bank accounts for children

[mayo]

Can anyone recommend a bank that does good savings accounts for children? I asked in the post office but they will only open an account with a minimum of I think ?1000!

my children don't have much money to deposit, they get the odd ?20 for birthday presents etc and saved pocket money but would rather have it in a bank than sitting around at home especially eldest who has accumulated a reasonable amount now (but nowhere near the post office requirement!)

would also like to be able to get an associated debit card for my eldest.

When I was a child there was a lot of advertising for children's bank accounts and I got a whole duffel bag and various other goodies with my griffin saver (!) but nobody now seems to court the business.

[cactus]

My 11 year old has an account with the London Mutual Credit Union, there's a branch in Peckham.

He uses it for small amounts of birthday money, bigger sums go into a Child Trust Fund account that can't be

touched until he's 18.

HSBC do a savings account for 7=17 year olds, you can open it with ?10. Once they're 11 they can have a debit card - though I'm not sure how wise that would be!

[Cora]

Lloyds do kids accounts with an atm card I think...

[rjsmall]

Barclays do a children's saving account - I opened my daughter an account in the East Dulwich branch - I think it is a minimum of ?1 - not sure about the ATM card though.

[Sonners]

I would use whoever you bank with if it has a local branch as it's easiest - I opened accounts for both of my daughters at Lloyds by the Plough.

[Mrs TP]

Barclays do an under 16 current account with debit card. No overdraft facility. Very low opening amount, maybe ?1?

[mayo]

Thanks all. We did try Lloyds as I bank with them but they said the only option was a savings account where she'd have to give something crazy like 30 days notice to take any money out when we're after a current account.

Will try one of the other suggestions here, thanks

[katgod]

How old is the child? My 12 year old has a Lloyds account and debit card, and I don't bank there!

[Mfichardt]

I've heard great things of Osper and GoHenry - special bank accounts for kids.