Bank of Scotland child account review
Thinking of a Bank of Scotland account for your kids? Here's what options are available.
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Bank of Scotland is a pretty solid option for a child current account and also has a couple of savings accounts that allow you to save money for the benefit of a child. It also offers a current account and savings account option via one application.
This page looks at available account types, features, fees, pros and cons, to help you pick an account for your family. Keep in mind that even if you already bank with Bank of Scotland, it’s always worth shopping around to find the best possible deal for your circumstances.
You can choose between various current account and savings account options. More specifically:
The main gap in Bank of Scotland’s range of accounts for young people is there is no current account or card for kids younger than 11. One solution is to consider a prepaid card – you can compare some prepaid cards with lower age limits on this page.
You can open the current account in branch or online, depending on the kid’s age:
Smart Start can be opened online, while the savings account and the junior ISA can be opened both online and in person.
All Bank of Scotland’s accounts for children and teens come for no monthly fee.
For the main current account, it’s also free to make payments and withdraw cash from an ATM, as long as you are in the UK. However, you will be charged a foreign currency transaction fee for every payment or withdrawal made abroad; something worth keeping in mind when getting ready for a holiday overseas.
Bank of Scotland is a fully licensed bank, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and deposits are protected by the FSCS.
If you are worried about your children misusing their bank card, for example by making payments online, you can choose to opt for a cash card rather than for a full debit card. The cash card will enable them to make cash withdrawals, but not to make card payments in shops or online.
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If a child’s bank account does not sound like the right idea, then there are other options available.
Bank of Scotland’s child account offerings are decent enough. The standard current account has few fees and pays interest on balances to make it more appealing. Don’t forget that you’ll be charged for using the card abroad though. Smart Start is a good option for those looking for both a spending account and a savings account that will give their child some independence, but that parents can also monitor.
Finally, if you are simply looking for a savings account to save money for a child, Bank of Scotland’s easy-access child saver is solid, offering unlimited withdrawals and a decent rate.
Get started by visiting Bank of Scotland’s website and applying for an account. If you have read this review and decided that these accounts are not the right choice, you can also discover other bank accounts for children and the option of prepaid cards for kids.
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