Online Teenage current account

karendb

Hi,

We'd like to open an online current account for our daughter who's just about to become 13. We're not worried about high interest but just want an account we can transfer an allowance (probably £20) into each month and which she can manage herself online (with us being ultimately responsible I expect). I'm not sure about the age rules on having a debit card - would she be able to have one for online purchases and withdrawing cash for instance?

Any suggestions?

Many thanks!

Karen DB

grumbler

I don't think that anybody offers debit card for so young kids. And I think this is right.
My son has Nationwide Smart account with a cash card.

Paul_Varjak

http://www.bba.org.uk/bba/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=261&a=352

PinkPig

If I remember correctly, at 13 I was able to get a cash card to withdraw cash in cash machines, but not any sort of debit card.

JanCee

You have to be 18 to have a debit card, cash cards only for 13 year olds. Like Grumbler I started my kids off with a Nationwide Smart account, I'm not sure if it can be accessed online though.

jonesMUFCforever

Most banks will not allow accounts with online ACCESS until they are at least 16 years.
Eric

newfoundglory

ejones999 wrote:

Most banks will not allow accounts with online ACCESS until they are at least 16 years.
Eric

Yes, this is correct for most banks. You need to be 16 for internet access... although nationwide might be slightly different (not sure!)

You can get electronic debit cards from age 11. For example, Natwest will give those 11 and over a Solo debit card, and Barclays will give those 11 and over an Visa Electron debit card.... parental consent needed of course! Both cards can be used online, in shops and used to withdraw cash worldwide.

Not sure what the rules are on cheque books... think most banks are 16 and over on cheque books, and 18 and over for full debit and cheque cards (as these are a credit facility).

grumbler

JanCee wrote:

... Nationwide Smart account, I'm not sure if it can be accessed online though.

newfoundglory wrote:

... although nationwide might be slightly different (not sure!)

Smart: What's on Offer (A savings account for 0 - 17 year olds):
.....
Manage your account online through our Internet Banking service
.....

mountainofdebt

We've got our son (12) a natwest account into which we can transfer money from our account (also natwest) using the internet ...we've found that the transfer takes instantly as well.

He has a cashcard and can make purchases/withdraw money with it but I'm not sure he can use natwest online facilities though.

student100

If I remember rightly I could access my Nationwide Smart account online before I was 16, although you couldn't do much more than see statements etc...you couldn't make online transfers or whatever out of the Smart account. Things may have changed now as that was a few years ago...

BenL

Abbey 11-16 account

http://www.abbey.com/index/cash/current_accounts_index/abbey_account_index/abbey_account_11_16.htm

Online access is available, doesn't say if you can move money out electronically but the chances are you can.

Ben