Debit card account for 17 year old?

Mrs(no)money

My 17 year old son has a Nationwide Flex account which comes with a cash card so he can withdraw money from ATM. However, the card isnt a debit card so is useless if he wants to buy something in a shop or on the net. He also doesnt like carrying lots of cash around which hes doing at the moment, as he doesnt get near a bank very often!

He works full time so has a regular income and no previous problems credit wise, but does anybody know of a bank that is willing to give a 17year old a debit card? (preferably without a charge for having the account!) OH and I would be willing to be guarantor if required.

Thanks in advance

Idiophreak

I had a visa electron from barclays from 16.
You can use that in (most) shops.

Mrs(no)money

Thanks for that, is it a 'free' account?

electriclady

Mrs(no)money wrote:

My 17 year old son has a Nationwide Flex account which comes with a cash card so he can withdraw money from ATM. However, the card isnt a debit card so is useless if he wants to buy something in a shop or on the net. He also doesnt like carrying lots of cash around which hes doing at the moment, as he doesnt get near a bank very often!

He works full time so has a regular income and no previous problems credit wise, but does anybody know of a bank that is willing to give a 17year old a debit card? (preferably without a charge for having the account!) OH and I would be willing to be guarantor if required.

Thanks in advance

Hi

When i was 16/17 I had a solo card with HSBC. He won't be able to get a full visa or switch, but should be able to ger a visa electron or solo.

Try https://www.natwest.co.uk and try for the step account (solo card)

http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/easycash.asp for the easycash account (visa electron). This is for age 16 plus.

You can apply for these accounts online............I have the halifax easycash due to having a bad credit score and i find most places take visa electron and I find the account really good and the online banking is brilliant!

These account are FREE and you won't need to be a guarantor

Hope this helps xx

techno_geek

Unfortunately Nationwide are very strict about debit cards and won't let your son have one until he's 18... and even then, it might be easier for him to apply for a second FlexAccount to get the debit card (which is what I did). Obviously he'd then have to transfer his salary, direct debits etc. across and close the original cash card account.

Lloyds TSB will give your son a proper Visa debit card on their Under 19s account (not the visa electron that isn't accepted by most online retailers and some shops. Some Lloyds staff might tell him it will be an electron, but it won't - they don't issue them any more!!)... tell him not to close his Nationwide account either, as it will be useful if he goes on holiday to get the fee-free cash withdrawals! Just keep a few quid in there, and use their e-Savings account because it pays much better rates than Lloyds.

Mrs(no)money

Thanks for your replies, i know now where to guide him. Its quite difficult to get any info from banks as they 'cant comment' on individual circumstances, and even if they could, they wouldnt because of Data Protection! And of course like most 17 year olds, DS is too busy to take on the task of finding out! Thanks again.:D

newfoundglory

Recommend Lloyds TSB also.... because they do issue full visa debit cards without cheque guarantee.

If he gets one quickly, he should be able to open an 8% Lloyds TSB regular saver account too....!!! Its a best-buy not-to-be-missed deal!

Kilty_2

I recommend Lloyds TSB only because they offer the Visa Debit card and a cheque book (if you can convince the staff to give you one)

Useless staff, however.