Best kids bank account 2026
Last updated: 28.07.2026
Choosing the right account for a child usually comes down to one decision: a prepaid pocket-money card app such as GoHenry or Nimbl, or a real bank account with its own sort code from a high street name such as NatWest or HSBC. We compared five of the leading UK options for 2026 across fees, protection, age range and parental controls to help you pick the right one for your child's age and how much independence you want to give them.
Kite is completely free, sits inside a fully licensed UK bank account, and gives parents instant control over spending limits and card freezes, all without a subscription fee.
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Best kids bank accounts compared (September 2026)
We compared 5 kids bank accounts and these 5 accounts made it into our overview:
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| #1Top pick | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | |
| Provider | | | | | |
| Account | Starling Bank Starling Kite | GoHenry | HSBC UK HSBC MyAccount | NatWest Adapt Account | Nimbl |
| Offer | Open account | Open account | Open account | Open account | Open account |
| Review | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rating | 4.8 /5 ★★★★★ | 4.6 /5 ★★★★★ | 4.4 /5 ★★★★☆ | 4.2 /5 ★★★★☆ | 4.0 /5 ★★★★☆ |
| Monthly fee | £0/month | From £3.99/month | £0/month | £0/month | £32/year (first child) |
| Debit card | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deposit protection | 120.000 | No (e-money, safeguarded, no FSCS) | 120.000 | 120.000 | No (e-money via Caxton, safeguarded, no FSCS) |
| iOS app | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online account opening | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
The best by category
Kite is completely free, sits inside a fully licensed UK bank account, and gives parents instant control over spending limits and card freezes, all without a subscription fee.
GoHenry has the deepest set of chores, savings goals and spending-category controls of any app in this comparison, and covers the full 6 to 18 age range on one account.
Adapt is a genuine current account with its own sort code, pays 1.60% AER on the balance, and gives 13 to 17 year olds access to Apple Pay and Google Pay.
The linked MySavings pot pays 3.75% AER on balances up to £3,000, the strongest savings rate of any account in this comparison.
At £32 a year for the first child, Nimbl is the cheapest ongoing cost here and still includes chores tools and ParentPay integration for school payments.
Starling Bank Starling Kite Top pick
 | £0/month |
|---|---|
| Yes |
| 120,000 |
| Yes |
| Yes |
- Genuinely free, with no monthly fee or transaction charges
- Money sits inside the parent's FSCS-protected Starling account
- Instant card freeze, spending limits and merchant blocks from the parent app
- Child gets their own balance and transaction view
- Only available to parents who already hold a Starling personal current account
- Kite balance is capped at £5,000
- Built for ages 6 to 15, not suited to older teens wanting more independence
GoHenry
| From £3,99/month |
|---|---|
| Yes |
| No (e-money, safeguarded, no FSCS) |
| Yes |
| Yes |
- Richest chores and pocket-money automation of any kids card app
- Real-time spending notifications and per-merchant spending limits
- Personalised card designs and a track record since 2012
- Covers the full 6 to 18 age range on one account
- Priciest subscription in this comparison, up to £9.99 a month on the Max plan
- Prepaid e-money, not a real bank account, so funds are safeguarded rather than FSCS-protected
- Some features are locked behind higher-cost tiers
HSBC UK HSBC MyAccount
| £0/month |
|---|---|
| Yes |
| 120,000 |
| Yes |
| Yes |
- Free current account with a linked MySavings pot paying 3.75% AER on balances up to £3,000
- Contactless Visa debit card made from recycled plastic
- Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay support
- Full online and mobile banking from age 11
- No arranged overdraft
- Fewer chores or pocket-money automation tools than dedicated kids-card apps
- Cash withdrawals are capped at £100 a day
NatWest Adapt Account
| £0/month |
|---|---|
| Yes |
| 120,000 |
| Yes |
| Yes |
- Real bank account with its own sort code and account number
- Pays 1.60% AER variable interest on the balance
- Free contactless debit card with an adjustable £5 to £100 daily spending limit
- Apple Pay and Google Pay available from age 13
- Applicants aged 11 to 15 need a parent who already banks with NatWest
- No overdraft facility
- Cardless cash withdrawal is capped at £130 a day
Nimbl
| £32/year (first child) |
|---|---|
| Yes |
| No (e-money via Caxton, safeguarded, no FSCS) |
| Yes |
| Yes |
- Cheapest ongoing cost in this comparison, at £32 a year for the first child
- ParentPay integration for school dinner and trip payments
- Chores and task-linked pocket money tools
- Additional children added at a lower £27 a year rate
- Prepaid card issued via Caxton, not a full bank account, so funds are safeguarded rather than FSCS-protected
- Smaller brand recognition and a thinner app feature set than GoHenry
- Billed annually rather than monthly
A kids bank account in the UK generally falls into one of two categories. The first is a prepaid card linked to an app, such as GoHenry or Nimbl, where a parent tops up a balance and the child spends from a card while the parent sets limits and approves chores-based pocket money. The second is a real current account from a licensed bank, such as NatWest Adapt, HSBC MyAccount or Starling Kite, which either has its own sort code and account number or sits inside a parent's existing account.
