Letter from Santander today asking me if I actually want to replace my debit card as I’ve not used it for a while (expires July).
They don’t say whether I could still have a virtual card number for online subscription purposes though 
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The issue with any story from the Telegraph is that they’ve got a history of blowing any minor point about either Monzo or Starling completely out of the water and making it a huge story about how bad they are. Checking the Wikipedia page for The Telegraph, the paper has been criticised for being unduly influenced by it’s advertised - especially HSBC…
The QIA is diversifying it’s investments to reduce it’s dependency on the oil industry - they’re hosting the World Cup next year after all!. They’re also the largest shareholder in Sainsburys and have investments in the VW Group - how have already announced their roadmap (pun intended) for moving from petrol/diesel cars to pure electric cars.
Yes - they’re very controversial and the whole World Cup is very very problematic but at what point does a ‘fossil fuel’ company become a ‘new technology’ company that it’s ok to receive investment from?
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PVC still takes 400 years to ‘biodegrade’, as opposed to the 6 months of the PLA Eco Card, according to the GoHenry information. If this claim is factually true, all card issuers should be going PLA.
In fact, since launch, 1 GH Eco card has already biodegraded and the second one is two months off disappearing.
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So I posted the screenshot of the Triodos Eco card, basically with the added caption on the post saying ‘Greener still though’.
The social media team have conveniently ignored that post (no doubt as they haven’t got anything worth replying with). Granted I didn’t leave a question but I was at least expecting them to comment something. 
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I was very surprised with the Starling overdraft.
I only have a small overdraft (£500) with Starling and it has only ever been used a few times, luckily offset with the money in spaces so at no cost.
When the interest rates were changed, my overdraft rate came back at 15%, which compared with the 39.9% on my Nationwide overdraft is pretty good 
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But surely the contactless antenna and chip are made out of metal and silicon. That is not biodegradable so still needs to be recycled properly?
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You’re right. It’s just a marketing thing. They say it’s biodegradable, but if you left it outside for years, chances are it won’t have degraded, then you have other components as you say which aren’t biodegradable. Plus they’re all glued together - the front and back faces likely aren’t biodegradable either.
It’s all BS quite frankly. Just like cotton tote bags being better for the environment when over it’s whole life cycle it’s likely not. But it makes people ‘feel’ good - which is arguably more important (to the brand) because the people who think it’s better and think they’re doing their part are more likely to buy into it.
Starling’s option to use recycled plastic is a good move - re-use is better than virgin plastic.
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The Qatari Investment Authority is one of six Sovereign Wealth Fund founding signatories of the One Planet Summit, which was set up as a direct consequence of the Paris Climate Agreement, alongside New Zealand and Norway.
It appears as if it is trying to be part of the solution to non-dependence on fossil fuels.
Surely the wealth derived from oil and gas is a privilege the Middle East has to work hard to overcome just as much as the wealth of European nations is derived from the slave trade?
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I’m fairly sure the Qatar government have long talked about them being vary aware that oil is not the future, lowering their dependance on it and diversifying their income. I don’t think they’re evil oil tycoons.
I’m certain the UK government also has it’s finger in some oil pies.
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I don’t believe this is the case. In perfect lab conditions, perhaps, but in the real world I don’t think it will biodegrade as well. Plus it’s likely just the card core that’s biodegradable, the other layers probably are not
I understand refuse sacks, but debit cards have protective layers on the front and back, it’s not a single piece of plastic. They couldn’t have the front and the back being biodegradable otherwise it would degrade too easily in normal use. The front and back (possibly the sides also) must have additional layering.
If that’s really the case, then it’s fairly impressive.
Does that mean that sometime soon I’ll open my wallet and…?
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Here’s a suggestion:
- First card is free.
- (Optional stage, when infrastructure supports) If you don’t want one, you can just have a virtual/e-wallet card.
- Bank charges £5 for delivery of replacement card upon expiry. This covers cost, and is a small ‘green tax’.
- Included is return envelope, you cut up your old card and post it back to the bank, if you want.
- Bank refunds your £5 and securely recycles your old card.
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100% agree, however this will work better at the point at which bank cards become optional. We’re getting close, but once they’re optional then I think a lot of people with opt to not have a bankcard at all.
Interestingly the true providers of metal cards for example Amex & Chase (Chase more so than I amex as they provide a titanium card) require you to return the card upon its expiry.
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That’s probably a practice from when your whole account details would be found on the card?
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Think the thread has gone off on a tangent into “green” cards and less about Starling
it’ll come back round, these always do.
Here look Starling Bank to expand in Southampton after committing to more office space | Daily Echo
I wonder if they’ll downsize London at some point. They’re in some pretty expensive offices
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It makes sense to reduce your estate costs.
They’re in some very cheap offices. I’m sure this has been discussed before but 2 Finsbury Avenue was/is due for demolition and a total rebuild. The owners decided this after whichever bank it was moved out to their new HQ and sold. Planning was given in 2016 but nothing has happened so far, and last year new plans were submitted. As such most of the leases were pretty short term on account of the fact that when it eventually competed planning, appeals, and all of the prep that has to go into such a major project, the tenants would all have to move so work could start, and that’s obviously why they’ve let the building to multiple tenants rather than trying to find one major company to take on the whole thing. That’s how Starling was able to start with part of one floor and grow until they have 3 floors of the building I think. The owners have spent a bit of money on it recently and it now has a co-working space tenant and a few other new ones, but when Starling moved in it was pretty shabby as far as offices in that part of town go, as the plan was always to raze it, but I think they’re in that building because it’s a bit of a bargain. They may well go elsewhere when the work starts, either just temporary them move into the new 2FA or as you say move much of the company to the regional offices.
Current 2/3 Finsbury
Latest (2020) designs for new 2/3 Finsbury
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