Starling Signs 10-Year Software Deal with Canada’s Tangerine, Plans Over 100 Hires

UK digital bank Starling has secured a landmark 10-year software partnership with Tangerine Bank of Canada, marking its biggest technology services deal to date. The agreement will see Tangerine adopt Engine by Starling, the bank’s cloud-based core banking platform, to modernize its digital operations and improve customer experience.

The partnership also represents Starling’s first major client in North America — a significant step in its strategy to become a global technology provider rather than just a challenger bank. As part of the deal, Starling plans to recruit over 100 new staff to support the rollout and expand its technology and service teams.

The Engine platform, which was originally built to power Starling’s own digital banking operations in the UK, allows other banks to operate more efficiently with flexible, scalable infrastructure. The system is designed to handle everything from payments and customer onboarding to fraud detection and account management.

Analysis / Impact:
Starling’s move into global software services marks a turning point for the UK fintech industry. While the bank made its name as a fast-growing digital lender, this deal positions it as a technology exporter, competing with established financial software giants.

For Tangerine, part of the Bank of Nova Scotia group, the partnership promises faster innovation cycles, lower maintenance costs, and improved reliability. With millions of Canadian users, the upgrade is expected to enhance service delivery and strengthen its position in the country’s growing digital banking sector.

Industry experts say the agreement highlights how fintech firms are increasingly selling the same technology that powered their own success. The combination of a 10-year contract and planned hiring wave shows Starling’s confidence in scaling Engine globally — from Europe to North America and beyond.

If successful, this collaboration could redefine how banks worldwide approach modernization, shifting from legacy systems to flexible, cloud-native technology built by digital-first pioneers like Starling.