[Finance] Online Bank Accounts for Teens

[Shropshire Seagull]

Morning. Advice required please. My 17 year old needs a bank account. He and his Mum are currently visiting all the bank branches in Bishop Auckland in an attempt to open a bank account with someone but without much luck so far ("we are not the right type of branch" etc). The big banks require you to visit a branch but clearly only the right type of branch and MrsKZN has already had a big fight with our own bank (TSB) about their crap service. Anyone got any recommendations for online banks please? Once 18 he may want student loans so does it matter which bank you bank with re that rigmarole? Thanks awfully!!

Pop in to Darlington

#moreoptions

 

[Cheshire Cat]

All the branches of everything closed where I live, so its on line or nothing (or the Post Office which is effectively the same thing).

 

[Rugrat]

Barclays closed in September.

Ah right, my apologies

 

[Sorrel]

I've been using Starling as a second account for a year now and it's been very good. Not sure what they would be like for a main account when something goes wrong.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Pop in to Darlington

#moreoptions

Can one pop 22 miles?

 

[BNthree]

To open a basic current account, for children of Barclays account holders, you do a video call through their app to verify your and their identity.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

First Direct Primary
Starling Secondary

I would recommend both

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

I've been using Starling as a second account for a year now and it's been very good. Not sure what they would be like for a main account when something goes wrong.

See Monzo for a total lack of understanding of AML and freezing all manner of accounts as part of a nervous default position.

I work in this space and although Starling are very good I wouldn’t not trust a challenger bank as my primary account.

I use my Starling as a every day spent account and it’s great for automated savings pots

 

[cloud]

Nationwide are good. They also let you save up to £200 per month, whereas the other banks don't seem to allow this if you are 17.

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

With Santander you get a free 3 year railcard which can be quite valuable if doing lots of train travel

I got my 15 year old a Santander account a year ago. It’s on line and she has a debit (NOT credit card). My view was it would be good to get her used to understanding/managing money. I doubt any account is good for savings (suggest an ISA for that) but it’s a good introduction to financial management. All her pocket money is paid into her account as is any jobs she does such as leaflet deliveries.