MSE Guide: How to open a bank account

MSE_Rosie

This is the place to discuss our new How to open a bank account guide. 

We'd love to hear your thoughts, personal experiences, and general feedback. 

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blue.peter

Children's account. A current account for young people, usually aged between 11 and 17. They won't come with an overdraft, and normally allow parents to have oversight over spending and to set withdrawal limits. 

Goodness! Things have changed if this is all that a teenager can get. I just walked in, alone, to the local branch of the Midland when I was about 15 (maybe 16? - certainly no more than that) and opened an ordinary current account. My parents weren't involved at all. No debit card (they didn't exist then), but I did get a cheque book. Admittedly, this was nearly 50 years ago.