London-based fintech Starling Bank plans to cut approximately 130 roles as it restructures its banking and technology operations. This move follows a period of declining financial performance. Management aims to simplify internal processes and reduce duplication, specifically shifting resources toward an aggressive push into artificial intelligence and automated product delivery.

Recent financial data reveals the pressure driving these cuts. The company reported total revenue of £887.4m for the year ending March, a drop from the previous year's £940m. Simultaneously, pre-tax profits fell by 3% to £217m. These numbers highlight the tightening margins facing digital banks as they attempt to scale efficiency.

Integrating AI tools is central to this reorganization. Starling has already deployed intelligence tools for scam detection and launched its Starling Assistant to handle tasks like savings management. This strategy places the firm in direct competition with rivals like Revolut, which introduced a similar assistant earlier this year. The bank is trading headcount for technological agility.