Bank account for 16 year old?

HeadAboveWater

My partners daughter is doing her GCSE's now, and in September is going on to Tech to study hairdressing. She's applying for EMA, but for this, and obviously for the future, she will need a bank account.
Can anyone recommend a bank for this age group? We prefer not to get her an overdraft (teenagers!! lol), but don't really need anything special. Basic, preferably no silly charges, and a debit card.
Any suggestions would be good thanks
PS. We're in Northern Ireland

opinions4u

Halifax.

http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/other-bank-accounts/cardcash/

trikidy

I thought EMA was scrapped?

HeadAboveWater

trikidy wrote: »

I thought EMA was scrapped?

Still available in N.I. as far as we're aware. Got the application form for 2012/13 waiting to be completed anyway!

melb

my son of 16 is about to open his first account just so he can get wages from a saturday job paid in. He's got an appointment at Barclays this week because it's convenient for him to pop in on way home from school but there is also a Halifax nearby. Is the Halifax cashcard mentioned above a better option do you think?

MoneySaverLog

A 16 year old will not be given a overdaft as you have to be 18 for one of those. Personally I'd choose Lloyds TSB (as their current account pays interest unlike many of the other banks) but ultimately the choice should be your daughters and probably take into account availability of branches near to home, work, school etc for convenience.

http://www.lloydstsb.com/current_accounts/under_19s_account.asp

Plxply

Lloyds is probably best purely due to the interest rate, however as others have said it highly depends on the availability of branches in your area.

Herbert_Austin

kathy_virginvie wrote: »

PS. We're in Northern Ireland

If you want somewhere local then have a look at the Northern Bank discovery account.

As a newbie I can't post any links

No silly fees, no overdraft and comes with a debit card, so it sounds like what you are looking for.

+ the larger branches are open on Saturday mornings & I have heard these are changing this month to open all day on Saturdays.

HeadAboveWater

Thanks everyone for your help Much appreciated.

fantastiyk

Hi,
EMA is still available in NI. My daughter gets it. She opened her account in Ulster Bank as we live 5 miles from one.
Bit of a pain at minute as she's got a school trip this week and will probably have to take cash now in case the banking problem hasn't been resolved. I know mine hasn't.