To think secondary aged children need access to bank accounts

[allthethinkz]

My DD is 11 and starting secondary school next month. As she will be travelling to school independently I tried to open an account for her today. It seems that most if not all of the High Street banks have withdrawn the facility to open new accounts for 11-12 year olds at this time. Are other people aware of this? Its as if they see it as a novelty for these children rather thsn an essential. But it will put children at risk if they lose or run out of money for bus/train and end up having to walk home or wait alone somewhere. AIBU to think this should be seen as an essential service, and that if pubs and swimming pools are open then the banks should be able to provide child accounts?

Yep. It’s very comforting to know they have access to emergency funds when they are travelling on their own. One less thing to worry about.

paquitavariation but my dd’s friend is with the Bank of Scotland and they have a contactless card. Plus my dd was advised that she can use google or apple Pay on her phone for contactless, so I don’t see how that is any different from giving her a contactless card.

@blacktop

But at times like this, in the middle of a pandemic, you’d think they could make it a bit easier.

Well no, a pandemic doesn't mean the banks can drop the rope in terms of security. The rules are very strict.

It’s not like we were opening a totally new account with a new bank we are already customers and have been for years.

But your DD had a seatings account and wanted to open a current account so opening a totally new account is exactly what you were doing.

I know it seems like a pita but the bank acted entirely correctly in that situations

I appreciate that they acted correctly but that doesn’t change the fact that we went in during May and signed forms and they photocopied ID then we had to go back in and do it again. Yes they were technically opening a new account but all the information they needed was there in the bank, which the lady admitted on the phone.

It has just been extra hassle and visits to the bank that we didn’t need to do and at the end of the day dd didn’t get the card she wanted. But it’s ok she can use google pay.

Actually you can add a non contactless cards
to Apple Pay anyhow. My TSB cats isn't contactless but it's linked to my phone and watch anyway

Imo I needed to organise a face to face appointment for dc to open an account.

I went with an actual account because I personally (despite 900 posts to the contrary) don't think i should police my child's spending. If she chooses to spunk the lot on great trainers..well, no money for frappocinos or whatever next month. Nationwide has been great.

@blacktop

Actually you can add a non contactless cards to Apple Pay anyhow. My TSB cats isn't contactless but it's linked to my phone and watch anyway

Yes, my dd set up google pay on her phone and it worked when she used it yesterday in the supermarket. However it didn’t work today when she was in an HMV in the town we were visiting.

I’m just a bit cross with the bank as they led me to believe that we had sorted all this out back in May, when in fact we hadn’t. I also don’t understand why they won’t give her a contactless card but the bank across the street will.

If they're over 16 you can set up Google pay for contactless payments.
Most banks don't do contactless debit cards for under 18s.

Lloyd's TSB and Barclays offer contactless you under 19s

Lots of banks do. Posters saying otherwise are incorrect.

Have you tried Monzo? We have opened one for my son there recently. You do it all online and the card came through within a week.