Former Starling Bank Co-Founder and CEO John Mountain Joins Stoa, the New Savings Technology Platform

WHY THIS MATTERS: This strategic advisory role, taken on by a veteran executive who helped engineer one of the UK’s most successful digital banks, lends substantial weight to Stoa’s vision. This is not simply a personnel update; it signifies the market’s recognition of a genuine product innovation in Behavioral Finance. Stoa’s model, which trades fixed deposits for immediate, tangible perks rather than low-yield interest, directly addresses the consumer inertia that plagues traditional savings products. For banks and building societies, this is a critical development in deposit gathering, offering a robust, structural mechanism to secure longer-term, low-cost capital in an intensely competitive environment. The immediate attraction of flagship financial brands in both the UK and US validates the commercial demand for technology that solves the persistent problem of securing sticky funding while providing clear, upfront value to the customer base.

Stoa, a UK-based savings technology platform, has appointed John Mountain, former Co-Founder and CEO of Starling Bank, as an Advisor to support product innovation and growth across financial institutions and merchant distribution.

John Mountain said: “I chose Starling because I believed deeply in the founder and CEO, Anne Boden. I’ve found that same founder-led conviction again at Stoa in the form of Mike Saraswat. Stoa is rethinking how savings work in a way that reflects real behaviour, and I’m excited to support the journey.”

John Mountain will work closely with Stoa’s leadership team to help shape product strategy and accelerate distribution via banks, building societies and merchant partners. Stoa is currently in advanced conversations with multiple flagship brands and well-known banks and building societies to distribute both Stoa Pots, its “save-to-get-perks” deposit technology, and Saving Score, which the company describes as the world’s first score focused on tracking saving behaviour. 

Mike Saraswat, Co-Founder and CEO of Stoa, said: “John is an exceptional technologist and executive leader, and it’s a privilege to have his support as we build Stoa into a global company.”

Mountain is a software and banking technology executive who was part of Starling Bank’s founding team. He joined Starling in 2015, led the build and launch of its core banking platform, and later served on the executive team as Chief Information Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer. Prior to Starling, he held senior engineering and architecture roles, including at BJSS, and worked on financial services platforms such as Alfa Systems. He left Starling Bank at the end of 2024.

Stoa is creating a new category in savings by building products that encourage consumers and businesses to park idle cash in exchange for tangible perks received upfront, rather than earning nominal interest over time. Customers lock deposits for a fixed term and immediately unlock high-value everyday benefits such as groceries, subscriptions and digital services, creating a win-win model in which banks and building societies secure longer-term deposits, merchants reach high-quality customers, and end users receive clear, practical value from their savings.

Stoa plans to scale first across the UK and the United States, working closely with regulated financial institutions and major merchant partners, before exploring international expansion across the Middle East and Latin America.

FF NEWS TAKE: Stoa is primed to move the needle by offering a highly differentiated pathway for financial institutions to acquire and retain deposits. John Mountain’s deep technical expertise in scaling a core platform significantly de-risks the technology and commercial execution. We believe the success of this model hinges on the quality and perceived value of the perks offered through its merchant distribution channels. The industry should watch closely for the announcement of Stoa’s first flagship partners, as their uptake will determine if this “perks-for-cash” approach becomes the new gold standard for consumer savings technology.

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