Best bank accounts & prepaid cards for teens (under 18s) in the UK

Opening a bank account for your child can be a great way to teach them about managing money. There are two types of spending accounts for teens: prepaid cards and children’s bank accounts.

Our guide explores all the advantages of bank accounts for teenagers, how they compare to prepaid cards, and what to look for in a bank account for an under 18. If you are 18 or over, you are eligible for a standard current account.

Latest bank account and prepaid card reviews for teens

Your teenager might not be a child, but until they turn 18, they can only have a children’s bank account or prepaid card.

Santander 123 Mini Current Account

6.4 Standard

Monthly fee	£0
Card delivery fee	£0

Go to site Read review

This is a children’s current account that is available at high street bank Santander. For children aged 12 and under, the 123 Mini is just a basic deposit-holding account, which must be opened in a branch by an adult (trustee) and then be managed by that trustee. But for kids aged above 13, they can apply online to open the account themselves. Please note: Some form of identity documentation would be required to open this account. They’ll get a Santander contactless debit card or a cash card (the latter can be used for ATM withdrawals only). These teenagers can also use Santander’s online and mobile banking services to manage their account. So apart from deciding what money to put in for their kids to spend, there’s not as much in the way of parental controls with this account.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • No monthly fees
  • The account can be managed online or via app
  • Decent interest rate on the current account’s balance
  • Ability to choose between a debit card and a cash card, for additional control
  • No lower age limits for accounts held in trust, so you can open one even if your child is very young

  Cons

  • For children under 13, the account must be opened in trust and the trustee must have a Santander current account
  • Interest is only paid up to a set balance

• More details

  UK cash withdrawal fee	£0
  Loading fee	£0
  Network	Mastercard
  Freeze and unfreeze card

Monthly fee	£0
Card delivery fee	£0

Go to site Read review

NatWest Rooster Money Account

9.7 Excellent

Monthly fee	£0
Card delivery fee	£0

See dealRead review

NatWest Rooster Money is a pocket money app for children and teens aged up to 17. It has both a free and paid option. It’s free to use the Virtual Tracker, while the prepaid card comes with a monthly charge. But it’s cheaper than many rivals. You’ll also unlock extra features with the paid version, like setting chores which your kids can complete to earn a predetermined cash reward from parents. You can use the card abroad for free (up to a limit) and freeze it at any time within the app. But it doesn’t make sense to overload the balance, as you won’t earn any interest on it.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Great educational value; a slick app with lots of features to personalise the way you teach your children about finance.
  • Children as young as 4 years old can use it (6 for the card).
  • Total control over where your children use the card and how much they can spend.
  • Safe and secure. The card can be frozen from the app.
  • No fees for using the card (including abroad).
  • One-month free trial.

  Cons

  • If not a NatWest customer, monthly/annual fee to access the full range of features.
  • Caps on the maximum number of parent account loads per day and per month.
  • No interest paid on the account balance.

• More details

  UK cash withdrawal fee	£0
  Loading fee	Free
  Replacement card fee	Free for the first replacement (per household), £5 thereafter
  Network	VISA
  How many child accounts	No limit
  Other fees	£0
  Freeze and unfreeze card

Monthly fee	£0
Card delivery fee	£0

See dealRead review

GoHenry Account - with £20 pocket money and 2 months free

9.5 Excellent

Monthly fee	£3.99
Card delivery fee	£0

Go to site Read review

GoHenry is designed for children and is managed digitally through an app for a monthly fee. It consists of a parent and child account combination, which sees parents use their account to top up the child’s balance and set limits on their spending. The child can check the available balance in their account and spend the money they’ve been given using a prepaid Visa debit card. Its free to use the card to make purchases online and in-store, as well as to make ATM withdrawals in the UK. But you only get one free money load from the parent’s account to the child’s account each month – after that it’s 50p per top-up.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Full parental control thanks to instant notifications and spending limits
  • One-month free trial
  • It can be used by children as young as six
  • Reward system for completed tasks
  • Children learn about personal finance in a controlled environment
  • Relatives can also send money to the children
  • You can manage up to four child accounts from the same parent account
  • No fees to spend or withdraw cash abroad - these were scrapped in 2020

  Cons

  • Monthly fee
  • Only one free top-up to the child account a month
  • Safe, but not as safe and regulated as a bank
  • It doesn’t pay any interest
  • There are cheaper cards available

