First Bank Account Age Guide
What accounts exist at what age, what a child can actually do with one, and where the real age limits sit.
Children can usually have a savings account from birth opened by an adult, a current account with a card from around 11 to 13 depending on the country, and full control of both the account and any locked child fund at 18.
First Bank Account Age Guide
Frequently asked
What age can a child get a debit card?
Commonly 11 to 13 depending on the country and the bank, with a prepaid card often available earlier. The card itself teaches less than the transaction list that comes with it.
Can a parent take money out of a child's account?
It depends entirely on the account type. Ordinary children's savings accounts usually allow it with the adult as signatory; tax-advantaged locked accounts generally do not allow withdrawals by anyone before 18.
What happens at 18?
In most systems the young person gains full control of the account and any funds held for them, regardless of who paid in. Families who have built up a substantial balance usually find that conversation goes better at 16 than at 18.
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