Currency Card for Under 18s

willbennett123

Hi all,
Later this month I will be travelling to Majorca and was wondering if there’s any currency cards for U18s? (as it’s a lot safer than carrying cash everywhere)

Thanks

Browntoa

Caxton FX currency card I believe.

You pre load with a choice of currencies.

You can link to a debit card and top up via the app

steve1500

Kids Nationwide Flex account no charges for using abroad

Neil49

steve1500 wrote: »

Kids Nationwide Flex account no charges for using abroad

I second this option.

Just come back from Spain and used UniCaja atms for withdrawing cash as they don't add on a charge. Just make sure that you select the No Conversion option when it asks whether you want them to convert the transaction costs for you.

UniCaja have bright green signage (so easy to spot) and have plenty of branches.

eDicky

Forget about 'currency' cards, keep your money in pounds until transacting:

Starling Bank - https://www.starlingbank.com/ (minimum age 16)

Monzo Bank - https://monzo.com/ (min age 16, £200/mth limit on fee-free overseas ATM use)

Nationwide FlexOne account with debit card - https://www.nationwide.co.uk/products/current-accounts/flexone/whats-flexone (For age 11-18 but may be retained after 18, pays 0.5%(?) interest)

Choose and take at least two for safety, always pay in local currency and reject any ATM offer to convert pounds.

NoodleDoodleMan

Do you mind if I ask if you have a UK current account ?

You'll need one to feed funds to Starling and/or Monzo through such a linked account - unless the "Bank of Dad" is onside with one to do so.

Not wishing to state the obvious - but worth remembering that you'll need a decent wifi signal to manage your account on your device.

Starling is the better of the two IMO due to the Monzo £200 monthly fee free limit.

NoodleDoodleMan

Just come back from Spain and used UniCaja atms for withdrawing cash as they don't add on a charge.

UniCaja have bright green signage (so easy to spot) and have plenty of branches.

That's very useful intelligence, thanks.

I think there is a separate thread on this subject, good time to trawl around and keep myself up to speed.

EveryWhere

eDicky wrote: »

Forget about 'currency' cards, keep your money in pounds until transacting:

Starling Bank - https://www.starlingbank.com/ (minimum age 16)

Monzo Bank - https://monzo.com/ (min age 16, £200/mth limit on fee-free overseas ATM use)

Nationwide FlexOne account with debit card - https://www.nationwide.co.uk/products/current-accounts/flexone/whats-flexone ([STRIKE]For age 11-18[/STRIKE] but may be retained after 18, pays 0.5%(?) interest)

Choose and take at least two for safety, always pay in local currency and reject any ATM offer to convert pounds.

Application only between ages 11 to 17(prior to your eighteenth birthday). Once obtained, can be kept beyond the age of eighteen.

willbennett123

Hi,
Yes I do have a Lloyds Bank Under 19s Current Account however there's lots of transaction fees for using it abroad.
Many thanks

NoodleDoodleMan

Hi,
Yes I do have a Lloyds Bank Under 19s Current Account however there's lots of transaction fees for using it abroad.
Many thanks

You are good to go.

I'd apply for the Starling as top choice, with Monzo second - as mentioned, the latter has a £200 monthly fee free limit which is the only drawback.

Use your device to apply, I found it vety straightfoward with my iPhone - and was delivered quickly.

The Nationwide card is equally recommended - but it may not be delivered so quickly, so your departure date may be a determining factor ?

EveryWhere

Go for the Nationwide VISA debit card account; https://www.nationwide.co.uk/products/current-accounts/flexone/whats-flexone
As you state, the Lloyds account is horrible for travel abroad.

That should be your first choice, with Starling Bank second.
Definitely not Monzo, as that has a pathetic £200 per month ATM withdrawal limit.

Usually I would state Starling first, but in your case, it's a good idea for you to get a FlexOne account whilst you are still eligible. You can keep the FlexOne account until you are 23.
https://www.nationwide.co.uk/-/media/MainSite/documents/products/current-accounts/flexone/P2742-FlexOne-Full-Guide.pdf