• More details

  UK cash withdrawal fee	£0
  Loading fee	1 free/month, then 50p each
  Replacement card fee	Free, or £4.99 if changing the card design
  Network	VISA
  How many child accounts	4
  Other fees	£4.99 for a customisable card or Eco Card
  Freeze and unfreeze card

Monthly fee	£3.99
Card delivery fee	£0

Go to site Read review

Revolut for 6-15s

9.6 Excellent

Monthly fee	£0
Card delivery fee	£4.99 delivery charge

Go to site Read review

The Revolut Kids & Teens account is available for kids aged up to 17. It comes with a card that can be customised and added to Apple Pay and Google Pay, as well as its own app for kids aged over 13. Parents get instant notifications and can set spending controls on their app. To open a under 18 account, parents need to already have their own Revolut account. A Standard Revolut account is free but if you want to open multiple accounts you’ll have to pay to do so. One potential downside is ATM withdrawals are only free for the first £40 each month and a 2% fee is charged after that.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • A parent can digitally top up their child’s account with spending money.
  • Instant parental notifications are generated whenever the child makes a purchase with the prepaid debit card.
  • Parental controls mean rules can be set on where the child’s card can be used.
  • The child gets their own account and payment card, which helps teach them financial skills.
  • The dedicated Revolut children's app lets kids check their account balance and transactions.

  Cons

  • The parent has to be a Revolut account holder.
  • If you have more than one child and want more than one Revolut 6-15s account, you’ll have to sign up to one of the fee-charging Revolut accounts.
  • There are charges for ATM withdrawals exceeding £40 per month.

• More details

  UK cash withdrawal fee	£0
  Loading fee	£0
  Replacement card fee	£5
  Network	Mastercard
  How many child accounts	1
  Other fees	2% ATM withdrawal fee after £40 month
  Freeze and unfreeze card

Monthly fee	£0
Card delivery fee	£4.99 delivery charge

Go to site Read review

nimbl Account

8.8 Great

Monthly fee	£2.67
Card delivery fee	£0

Go to site Read review

This financial tool aims to help parents show their children how to save, budget and be organised with their money. It’s an app that’s linked to a prepaid card, which also involves a parental account linked to a child’s account. Children as young as six can use the kids’ account, as well as the associated prepaid debit Mastercard. A parent can see what their child is spending by receiving real-time notifications of card transactions through the app, and like with many similar digital providers, they are able to block certain merchants altogether. There’s an annual fee with nimbl, but card purchases, top-ups and ATM withdrawals are all free.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Full control on how children spend their money thanks to spending control settings and instant notifications.
  • Children as young as six years old can use it.
  • It helps you to educate your children to manage their finances.
  • You can turn off online payments or cash withdrawals.
  • Safe and secure. The card can be blocked online or via the app.
  • You can manage more than one Child Account from the same Parent Account.
  • No fees for topping up the Parent Account or child’s card, or for “Gifting”.

  Cons

  • While most mainstream bank accounts for children are for free, nimbl charges a monthly fee.
  • You cannot top up the account using cash.
  • With nimbl, children earn no interest on any savings.

• More details

  UK cash withdrawal fee	£0
  Loading fee	£0
  Replacement card fee	£5
  Network	Mastercard
  How many child accounts	4
  Other fees	£0
  Freeze and unfreeze card

Monthly fee	£2.67
Card delivery fee	£0

Go to site Read review

6:29

Features of a traditional children’s bank account

• No fees in UK. These accounts are typically free to open and use in the UK.
• No overdraft. Your child isn’t going to get into debt.
• Real life learning. Giving your teen an account like this gives them a lesson in money management. They can see the benefits of saving and realise the value of money.
• Mobile banking app. Many accounts offer mobile banking so kids can see their transactions and balance.

Features these accounts don’t have

• Parental controls. You can’t control your child’s spending with these accounts. The accounts naturally come with restrictions on overdrafts and fees, but you can’t usually stop them from spending at specific sites or stores.

Children’s bank account fees

Most of the traditional high street bank children’s accounts don’t have fees except for spending or withdrawing cash abroad. They aim to get their customers in early to hopefully keep them for life.

How to choose the best bank account for teens

• Talk to your teen. It seems obvious, but start by discussing the features you want and choose an account that has these features.
• Think about fees. Most traditional bank accounts for kids don’t charge monthly fees, but check whether there are fees for certain transactions, especially if you go abroad.
• Interest. When it comes to children’s bank accounts, there’s not much between them except for the interest they offer. This isn’t going to make a huge difference to your child, but it can help them learn about how interest works.

