I go to my account, hit the overdraft item in the various options shown (after “refer a friend” in the list), and it shows that message there. There are no other steps, I don’t get to ask for a specific amount or anything.
If overdrafts / money was an issue then surely they would remove overdrafts.
Mine takes me to an eligibility survey, though not proceeded further.
I’ve had banks that do that and some that first refuse from the outset.
Previously when I had an HSBC, I would press the option for an overdraft and it wouldn’t even given an information, it would simply say we can’t offer you an overdraft right now.
I guess time will tell but I’ve been very happy with starling, yes they’re a bit vanilla, plain but it’s very easy to see what is happening. They have good notifications and UI/UX is clear.
If they were to close, which I don’t see happening, then I’d probably have to think about going back to Monzo. Unfortunately for me, I find Monzo too busy a UI/UX and too many customer service let downs.
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I don’t think the thread reflects reality, at least for me. Generally everyone I know with a fintech is using Starling, if were talking main bank account I don’t know anyone else who uses any other fintech than Starling, out of any fintech I see their cards most commonly in pubs, have 3 takeaways in the town that don’t take card have Starling business accounts you can transfer
Tried many a time to convince some friends to come over to Monzo, they aren’t bothered too. I have to say the Customer Service is a major bonus, some good CS would be much more valuable than some niche app features
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Which part of the country are you in? I’ve never seen a starling card in the wild but have seen many Monzo cards.
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The problem with anecdotal realities is they can vary wildly.
On my island I’ve only ever seen a single Starling card and it was a Starling business card. So my reality is wildly different to yours. And I’m a card watcher too. I’m actively looking for them.
In my own friend group there’s only one person I know who still has an active account with them.
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South East
Haven’t seen that many monzo cards, especially since they’re very eye catching. Genuinely see Starling a lot
I do think the users that Starling keeps are just have at the pace they move at. The app doesn’t leave much to be desired, stays consistent and is very simple, CS is reliable and just is generally a very nice package
Monzo definitely feels the most “move fast and break things” out of them all, I like that though
Basically my experience but it was a normal Starling card not business.
See Monzo pretty much every time I go out.
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For what it’s worth, don’t see an awful lot of Monzo either. Only a handful of times have I seen a salmon card in a stranger’s hand. But that’s a handful more than the green granny card.
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I left Starling earlier this year after it was my main bank for years. I honestly can’t say I’ve missed it, at all.
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As a card watcher myself, I like to see what banks everyone uses. I’ve only ever seen 1 starling card out there, seen lots of monzo cards. I’ve also seen a lot of chase cards too to be fair.
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London?
I couldn’t even tell you which “card I see the most”, could’ve just been starling caught my eye a few times. Like @N26throwaway said completely anecdotal, my town is also majority older so that likely has something to do with it
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I can, because they’re everywhere: Bank of Scotland! 
I haven’t seen many of either Monzo or Starling cards being used. Perhaps a couple of Starling and 2 or 3 Monzo. Halifax cards, on the other hand, I see everywhere, all the time.
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Quite the opposite, I live in the north west lol.
Few people I know stick with Starling, find monzo too complex.
Halifax a lot, surprisingly Santander a heck of a lot (I live in a Uni city and Chester is also a Uni city so possibly a good student account?).
Don’t see Monzo as much about. Have seen revolut a bit, along with Lloyds.
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Probably a bit of confirmation bias aswell, no surprise most of us see our “favourite” fintech the most