Information correct as of 1st April, 2026.
When is the right time to get your child their own bank account and which accounts are best? It’s a question we often ask ourselves at Financielle HQ as 50% of the team have young families.
As children grow up and become more independent, it’s important that we help teach them how to manage their own money – the goal is to build strong money habits early in life.
There are some excellent kid-friendly bank accounts on the market at the moment. Here are some of the team’s favourites ⬇️
GoHenry (6-18 years)
Often referred to as the number one kids debit and prepaid card in the UK, we see GoHenry as the OG money brand for kids.
Financielle loves
GoHenry is dedicated to helping children manage their money from a young age. With a range of really helpful features, leaning into education and personalisation, we think it could be a real hit with the kids.
Is it free?
GoHenry isn’t free, it has 3 plans available with prices from £3.99 per month to £9.99 per month and first-time users will get access to a 1-month free trial.
You can switch or cancel your membership anytime in-app.
Check out the plans here
📈 Interest – Earn 3.20% AER interest on savings that could compound over time to help grow their money faster
🎁 Giftlinks – Take the hassle out of organising presents. Money goes straight to their card or Junior ISA
🎓 Gamified lessons – Boost financial literacy with 100+ educational money lessons created by experts
🧽 Pocket money – Setting chores for pocket money in the app is a great way to teach the value of money
💳 45 customisable cards – Let kids explore their individuality and personality with customisable cards
Kite🪁 (6-15 years)
Kite is Starling’s free debit card for kids. The account is known for its easy setup if you have a Starling current account.
Financielle loves
We love the collaborative element – it’s very much a shared experience where kids can manage money in a safe space.
Is it free?
Yes, Kite is a free debit card.
🏆2024 Winner – Best children’s financial provider at the British Bank Awards
📲 Instant phone notifications – Every time your child spends or receives money
💰 Automatic top-ups – Easily add money to your child’s account, great for managing pocket money
💳 Free Mastercard debit card – Made from 95% recycled plastic
🤳🏽 Card on their phone – Add your child’s card to Apple Pay or Google Pay
Monzo (6-15 years)
Easy to set up for existing Monzo users, this award-winning kids account is definitely one for the cool kids, with eye-catching neon cards up for grabs.
Financielle loves
We love the focus on helping kids’ pocket money grow.
Is it free?
Monzo is free to open and use.
🏆 2025 Winner – Best children’s financial provider at the British Bank Awards
💰Set Limits – Help increase your kids independence with the limit controls setting
📈 Interest – Help their pocket money grow with interest calculated daily and monthly to see it build over time
🧊 Freeze it – If you notice suspicious spending on the account or a child loses their card you can freeze their account immediately
NatWest (3-17 years)
NatWest has two accounts available to children depending on their age. ‘Adapt’, for kids aged 11-17 years, and ‘Rooster’ available for kids aged 3 – 17 years.
Financielle loves
NatWest have recognised the need to personalise the offering of their kids accounts based on what the kids need at different stages in their lives.
Is it free?
Some costs are associated with the Rooster account if you’re not a NatWest account holder. There are also optional extras for certain card designs
💳 Adapt (11-17 years) – great for building financial independence
💰 Fee-free – No monthly fees on the account
📈 Interest payments – 1.85% AER, Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly
📲 App features – Include ‘pay your mates’ (13+), freeze your debit card and check balance on the go
💸 Cash – Get cash without your debit card
💳 Rooster (3-17 years) – great for building positive money habits early
💰 Free for NatWest group personal customers, otherwise £1.99 per month or £19.99 per year
💳 Cards – Personalised cards to suit every personality (payment of £4.99 required for certain designs)
📱 Contactless – Pre-paid card linked to their card pot
🫶🏼 Parental control – Top-ups, limits, real time spending notifications all give the parent control but from afar
If you’re looking to help create positive money habits for your children, it’s time to get your own financial foundations in place first. Check out these helpful articles to get you started ⬇️
💰 Top 3 bank accounts in the UK
💸 How to stop dipping into your savings
🤑 The complete guide to budgeting on payday
The content produced by Financielle is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.