Bank accounts for kids and teens

Helping children and young adults to manage their money with confidence.

Features and benefits for kids

Keep track online

Kids aged under 13 need permission from a parent or guardian to use online banking.

Your own card

Withdraw money or spend online and in shops using a contactless debit card.

Grow your money

Earn interest with an Under 19s Account, or when you save with Smart Start.

Digital wallets

Teens aged 13 or over can use Apple Pay or Google Pay on mobile devices.

Boost your savings

Round up your spending and Save the Change®. Age restrictions may apply.

Learn with Lloyds

The free Lloyds Academy could help you learn more about money.

Peace of mind for parents

No monthly fees

More money stays in your child’s pocket to use or save.

No overdrafts

Kids can only spend what’s in their account – nothing more.

Dual account access

Some accounts can be managed together, with your oversight.

Bank accounts for kids and teens

Lloyds Bank app illustration

Smart Start

Offering accounts for spending and saving. Smart Start can be opened for kids aged 11 to 15 and kept until they turn 18. The supervising parent or guardian must have a Lloyds current account and be registered for online banking.

Smart Start
Lloyds Bank app illustration

Under 19s Account

An everyday banking account for kids and teens aged 11 to 17 who want to start managing their own money. They can have this account until they turn 18.

Under 19s Account

Let’s look at the details

  • Children often get their first bank account at the age of 11 – around the time they go to secondary school and start to enjoy more independence. Lloyds offer accounts for kids aged 11 to 17.

    A bank account can give children practical experience with money and help them to understand the importance of budgeting.

    It also offers a safer way for your child to receive money, whether that’s pocket, travel and lunch money, or gifts from relatives.

  • Older teens may be able to open selected bank accounts by themselves. But most accounts for children are opened with the help of a parent or legal guardian, including grandparents who have parental responsibility for a child.

  • To open a kids’ bank account, you’ll need to provide some personal information. Depending on the account you want to apply for, other conditions might apply.

    For Smart Start:

    • A parent or guardian can open this account online with their child aged 11 to 15.
    • The supervising parent or guardian must have a current account with us and be registered for online banking.
    • Unless the child already has an Under 19s Account, we’ll ask for proof of their identity.

    For an Under 19s Account:

    • Children aged 11 and 12 can apply in branch with their parent or guardian. We’ll need proof of identity for both parties.
    • Children aged 13 and 14 can apply online but need to complete in branch with their parent or guardian. We’ll need proof of identity for both parties.
    • Teens aged 15 to 17 can apply by themselves. In addition to proof of identity, we’ll also ask for proof of address.

    Proof of identity could include a birth certificate or passport.

    Teenagers may not have utility bills or bank statements, but a letter from a GP, hospital or school could be used as proof of address.

    More about opening a bank account

  • To open a joint account with Lloyds, both of you must be aged over 18. Our student and accounts for kids and teens can’t be opened as joint accounts.

    More about joint accounts

  • When choosing a bank account for a child or teenager, think about what they’ll use it for – both now and as they get older.

    Having a bank account can give kids their first experience with money, spending and budgeting. To start with, you might choose an account that offers parental oversight.

    By choosing a bank account that pays interest, or which comes paired with a savings account, it can encourage children to save for the future.

    Weigh up the features and benefits of each account carefully to make sure you find an option that meets your child’s needs.

Tips for parents and guardians

A bank account can start a positive conversation about money between you and your child.

Pocket money

Try to keep the amount and frequency consistent, a bit like a salary would be, helping your child to develop budgeting skills.

Earning money

Create opportunities for children to earn by completing small chores, helping them to understand the connection between work and reward.

Let them decide

Spending on 1 thing might mean you don’t have enough left for another. This can teach kids to question the decisions they make with their money.

Encourage saving

Have a chat about short and long-term goals, and explain the benefit of earning interest on savings, helping money to grow over time.

Staying safe

As well as knowing how to stay safe out and about, it’s important to teach children how to keep their money, cards and personal information secure.

Show and tell

Review your child’s spending together using online banking, or our app. This can teach them how to track their money in the future.

Handy app features

Explore your options

We want to make sure you know about other account types that might suit your needs.

Student Current Account

Make the most of student life with an account designed for full-time students aged 17 or over.

Student Current Account

Children’s savings accounts

Put money aside for a child’s future or start a positive saving habit with a child savings account.

Children’s savings accounts

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Stay safe online

Learn how to avoid scams and protect yourself.

How we protect you

Current account support

Learn how to get the most out of your Lloyds current account with our support pages.

Help and guidance

Do more with the app

Find out about all the great features of our highly rated app, and how it compares to online banking.

More about the app

Protecting your money

FSCS logo



The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects up to £120,000 of the eligible money you hold with us.

More about the FSCS



Protecting your money

FSCS logo

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects up to £120,000 of the eligible money you hold with us.

More about the FSCS

Compare current accounts

We have a range of current accounts to suit your needs.

Browse current accounts

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Compare current accounts

We have a range of current accounts to suit your needs.

Browse current accounts