Best children's bank account

[pippa289]

My child starts secondary from September and we are considering to open bank account for him.

Do you know the best bank account for 11 years old? I would like to get him a debit card for shopping in this circumstance. Also, it would be good if both of child and parent can use app to monitor the bank statement.

We did the same as @MsEllany, this morning actually! As a Barclay customer we logged in through the app, then opened the separate video app and did it all over that (sent a photo of DS’s passport via docusign). It took about 45 mins and was so easy - the lady even helped DS set up the mobile banking app.

(I appreciate you aren’t a Barclays customer OP but I thought the info might help others on here.)

We recently opened a Nationwide account for DS1 who is 13 which comes with a debit card. This is normally available to kids of 11 and 12 but at the moment you would need an appointment.

I have a current account with HSBC but local branches have closed and nearest ones are about 4 miles away, in London, which isn't particularly helpful, and I decided to go for Nationwide because I have other accounts there and passbook savings for the kids, and dp has his current account there. They have two branches about a mile from us in nearby shopping areas, and one near DP's work and the tube station there. I think it's sensible to think about which banks are most convenient to get to from you even if you mostly use them online, eg distance, places you/other parent/dc goes to regularly anyway.

Sadly we've already had to report a lost/stolen card on the phone but they answered dp's call promptly, spoke to DS, and were able to reassure us that no money had been taken or spent on his account before we reported it. We were told the card would come within 7 working days and it came in about 4.

We went with MetroBank for 11 year old DD - it's not quick to set up, and you need to go in person, with child plus passport etc but they are very child-friendly.

We're giving her £5 a week allowance - and she has the potential to earn another £5 a week if all homework, music practice etc is completed properly, on time AND without any nagging from us (I suspect we will not be paying out that often).

NatWest will do 11 year old accounts. The only bank we could find that would, the others jut currently opening them because Covid 🙄

Nationwide are now doing phone appointments. To pen the flex account for 11 year olds. I've got one booked for Ds2 for this Saturday morning.

Oblomov20, thanks for that information, as I might try and arrange this to open a flex account for DS2 (11).