Childrens bank accounts

life_in_termoil

Does anyone know if the child has to be present when an account is open?
I want to open bank accounts for my children aged 13 and 14, we have all the forms filled in and they have signed them. My problem is that the local banks close at 2.30 during the week and are not open on weekends!!

Didnt really want to do a 40 mile round trip to the nearest branch thats open on Saturdays and pay for parking

Tupperware_Queen

yes, I had same saga when opening acc for ES.

And just to add that if there are any issues with the account, banks will only speak to the child.....either in person or on non-geographic lines!! I appreciate the need for security, but for goodness sakes - how is a 12 year old going to explain about missing standing orders etc!

jennifernil

I have opened accounts for grandchildren without them being present, just taking in their birth certificates.

But they are only little (1 and 5) and these are trustee accounts that I operate.

Ring the bank and ask.

Tupperware_Queen

if the child is over 7 they need to be present ....or so I was told by Lloyds, Barclays, Natwest, Santander, Halifax and HSBC

Newly_retired

I opened a Halifax regular children's saver for my grandchildren aged 9 and 6 without them being present

Tupperware_Queen

did you open it in your name for them, or in their names? if it is in their name they have to be present.

Newly_retired

In my name, as Trustee.

Tupperware_Queen

Newly_retired wrote: »

In my name, as Trustee.

ahh that explains it. The rules are apparently that if the child is over 7 and the account is opened in their name, they have control of the account and must be ID'd in the same way as an adult.

Had a very long conversation with the guy at HSBC explaining why my 12 year old could not go to the branch with his driving licence or passport - errr when did you last meet a 12 year old with a driving licence, and I cannot afford to get him a passport just to provide HSBC with ID!!

[Deleted User]

Tupperware_Queen wrote: »

ahh that explains it. The rules are apparently that if the child is over 7 and the account is opened in their name, they have control of the account and must be ID'd in the same way as an adult.

Had a very long conversation with the guy at HSBC explaining why my 12 year old could not go to the branch with his driving licence or passport - errr when did you last meet a 12 year old with a driving licence, and I cannot afford to get him a passport just to provide HSBC with ID!!

they accept other forms of id as well not just passport and driving license when i opened my account

Tupperware_Queen

vinh1000 wrote: »

they accept other forms of id as well not just passport and driving license when i opened my account

no I was specifically told he needed photographic ID. The account was already open, this was a query on the account.

jennifernil

How many 12 year olds have photographic ID, other than a passport?

Sounds like you got a right "jobsworth"!