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Best children's bank accounts 2025
We reveal the accounts for under-18s that take pocket money to the next level – and explain prepaid cards, spending controls and safety
In this article
- Are there bank accounts for children and teens?
- Best children's bank accounts
- Children's bank account reviews
- 'Look out for useful features to protect your child from fraud'
- How do I open a bank account for my child?
- Do children pay income tax?
- More on children's bank accounts
- Are prepaid debit cards for under-18s safe?
Are there bank accounts for children and teens?
Many banks and building societies will let children open a current account from the age of 11.
Only one bank lets parents open linked accounts for children as young as six, while others only offer accounts to those aged 16 or over.
Children's bank accounts don't have overdraft facilities, so this can be a safe way to learn the basics of financial management before moving on to an adult account.
Under-18s can also get children's savings accounts, and you can open a Junior Isa on their behalf.
Best children's bank accounts
Here are the best accounts for children and teenagers, ranked by provider customer score:
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Starling | 86% | 6 to 15 | 0% | Mobile app | |
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Starling | 86% | 16 to 17 | 0% | Mobile app | |
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Monzo | 85% | 16 to 17 | 3% | Mobile app | |
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Monzo | 85% | 6 to 15 | 3% | Mobile app | |
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Nationwide | 84% | 11 to 17 | 2% | Branch, online | |
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Danske Bank | 80% | 11 to 17 | 0% | Branch, online | |
Bank of Scotland | 77% | 11 to 17 | 0.50% | Mobile app, branch, online | |
Metro Bank | 77% | 11+ | 0% | Branch | |
Ulster Bank | 76% | 16 to 17 | 2.05% | Online | |
Barclays | 76% | 16 to 17 | 0% | Branch, online | |
Barclays | 76% | 11 to 15 | 0.60% | Branch, online | |
Lloyds | 75% | 11 to 17 | 0.50% | Mobile app, branch, online | |
eco buy The Co-operative Bank | 75% | 16 to 17 | 0% | Branch, online | |
Natwest | 74% | 11 to 17 | 2.05% | Online, phone | |
Royal Bank of Scotland | 73% | 11 to 17 | 1.85% | Branch, online, phone | |
HSBC | 72% | 11 to 17 | 0% | Branch, online | |
Halifax | 71% | 11 to 17 | 0.50% | Mobile app, branch, online | |
Santander | 71% | 0 to 17 | 3% | Branch, online | |
Virgin Money | 71% | 11 to 15 | 1.00% | App | |
TSB | 67% | 11 to 17 | 2.50% | Branch, online | |
Cumberland Building Society | n/a | 13 to 23 | 0% | Branch, phone |
Table notes: Data correct as of November 2025. Customer score: Our rating for customer satisfaction, based on feedback from real customers. The score is made up of a customer's overall satisfaction with the brand, and how likely they are to recommend that brand to a friend. We surveyed 6,665 members of the general public in August 2025. Sample size in brackets. Our full table includes scores and star ratings for all banks.
Children's bank account reviews
Recommended Provider
Starling
Unlike most high street brands, Starling and Monzo offer accounts for children as young as six. If you already bank with Starling, you can open a Kite account for children aged 6-15 via your app. Your child will get their own, simplified version of the app which is linked to your account meaning you can set spending limits and card restrictions from your own app and receive notifications every time they spend money. There are no fees for spending overseas, taking out cash or topping up the account with money. The Kite card is teal with two purple circles.
- You, the parent or guardian, will still be the primary account holder so the money added to a Starling Kite account will count towards your own FSCS protection protection limit of £120,000.
86%
1
of 22 current account providers with a customer score
Recommended Provider
Monzo
The Monzo Under 16s account is broadly very similar to Starling Kite in terms of the controls available to parents. Their account is linked to yours (so you can keep an eye on it and set daily spending limits, for example) but your child will need access to a smartphone or tablet to use their own Monzo app. They can choose their own pink, yellow or blue neon Monzo debit card and the bank pays 3% AER interest on linked savings, up to a maximum of £10,000 per child.