Which type suits your family mostly depends on age. For children aged 6 to 10, a prepaid card app is usually the only realistic option, since high street banks generally will not open a current account below age 11. From 11 to 15, most children move to either a linked family product, such as Starling Kite, or a dedicated youth current account like NatWest Adapt or HSBC MyAccount. From 16, most UK banks let a teenager open a standard youth current account independently with their own ID, without needing a parent to co-sign.
Protection differs between the two types too. Money held in a real bank current account, including children's and teen accounts, is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £120,000 per person, per banking licence. Prepaid card apps such as GoHenry and Nimbl are not banks; they are e-money institutions, so customer funds are safeguarded in a ring-fenced account rather than covered by the FSCS. This is not the same level of protection, though safeguarding still keeps the money separate from the provider's own operating funds.
Interest earned on a child's savings is usually tax-free in practice, but one rule catches parents out: if a parent, not a grandparent or other relative, gives a child money and it earns more than £100 in interest in a tax year, all of that interest is taxed as the parent's income, not the child's. This does not apply to a Junior ISA, where the 2026/27 allowance is £9,000 and all interest stays completely tax-free regardless of who gave the money.
Most children's and teen current accounts automatically convert to a standard adult account at 18, usually with advance notice from the bank, and any direct debits or standing orders carry over automatically. None of the accounts compared here offer an arranged overdraft, which is a deliberate safety feature rather than an oversight.
How we rate
At BankingGeek we compare products independently on fees, real terms, safety and user experience. We update the data regularly. If you open an account through a link we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you and without affecting our rating.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age to open a bank account for a child in the UK?
There is no single legal minimum age, but in practice it depends on the type of account. Prepaid card apps such as GoHenry and Nimbl accept children from around age 6. Most high street banks will not open a full current account with a debit card until age 11, and a small number of accounts, including Starling Kite, sit inside a parent's own account from age 6.
Can a 16-year-old open a bank account without a parent?
Yes. Most UK banks let 16 and 17 year olds open a standard youth current account independently using their own ID, such as a passport, and proof of address, without needing a parent to co-sign or already bank with that provider. Applications for children under 16 generally do require a parent or guardian to be involved.
Is a prepaid card or a real bank account better for a child?
It depends on age and what you want the account to teach. Prepaid card apps such as GoHenry and Nimbl are built around chores, pocket money and parental spending controls, and work well for younger children. A real current account, such as NatWest Adapt or HSBC MyAccount, behaves like an adult bank account from the start, which suits older children preparing to manage their own money independently.
Are children's bank accounts protected by the FSCS?
Real current accounts from licensed banks, including NatWest Adapt, HSBC MyAccount and the Starling account behind Kite, are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £120,000 per person, per banking licence. Prepaid card apps such as GoHenry and Nimbl are not banks, so customer funds are safeguarded rather than covered by the FSCS.
Do children pay tax on savings interest?
In practice, most children never pay tax on savings interest because their income sits well below the personal allowance. The exception is the so-called £100 rule: if a parent gives a child money and the interest on it exceeds £100 in a tax year, all of that interest is taxed as the parent's income instead. This rule does not apply to money from grandparents or other relatives, or to a Junior ISA.
What happens to my child's bank account when they turn 18?
Most children's and teen current accounts convert automatically to a standard adult account once your child turns 18, usually with advance notice from the bank. Existing direct debits and standing orders normally carry over automatically, and your child becomes eligible to apply for adult products such as an overdraft or credit card in their own right.
Can you get an overdraft on a children's bank account?
No. None of the children's or teen current accounts compared here, including GoHenry, Nimbl, Starling Kite, NatWest Adapt and HSBC MyAccount, offer an arranged overdraft. This is a deliberate safety feature that stops a child's account from going into unauthorised debt.
Which account is best for a 6-year-old vs an 11-year-old?
For a 6-year-old, a prepaid card app such as GoHenry or Nimbl is usually the only realistic option, since high street current accounts are not available that young. For an 11-year-old, it is worth comparing a linked family product like Starling Kite against a dedicated youth current account such as NatWest Adapt or HSBC MyAccount, since your child can now hold a full account in their own name with FSCS protection.