Starling founder Anne Boden unveils Lockwood, a current account built for AI agents

Anne Boden, who founded Starling in 2014, is building a second bank. Lockwood is a current account designed for AI agents: customers let trusted agents shop and pay on their behalf, within limits they set and control. Boden, its CEO and founder, describes it as built by agents, for customers' agents, and defended by agents.

Boden stepped down as Starling CEO in June 2023 and left its board in 2024. In October she sold her remaining 2.7% stake to existing shareholders, at a £1.7 billion valuation according to Sky News. Corriere della Sera reports that part of the proceeds will fund Lockwood, and that AI agents picked the name.

The project comes as large UK and US banks block outside AI agents from customer accounts. Boden has argued in the Financial Times that banks should admit authorised agents and agree common rules.