Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How did you open your child’s bank account- Is it really this hard to open a bank account for a child?

76 replies

Hottubby · 04/10/2022 19:57

My 15 year old wants a bank account. We don’t live anywhere near an actual real life open bank as they all shut down. We have a mobile bank that comes to our town once a fortnight for a whole 90 mins during working hours. Unless I take leave I can’t get there and more to the point she has to be with me to prove her ID and will be at school.
It is proving impossible to open an account without resorting to taking a days annual leave and travelling 30 miles to an actual branch. I can not find a bank that will let me open an account online. The only one I’ve found (Santander) needs proof of my child’s address via a utility bill- we literally have NOTHING with her address on.
so tell me- how did you open your child’s bank account? What am I missing?

OP posts:
limitededitionbarbie · 04/10/2022 19:59

I did a Osper which is a Childrens account.

You get a bank card and the same functionality as a bank.

It might do for now until you can get into an actual bank.

limitededitionbarbie · 04/10/2022 20:00

I think starling let you do it online also

Sunnyqueen · 04/10/2022 20:00

Mine has a gohenry account. Card came within about 3 days but you can use it online before then.

SBAM · 04/10/2022 20:02

I did it online with Halifax. I already bank with them, I uploaded the birth certificate I think, and that’s all they wanted. This was for a young child though so the account is still under my control.

Coffeaddict · 04/10/2022 20:02

You can do a santander one online once they're 13 so would work for your daughter

ChristmasPuddingAllRound · 04/10/2022 20:03

I did both my son's online via a video call with Barclays one Saturday morning. They had to be with me in the room but was relatively pain free.

PatriciaHolm · 04/10/2022 20:03

I did it online for nationwide, You need the child and their passport.

Survey99 · 04/10/2022 20:05

Like most appointments I try to organise during the school holidays whereever possible. Bank is easier than Drs, dentists etc!

Lovesgreen · 04/10/2022 20:06

I did it online for a 15 year old during Covid with HSBC. I did have to follow a process and send a picture of his ID, I think it was a passport. It was also easier as I was an existing account holder.

Scarlettpixie · 04/10/2022 20:07

I tried to do it online with Nationwide but the webcam couldn’t get a good enough image of his passport photo and in the end we gave up. It said we need to go to a branch but we just haven’t got around to it yet,

XelaM · 04/10/2022 20:07

RoosterMoney online account (they are now Natwest)

Invisimamma · 04/10/2022 20:07

I did it online with Halifax for my DS, no need to visit a branch. We already bank with them though, but it was a new account for ds.

LondonQueen · 04/10/2022 20:09

For ID, ask the school and they should be able to send you a letter confirming her name, address and that she is a student at the school. Pair that with a passport and you should be fine with Santander.

bellac11 · 04/10/2022 20:09

Half term is in a couple of weeks although that doesnt solve your issue of getting time off.

5zeds · 04/10/2022 20:11

It took absolutely ages to do it for my children as they wanted an appointment for each child and kept cancelling and moving appointments. They had no way of copying details like address etc from one to another. Honestly an abysmal experience. It took months with lots of wasted Saturdays. Grim

lannistunut · 04/10/2022 20:12

I don't understand this, we opened an account at the same bank I am with using birth certificate. We were given a choice of online or branch account. Banks are open on Saturdays if you work weekdays, or in half term if you have days off in the week.

Thatiswild · 04/10/2022 20:15

The first time I tried, they said it would take an hour per child and explained what I’d need to bring and it sounded so ridiculous I gave up. The next time I looked for their birth certificates I realised I had never gone back to sort it out and the cheques I’d been going to open them with were out of date (and the two cheque writers had passed away!)
When I finally did do it, it genuinely did take an hour per child and I had to do two 2hr sessions on two separate days. Saying that, now it’s done!
It did seem unnecessarily arduous but a lot of it is to protect the child and ensure no one is setting up dodgy accounts in their name so I suppose it’s fair enough.

Thatiswild · 04/10/2022 20:16

A hyperjar card is quick to set up until you can get into a branch - my daughter uses hers anywhere contactless is ok and just carries some cash as back up too

Peterbear · 04/10/2022 20:16

It's bloody difficult! We waited till dd was 16 then did it online with Lloyds- only because you can deposit money via a post office. It's a nightmare not having a bank nearby but we did it (with a few tears and tantrums) good luck

babysteps22 · 04/10/2022 20:19

I've just successfully opened an account for my children through HSBC. Far easier as I was existing customer. Had to scan passport and do ID check through a website but didn't have to go into a branch.
Used to use GoHenry but I balk at the £4.99 a month charge.

user1471447863 · 04/10/2022 20:27

Halifax/bank of Scotland, did it online and only needed birth certificate scan.
It may be different as he's over 13 (or whatever the account age change is).
Do it during 'office hours' though as the first time I tried it late at night it failed to ask for the birth certificate scan and got a bit stuck.

They should all be able to do it online now after the huge progresses made in remote working thanks to Covid.
It's also something with getting out of the way shortly after they are born as the ID requirements seen to be simpler than for an adult or teenager

W0rldofGiants · 04/10/2022 20:30

You should be able to open a bank account at any post office

BattenburgDonkey · 04/10/2022 20:30

Did it with Halifax, online application took 20 mins and I had to upload birth certificate, it was verified and opened the next working day. I don’t bank with them either.

Icecolder · 04/10/2022 20:33

Online with Barclays. Did have to set aside an hour and have dd plus passport with me. A lot of the time was the agent reading through terms and conditions

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 04/10/2022 21:07

I have a Barclays account. I opened my boy's accounts using video banking and their identification. They were 11.

At 15 he might need his own ID. If not, what does your bank offer in terms of you being an 'introducer'?