<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">UK-based challenger bank Starling Bank has completed a £130.5 million internal fundraising round at a £2.5 billion valuation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The funding came from existing investors Fidelity Management and Research Company, RPMI Railpen, Qatar Investment Authority, Goldman Sachs and Harald McPike.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a statement on Tuesday, the company said the money would enable it to continue growth and “build a war chest for acquisitions.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We are looking at a number of potential targets," a spokesperson added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although the bank declined to go into specifics about targets, The Block understands that Starling Bank is interested in acquiring lenders, and is currently looking at specialist lender Kensington Mortgages. This Is Money </span><a href="https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-10444787/Barclays-bid-mortgage-firm-Kensington-race-Starling.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">first reported</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Starling’s interest in the business in January. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Starling Bank was founded in 2014 by Anne Boden as an alternative bank account provider. Boden has previously said that the company aims to go public by 2023.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In July last year, Starling Bank </span><a href="https://www.starlingbank.com/news/starling-bank-acquires-mortgage-lender-fleet-mortgages/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">acquired</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> buy-to-let mortgages lender Fleet Mortgages in a £50 million cash and share deal.</span></p><br /><span class="copyright"><p>© 2023 The Block Crypto, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.</p> </span>