Starling Bank's Engine platform enters into partnership with SBS Bank

Starling Group has signed a ten-year agreement with New Zealand's SBS Bank to implement its Engine core banking platform.

The agreement was announced in February 2026 and represents the fourth foreign implementation of Starling software and the first in New Zealand. Under the agreement, SBS Bank will migrate its core banking systems to Engine, a cloud-native SaaS platform designed in a cloud-native model.

The transaction expands Starling's presence in the Asia-Pacific region, following its earlier partnership with Australia's AMP Bank GO.

According to Reuters, the agreement with SBS Bank is another step in building Engine's international customer base. Since spinning off the platform as a separate subsidiary in 2022, Starling has been consistently developing its licensing model. Engine is currently being implemented at Salt Bank in Romania, AMP Bank GO in Australia, and Tangerine in Canada—with the contract with Tangerine, announced in November 2025, being the largest in the platform's history at the time. SBS Bank becomes the fourth institution outside the UK to implement this solution.

Engine's licensing strategy reflects Starling's shift in direction—from direct retail banking expansion abroad to providing technology to regulated financial institutions. The company has withdrawn from its plans to obtain a banking license in the EU in 2022 and has instead opted for a model in which its technology can be implemented by local banks without Engine having to hold its own license in a given jurisdiction.

The agreement with New Zealand also fits into a broader geographical logic. Starling had previously indicated its interest in markets characterized by high mobile adoption, developed instant payment infrastructure, and a significant share of cards in cashless transactions. At the same time, the company established a subsidiary in the US and invested in an office in New York, declaring its ambition to acquire medium-sized banks and credit unions in North America. However, no US customers have been announced to date.

The ten-year term of the agreement with SBS Bank reflects the structure of previous Engine contracts and suggests a long-term implementation and support model. Core banking system replacement programs typically involve multi-year migrations and deep integration with the bank's operational infrastructure. Both institutions declare their continued focus on customer needs and expectations in a rapidly changing market environment, while maintaining full compliance with regulations and industry requirements.