- You, the parent or guardian, will still be the primary account holder so the money added to a Monzo under 16s account will count towards your own Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protection limit of £120,000.
85%
2=
of 22 current account providers with a customer score
Recommended Provider
Nationwide
Natiowide FlexOne can be opened for 11 to 17-year-olds. If your child is 11 or 12, you need to visit a branch to open the account. The account is for personal use and can't be used by parents or guardians so there is far less parental oversight when compared to Monzo and Starling's accounts for children, though Nationwide does block gambling transactions and the contactless limit is £45 instead of £100. The debit card is free to use abroad and Nationwide pays 2% AER variable on FlexOne balances up to £1,000. Your child can also open an instant-access FlexOne Saver to earn interest on balances up to £5,000.
- FlexOne deposits belong to the account holder (i.e. your child) for the purposes of FSCS protection.
84%
4=
of 22 current account providers with a customer score
'Look out for useful features to protect your child from fraud'
Chiara Cavaglieri, Which? banking expert, says:
Banks monitor all accounts for potential fraudulent activity and they should block card spending at gambling sites and betting shops for teens.
You can also teach your child about good security practice such as how to stay safe using online banking and how to protect their mobile phones from theft.
If you want to keep a closer eye on your child's account, you should pick one that is linked to your own such as the Monzo and Starling accounts for under 16s which let you:
- choose to be notified when they spend or receive money;
- set daily spending limits;
- instantly freeze their debit card;
- turn both cash withdrawals and online payments on or off.
Your child won't be able to send money to others either – to keep them safe from bank transfer fraud – and they can only add their Monzo debit card to a mobile wallet, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, when they turn 13 (Starling blocks this entirely).
How do I open a bank account for my child?
Many banks will let 16-year-olds apply independently but, for children under 16, a parent or guardian will usually have to open the account in-branch.
You will need to provide a birth certificate or passport, plus a recent household bill or bank statement to prove that you live at the same address.
In some cases, the application can be started online, although you or your child will still typically need to pop into a branch with proof of ID and address.
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Do children pay income tax?
Like adults, children are entitled to income tax allowances, including the personal savings allowance.
During the 2025-26 tax year, children are eligible for the £12,570 personal allowance, the £5,000 starting rate for savings and the £1,000 personal savings allowance. This means children will only pay tax if they earned more than £18,570 a year.
One sticking point is money gifted by parents – if this money generates more than £100 of interest a year, before tax, it would be taxed as if it were the adult's, not the child's.
The £100 rule only applies to parents, step-parents and guardians, not other family members, such as grandparents, or friends.
Read more about taxes in the full guide to children and income tax.
More on children's bank accounts
Are prepaid debit cards for under-18s safe?
There are many prepaid cards on the market targeted at children as young as six, such as GoHenry, HyperJar, Nimbl, Osper and NatWest Rooster Money.
A parent or adult must open the account and they can usually set spending limits or restrict how the card is used.
All prepaid cards must be loaded up with cash first and are typically linked to a smartphone app that both the child and the parent can use.
Non-suitable retailers are automatically blacklisted (such as adult stores, gambling sites and off licences), but parents may also be able to restrict features such as ATM withdrawals or online transactions. Most providers also offer text alerts or app notifications to keep track of spending.
Unlike children's bank accounts, prepaid accounts can't be used to set up direct debits, but the cards can be used in shops, online and (in most cases) for cash withdrawals.
Watch out for annual or monthly service fees, charges for using the card at ATMs and abroad, and restrictions or fees applied when you add money to the account.
Avoid keeping a high balance on a prepaid card
While banks such as Starling and Nationwide are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which protects deposits up to £120,000 if a firm goes under, prepaid cards aren't covered by the scheme.
Prepaid cards are typically backed by e-money firms, which must adhere to e-money regulations. This means your money can't be lent out and must be held in a segregated account so that it's protected against claims made by creditors.
However, if the bank or building society holding that segregated account fails, your child's cash won't be protected.