventing money laundering and other financial crimes.

According to the FCA, Starling failed to implement sufficient measures to monitor suspicious transactions and identify potential risks posed by high-risk customers. The lack of proper safeguards left the bank vulnerable to money laundering activities and other illicit financial schemes.

The regulator highlighted significant lapses in Starling’s oversight processes, particularly in its customer due diligence and transaction monitoring systems. These failures, they said, created opportunities for criminals to exploit the bank’s services without proper scrutiny. While Starling has since improved its controls, the penalty reflects the seriousness of the breaches during the period under review.

In response, Starling Bank acknowledged the shortcomings in its previous compliance efforts but expressed disappointment at the scale of the fine. A spokesperson stated that the bank has since overhauled its financial crime controls. Investing heavily in new technology and personnel to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

The fine represents a major setback for Starling Bank. Which has been viewed as a leader in the UK’s growing digital banking sector. With high-profile investors like Goldman Sachs backing the company. The bank had quickly risen to prominence with its innovative financial products and customer-focused approach. However, this regulatory penalty could dent its reputation and raise questions about its internal management.

Despite the fine, Starling remains committed to improving its compliance standards and continuing to serve its customers. The bank emphasized that it will fully cooperate with the FCA to ensure that its systems meet all necessary regulations going forward.

The case underscores the importance of robust financial crime controls in an era of growing digital banking.  Highlights the significant regulatory risks that even well-funded institutions can face.