For a digital bank: Starling

Older teens can sign up for Starling from the age of 16, which gives them pretty much the same experience as with the adult account. You get all the bells and whistles of the adult Starling account (except for the lending facilities).

Using prepaid debit cards as an alternative

These cards are like a mix of a gift card and a regular debit card. A prepaid card can be topped up and used like a debit card, but once the balance reaches £0, it can’t go any further. Any transactions attempted at that point will be declined, so the child can’t end up in debt. We have a dedicated guide on the best prepaid cards for children and teens.

Best prepaid cards for teens

These cards all let you manage your child’s transactions, and block payments at blacklisted sites and stores.

For parental controls: GoHenry

GoHenry is the most expensive of the prepaid cards, and it’s available to kids aged 6–18, but it might be more suited to younger teens. It has good controls, notifications and safeguards in place, including an automatic limit on payments to your child’s chosen gaming platform. Kids can earn extra from doing chores you set via the app.

For educational tools: NatWest Rooster Money

NatWest Rooster Money costs £0 a month for the card and app. It lets you limit stores visited, ban blacklisted stores and has a dynamic CVV, which gives more fraud protection for online sales. It also offers a wealth of educational resources for kids to learn about money. You can set chores for your child via the app, too.

What features are on offer for prepaid cards?

• See the transactions. You can see where your children are spending their money.
• Set limits and allowances. You can set up a monthly allowance, freeze the card and set spending limits for your child. With some, you can control where they spend, and bar cashpoint withdrawals.
• No direct debits. Your kids can’t set up a direct debit.
• Text message alerts. Most providers pop you a text message or notification when your child spends.
• Age-restricted vendors. Your teen won’t be able to use the card to gamble, go to the pub or pay to see adult sites.

Fees for using a prepaid card

Annual or monthly fees

Most children’s prepaid cards have annual or monthly fees. There’s often a promotional period that’s free or heavily discounted.

Usage fees

Some charge fees to top up, withdraw money or use the card beyond certain limits, especially when used abroad.

Is a prepaid card right for my teen?

These cards are more suited to a younger teen than an older one. As your child starts to work part-time and earn their own money, you both might find it overkill that you get a notification about every transaction, and your child might want a bit of privacy. The best way to decide is to just chat to them and agree on what will work for you both.

Are prepaid cards safe for my teen?

As a parent you may have some concerns that a prepaid card and digital app may leave your teenager vulnerable to financial scams, spending on inappropriate items or gambling.

Cards from providers like GoHenry and Rooster Card automatically place blocks on products and services designated as being for ‘over 18s’.

Rooster card blocks vendors classified by a Visa-developed scheme as being in any of the following categories:

• Nightlife
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Fuel
• Gambling
• Airlines
• Money transfers

While this filtering system isn’t completely fool-proof (for example, it may allow an under-18 to buy alcohol from a vendor classified as a ‘general retailer, as opposed to an ‘off licence’) it’s certainly sophisticated.

These safeguards should help offer parents reassurance that their teenagers will have enough financial independence while staying safe.

Compare prepaid cards and bank accounts for teens

5 of 8 results

Updated regularly

Finder Score	Age range	Network	Monthly fees	Card delivery fee	UK cash withdrawal fee	Loading fee
Promoted 9.7Excellent NatWest Rooster Money Account	9.7Excellent	6-17	VISA	£0 (if guardian has a NatWest account)	£0	£0	Free	£20 bonus using code FINDER20. Limited offer. Offer withdrawn anytime. Ages 6-17. Fees, criteria, T&Cs apply. £19.99/yr or £1.99/mo.	Eligibility – Ages 6-17. Criteria & T&Cs apply. Other fees may apply.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted 9.5Excellent GoHenry Account - with £20 pocket money and 2 months free	9.5Excellent	6-18	VISA	£3.99 (+2 months free)	£0	£0	1 free/month, then 50p each	Welcome bonus: Get an exclusive 2 months free and £20 pocket money offer when you sign up with CODE: AFFFDR220. T&Cs apply.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted 8.8Great nimbl Account	8.8Great	6-18	Mastercard	£2.67	£0	£0	£0	Welcome bonus: Get 6 months free when you sign up via Finder - that's £1.33 per month for the first child. T&Cs apply.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
6.4Standard Santander 123 Mini Current Account	6.4Standard	13-17	Mastercard	£0	£0	£0	£0	Get £50 when you open a 123 Mini Current Account, deposit £50 within 31 days of opening and do not close the account in this period. Offer available to 13 - 17 year olds and may be withdrawn at any time. T&Cs apply.	Online application available for children aged between 13 - 17. If you are opening the account in trust for a child under 13 please visit a Santander branch. You'll need to provide proof of ID and proof of address to open this account.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
9.3Excellent Monzo Current Account (16/17 yrs)	9.3Excellent	16-17	Mastercard	£0	£0	£0	£0	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading

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Compare other products

Looking for other options? Check out these similar products.

