Current account for 17 year old with proper debit card?

jeanmorgan05

trying to set up a National Savings direct ISA for my 17 year old son but they won't accept his Visa Electron card. Can anyone suggest an account that will give him a card that he can use this way? Needs to be a proper debit card. GRRRRR!

techno_geek

You'll be hard-pushed to find a bank willing to offer a full debit card to a 17 year old.

HSBC will (I think) offer a full Maestro debit card to under-18s as long as they fund their account with over £3000 over the course of a six-month period - this is what I did when I was 17, although at the time I didnt know why they'd offered me the full debit card and I figure this is what the reasoning was behind it. Might be worth popping into a branch to find out exactly what they can offer him|

Although, this is probably unfeasible for the majority of 17 year olds... why don't you transfer the money into the ISA for him, and get him to write you a cheque for the amount?

Hope this helps!!

xzibit

Now, I had a full visa debit card, and a cheque book at the age of 16. That was with Barclays. I do not how I got it, as people I have spoken to say I must be confused and have been 18, but I know for a fact, as I used to carry my cheque book around in my scooter under seat compartment lol. My dad was there when I opened the account, not sure whether he had to countersign anything?

Jo_anne_2

xzibit wrote:

Now, I had a full visa debit card, and a cheque book at the age of 16. That was with Barclays. I do not how I got it, as people I have spoken to say I must be confused and have been 18, but I know for a fact, as I used to carry my cheque book around in my scooter under seat compartment lol. My dad was there when I opened the account, not sure whether he had to countersign anything?

That rings a bell, as when I was 16 and went to college I am sure I signed up with several banks to get the free gifts for students. Not sure if I got the freebies but I did get a cheque book and guarantee card from Lloyds and Midland banks.

I'd be interested in what is out there as my son is 16 nearly 17 and going to 6th form college so a debit card would be useful for him. A quick search on google found that Barclays do a young person's account http://www.personal.barclays.co.uk/BRC1/jsp/brccontrol?task=articleFWgroup&value=8646&target=_self&site=pfs
but that appears to come with the Visa Electron card too.

C_Ronaldo

i had my rbs account with a switch card when i was 16

Kilty_2

Clydesdale/Yorkshire Bank issue Maestro to anyone 16+ (and even younger, it seems) .

ReportInvestor

Thanks Kilty. That could solve a problem I have.

Does it do standing orders and do you have personal experience of this being open to under 16s?

jeanmorgan05

The NS and I direct isa requires the deposit to have come from an account in the boy's name!

It looks like he'll have to go for a less good ISA.

Thanks for your suggestion,
Jean

techno_geek wrote:

You'll be hard-pushed to find a bank willing to offer a full debit card to a 17 year old.

HSBC will (I think) offer a full Maestro debit card to under-18s as long as they fund their account with over £3000 over the course of a six-month period - this is what I did when I was 17, although at the time I didnt know why they'd offered me the full debit card and I figure this is what the reasoning was behind it. Might be worth popping into a branch to find out exactly what they can offer him|

Although, this is probably unfeasible for the majority of 17 year olds... why don't you transfer the money into the ISA for him, and get him to write you a cheque for the amount?

Hope this helps!!

Kilty_2

ReportInvestor wrote:

Thanks Kilty. That could solve a problem I have.

Does it do standing orders and do you have personal experience of this being open to under 16s?

I don't know about SOs but I presume it does.

The only personal experience I have is the account I hold with Clydesdale. They sent a letter a few months ago saying I'd get a Maestro sent to me to replace my ATM card and if I lost my card after June 13 they'd automatically send the Maestro to me. I'm 15.