In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Your reviews
  • Ask a question
Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own. Advertiser disclosure

M&T Starter Savings account review

  • Kimberly Ellis's headshot
M&T Starter Savings
3.4
★★★★★
Finder score

M&T Starter Savings isn't available on Finder right now.

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Up to

0.01%

Fee
$0
Minimum deposit to open
$0

Our verdict

A basic kids’ savings account with parental controls, but no features for teaching money management

The M&T Starter Savings account offers essential banking services for minors under 18.

But you'll only earn 0.01% APY on your balance, and its parental control features are expected for this type of account.

One of the biggest reasons that you might use this account is that you have branch locations near you or are already banking with M&T. However, you'll find other savings accounts for kids that earn much more in interest. Other kids’ accounts also have features that teach money management, such as setting up savings goals or offering rewards or games to improve their financial literacy.

In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Your reviews
  • Ask a question

How do I open an M&T Starter Savings account?

You’ll need to visit a local M&T branch to open an M&T Starter Savings account for your child.

Eligibility

To qualify for an M&T Starter Savings account, you need to be:

  • A minor under age 18 and a US citizen
  • A custodian over age 18 and a US citizen or permanent resident

    Requirements

    Bring the following information with you when you sign up at your local branch:

    • Your child’s Social Security number
    • Your child’s birth certificate
    • Your valid state ID
    • Your Social Security number

    What are the benefits of a savings account with M&T Bank?

    The M&T Starter Savings account offers features on par with other kids savings accounts, such as parental controls and no monthly maintenance fee. Benefits to using this account:

    • No monthly fee or minimum deposit. Like most kids’ savings accounts, the M&T Starter Savings account is free to use. You also don’t need a minimum balance in the account at signup.
    • Parental controls. The account custodian can control how much access the child can have to this savings account — from full reigns to nothing at all
    • ATM card. Withdraw cash at any of M&T’s 1,800 ATMs.
    • Interest rate compounded daily. Unlike some savings accounts that compound interest monthly, the M&T Starter Savings account compounds interest daily, which means your money grows faster.

    How much interest you’ll earn

    To put things into perspective, if you keep $5,000 in an M&T Starter Savings account for one year, you’ll only earn $0.50 back. But if you keep the same amount in an Alliant Kids Savings account, you’ll earn $27.57.

    What should I look out for?

    Be aware of the following pitfalls before signing up for an M&T Starter Savings account:

    • Must open in person. You can’t open this account online or via phone. You must visit an M&T Bank branch to open it.
    • Fee for closing within one year. If you change your mind about this account, you’ll get hit with a $30 fee for closing your M&T Starter Savings Account within one year of opening.
    • Limited customer service. Unless you stop by a local branch, the only other ways to get support are by phone and X (formerlyTwitter). We experienced long hold times on the phone, and X (formerlyTwitter) support couldn’t answer any questions about the M&T Starter Savings account.
    • Doesn’t convert to regular savings. Unlike some savings accounts, this account doesn’t convert to a regular savings account when the child turns 18. Custodians have to close the account or distributing the funds to another savings account.

    If you’re looking to teach your children how to grow their money, try looking elsewhere for kid-friendly savings features and a high-yield APY. For instance, with an Alliant Kids Savings account, Alliant Kids Savings Account, you’ll earn 3.1% APY as long as you maintain a $100 balance.

    If you want an interest rate that’ll jump-start your child’s savings goals, compare this with the top savings accounts for kids.

    Compare M&T Starter Savings Account with other kids savings accounts

    See which account has the features you need, and choose Go to site when you’re ready to apply.

    {"visibility":"visibilityTable","ctaLabel":"Calculate","tableCode":"savings_calculator_table","nicheCode":"USFSA","fields":[{"name":"PERIOD","value":"1","options":"","label":"Years to save","suffix":"","useSuffixAsPrefix":false,"useDropDownOption":false,"tooltip":""},{"name":"INITIAL_DEPOSIT","value":"1000","options":"","label":"Initial deposit","suffix":"$","useSuffixAsPrefix":true,"useDropDownOption":false,"tooltip":""}]}
    1 - 4 of 4
    Name Product USFSA Account type Annual Percentage Yield (APY) FDIC or NCUA insured amount Minimum balance to earn interest Minimum deposit to open Offer Estimated total balance
    CIT Savings Connect
    Finder Score: 4.3 / 5: ★★★★★
    CIT Savings Connect
    Traditional savings,Custodial account

    4.20%

    Up to $250,000
    $0
    $100
    $1,042
    Discover® Online Savings Account
    Finder Score: 4.8 / 5: ★★★★★
    Discover® Online Savings Account
    Traditional savings,Custodial account

    3.90%

    Up to $250,000
    $0
    $0
    $1,039
    Liberty Savings Bank HYSA through Raisin
    Finder Score: 4.7 / 5: ★★★★★
    Liberty Savings Bank HYSA through Raisin
    Traditional savings,Custodial account

    4.36%

    Up to $250,000
    $0
    $1
    $1,043.60
    UNest
    Not rated yet
    UNest
    Custodial account app
    APY not advertised
    SIPC-insured up to $500,000
    $0
    $25
    $1,000
    loading

    How do I deposit or withdraw my money?

    M&T Bank gives you control over how you handle your money with a variety of ways to access it.

    Deposits

    Put money into your account by:

    • Direct deposit
    • Automatic or one-time transfers online
    • Mobile check deposit via the M&T Mobile Banking app
    • Wire transfers

    Withdrawals

    You won’t have as many ways of getting funds out of your account. But keeping money in is the goal of saving, after all.

    • ATM withdrawals
    • Online bill pay
    • Zelle

      How to contact M&T Bank about my savings account?

      Aside from stopping into a local branch, you have two options to get in touch with an M&T Bank representative:

      1. Call 800-724-2440 any time.
      2. Tweet @MandT_Help weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

      Savings account ratings

      ★★★★★ — Excellent

      ★★★★★ — Good

      ★★★★★ — Average

      ★★★★★ — Subpar

      ★★★★★ — Poor

      We analyze top savings accounts and rate them one to five stars based on factors that are most important to you. These factors include: interest rates, monthly fees, minimum deposits, customer service and account features.

      Read the full methodology of how we rate savings accounts.

      Your reviews

      No reviews yet. Write a review

      Ask a question

      Ask a question
      Avatar

      Kimberly Finder

      Writer

      Hi there, looking for more information? Ask us a question.

      Error label

      You are about to post a question on finder.com:

      • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
      • finder.com is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
      • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
      • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked
      Accept and continue

      Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our finder.com Terms of Use and Privacy and Cookies Policy.

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

      Go to site