How we picked these

Finder Score for kids' cards

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Fees, features and controls across the most popular card issuers are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the card – simple.

Read the full methodology

Pros and cons of having a bank account for teens

Bottom line

If you’re after a traditional children’s bank account with a high street bank, the key features to look for are an interest rate paid on the balance, and low fees. It’s also important to check how easy it is to open the account and whether you, as the parent or guardian, need to also bank with the provider.

Make sure you read the small print so that you understand the advantages and limitations of the account. With a traditional bank account, you won’t usually be able to use parental controls, so be sure to give your teen a stern talking to about spending and saving before they’re set up.

Alternatively, if you’d still like to keep tabs on their spending, a prepaid debit card will let you manage transactions and even block payments. Many of these offer more features than a traditional account too, but they often charge fees.

Under-18s’ prepaid cards customer satisfaction league table 2025

Finder surveyed the customers of kids’ prepaid card providers to see whether they would recommend them to a friend and we’ve ordered the table below by the percentage recommended score. Learn more about the results and the winners.

Brand	Logo	Customers who’d recommend	Review	Link
Starling Under 16s		93%	Starling Under 16s is Starling’s easy-to-use kids’ prepaid card option for parents with a Starling account. It has low fees and strong parental controls.	Read our review
Osper		90%	Osper is a prepaid debit card for children that parents can review and control from an app on their phone.	Read our review
GoHenry		88%	Popular kids’ card and app combo GoHenry offers customised spending cards and parental controls, as well as interactive Money Missions.	Read our review
NatWest Rooster Money		88%	NatWest Rooster Money is a dedicated kids’ card and app which has a big focus on financial education.	Read our review
Revolut for 6-15s		87%	Revolut for 6-15s is Revolut’s kids’ prepaid card offering, which is easy to use. Parents will already need to have an account with Revolut to get it.	Read our review
Nimbl		70%	Nimbl is a kids’ pocket money card and app, which also aims to help children learn money skills.	Read our review

• Customer satisfaction ratings methodology

  We asked people who’d used a kids’ prepaid card within the previous 12 months to rate their satisfaction with the service they received and whether they’d recommend the provider to a friend. Our independent survey of 500 kids’ prepaid card customers was carried out in January 2025.

  We have shown the percentage recommended score in the table above and used these ratings to decide the winners of our awards. Where there was a draw on the “would recommend percentage”, we used the overall rating out of 5 as a tie-breaker.

Frequently asked questions

• Why can't teenagers apply for an overdraft with their bank account?

  By law, people under the age of 18 year old cannot enter into a credit contract with their bank. This means that they can’t borrow money or take out a loan, which is effectively what an overdraft is.

• Does a child with a prepaid card lose their money if the company providing the card goes bust?

  This usually shouldn’t happen. Even if the company that issues the prepaid card doesn’t have a banking licence, they usually have to keep their customers’ money in a ring-fenced account with a UK-regulated bank.

• Can a parent stop a teenager spending money from their bank account?

  High street bank current accounts for children and young people don’t usually allow parents to control where the money can be spent. The accounts naturally come with restrictions on overdrafts and fees, but parents can’t stop their teens from spending at specific sites or stores. Some digital prepaid debit card providers do automatically prevent their cards from being used for certain purchases like online gambling and in bars.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been reviewed by Katherine Denham, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.

Written by

Zoe Stabler DipFA

Senior writer

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Zoe was a senior writer at Finder specialising in investment and banking, and during this time, she joined the Women in FinTech Powerlist 2022. She is currently a senior money writer at Be Clever With Your Cash. Zoe has a BA in English literature and a Diploma for Financial Advisers. She has several years of experience in writing about all things personal finance. Zoe has a particular love for spreadsheets, having also worked as a management accountant. In her spare time, you’ll find Zoe skating at her local ice rink. See full bio

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