Core Viewpoint - Starling Bank, a UK-based emerging bank, is considering an IPO in the US and has begun hiring in its New York office [1] Group 1: IPO Considerations - Starling Bank is evaluating various options for a potential IPO and is not focused on a single listing location [1] - The bank has recently hired a top fintech executive in New York as part of its IPO preparations [1] Group 2: North American Expansion - Starling plans to invest $50 million in expanding its presence in the North American market [1] - The bank is in discussions with several US banks regarding the potential sale of its Engine software to thousands of small and medium-sized banks [1] - Starling is considering acquiring a small national charter bank with assets under $2 billion as part of its expansion strategy [1] Group 3: Market Context - The move comes amid a surge in IPO activity in the US capital markets, with companies like Figure Technology, Gemini Space Station, and Klarna preparing for their own listings [1] - UK fintech companies are looking to capitalize on deregulation opportunities in the financial sector as proposed by former President Trump [1]