Child’s Bank Account – BarclayPlus

Just right if you’re 11 to 15 years old

Why choose BarclayPlus?

Here’s why we think you, and your parents or guardians, will find BarclayPlus a great first bank account.

The stuff you’ll like:

Check your money when you’re out and about with our app¹
Shop in store or online if you have a contactless debit card²
Use Apple Pay to buy things³
It’s ideal for birthday or Christmas money, and you only need £1 to open an account
When you turn 16 we’ll change your account to our Young Persons Account – we’ll let you know before we make this change.

What your parents or guardians will like:

Your parent or guardian needs to help you open a children’s bank account. What they need to do depends on whether or not they bank with us.

If your parent or guardian banks with us

They can book a Video Banking appointment online
You’ll need to be there during the appointment, and we’ll need to see your passport. If you don’t have a passport, you can use your birth certificate.

If your parent or guardian doesn’t bank with us

They’ll need to make an appointment at a branch
You’ll need to come with them and bring in proof of your identity (passport or birth certificate)
Your parent or guardian will also need to bring proof of their identity and address, like a UK bank statement or utility bill. They can’t use the same document for their identity and address.

There's high demand for branch appointments at the moment, so it might take longer than usual to make one – we're sorry for the delay.

Teaching your children good money habits now will help them when they’re grown up.

Debit card or cash card? Only you know which kind of card they’re ready for. A debit card will let them shop in store and online, withdraw money from cash machines (if they have the money in their account) and use the Barclays app to manage their money. A cash card only lets them withdraw money from cash machines.
Keeping their details safe. It’s important that children understand why they should never share their PIN or app password with anyone. And if they’re going to be shopping online, show them how to check that websites are secure. Start by checking that the address starts with ‘https’.
Encourage saving. Saving is an important life skill, but it can be difficult for children. Giving them ideas for short-term and longer-term savings goals can help, as well as talking to them about the interest their money earns when it’s in their account.
Let them make their own decisions. If you’re giving your children some responsibility and independence over their own money, you should let them choose how they’re going to spend it. The consequences of their choices – for example, not having enough for a bigger purchase – is an important part of learning about managing their money.
Keep pocket money consistent. If you’re going to give your children pocket money, try to be consistent with the amount and timing of it, as this can help them develop budgeting skills.

If you’re not sure what some banking words mean, you can look them up here. We’ve got helpful tips for your parents too.⁵

Account number
A unique number that only your account has. It’s made up of eight digits and no letters, like 12345678.

Sort code
A six-digit number, with a dash every two numbers. It identifies your bank and your local branch. For example, 12-34-56.

PIN
PIN stands for Personal Identification Number. It’s a four-digit number that acts like a password for your card, so you should never share it with anyone. You’ll need to use it when you’re buying something with your card or getting money out of a cash machine.

Balance
The amount of money you have in your account.

Barclays app
Our app that lets you bank on your smartphone or tablet. You can download it from the App Store or Google Play.

Debit card
A bank card that you can use to pay in shops or online and to take out money from cash machines (if you have the money in your account).

Cash card
A bank card that you can only use to take money out of cash machines (if you have the money in your account). You won’t be able to use our app with this card.

Interest
An amount of money a bank gives you for keeping money in your account.

Security code
If you’re paying online or over the phone, you might be asked for your card’s security code. This is the last three digits printed on the signature strip on the back of your card.

If your parent or guardian has a question about our BarclayPlus account, here’s how they can get in touch with us.

Already bank with us?

Call any time⁶ on 0345 734 5345, or use ‘Call Us’ in the app to fast-track through security.

Don’t bank with us?

Call 0345 600 4545, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and Saturday, 9am to 5pm.