I remember the moment I handed my son his first bank card. He was beaming with pride, like he’d just been handed the keys to the adult world. It was only a prepaid card with a fiver on it, but to him, it was independence — the real deal. And to me, it was a small, nerve-wracking step into a whole new parenting chapter: financial freedom.
So when should you give your child their own bank card?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every child is different. But if you’re a dad starting to wonder whether it’s time to move beyond handing out the occasional pocket money in coins, here’s what I’ve learned — and what you might want to think about.
Understanding the Options
In the UK, children can get some form of bank card from as young as six years old. That surprised me too. These aren’t full-on bank accounts, of course — they’re usually prepaid cards or junior versions of current accounts, managed by you.
For younger kids (think 6–11), you’ve got options like GoHenry, HyperJar, Rooster Money, and Starling Kite. They come with apps that let you top up their card, set spending limits, and see exactly where the money goes. They’re great for teaching basics without throwing them into the deep end.
Once they hit around 11, high street banks start to offer proper children’s accounts. These usually come with a debit card and some version of online or app-based banking. At this stage, you’ll still have oversight, but they’ll start to get a taste of real independence.
But of course, the bigger question is not whether the product exists — it’s whether your child is ready for it.
Are They Ready for Financial Responsibility?
This is where it gets interesting, because readiness doesn’t come with an age stamp.
My own son was curious about money from an early age. He liked counting coins, understood basic costs, and had a bit of a saver’s mindset. That told me he might be ready to handle his own spending. But I’ve also seen kids the same age blow £20 on digital stickers for a game they stopped playing a week later. It’s not about how old they are, but how they think.
A few questions helped me figure out whether we were ready:
- Do they understand that money runs out?
- Can they grasp the idea of earning money, not just receiving it?
- Have they shown any ability to wait for something, or save for it?
- Are they asking about money in a thoughtful way?
If the answer to most of those is “yes”, then a bank card might be the perfect next step. If not, maybe it’s worth holding off a little while longer — or starting with a card but keeping the leash short, so to speak.
Helping Them Make Smart Choices
Getting the card is only part of it. The bigger job is helping them learn how to use it well — and that starts with conversations.
We talked about needs vs wants, about not spending everything at once, and about how easy it is to swipe a card without thinking. We also agreed that mistakes were OK. If he spent all his money on sweets in the first week, he’d learn something — even if his teeth didn’t thank him.
That’s probably the most important bit: letting them mess up while the stakes are low. It’s far better for a ten-year-old to feel the sting of running out of pocket money early in the week than for a twenty-year-old to discover overdraft fees the hard way.
Keeping Some Structure in Place
Even as they become more independent, most kids still need boundaries. What worked for us was a simple routine: pocket money every Saturday, managed through the card. We used the app to check the balance together, and I’d encourage him to set aside a bit for saving.
I also made a point of not topping it up randomly. If it ran out, it ran out. That gave him a clear message: you’re in control, and you’re responsible for what’s left.
At the same time, I kept the tone light. This wasn’t about shaming him for missteps. It was about guiding him — and showing that I trusted him to make good choices (or learn from not-so-good ones).
A Few Practical Tips for Making the Transition
When you do feel ready to take the plunge, here are a few small things that helped us:
- Start with a prepaid card. It offers more control than a full bank account, and you can see how they manage before going further.
- Use an app that shows spending. Many kids’ cards come with features that let you (and them) track where the money’s going. It’s a good teaching tool.
- Set rules together. Rather than laying down the law, have a chat about how they want to use the card and what the limits should be.
- Encourage saving. Most apps let you create “savings pots” or goals. It’s a small step toward budgeting.
- Talk regularly. Not every transaction needs a post-mortem, but regular chats about money keep things open and healthy.
It’s Not Just About the Card
What I realised quickly was that the card itself was just a tool — a symbol, really. What mattered was the trust behind it. I was saying, “I believe you’re ready to start learning how to manage your own money.” And that meant something to him. He took it seriously.
There were hiccups, of course. The time he spent £8 on a bobble hat he never wore. The week he forgot his PIN and had to learn the joy of customer service helplines. But those were learning moments, and they’ve stuck with him.
Now, a couple of years on, he’s got a better grip on money than I did at his age. He doesn’t spend wildly, he’s got savings goals, and he even compares prices sometimes before buying things. (Sometimes.)
So, What’s the Right Age?
If you’ve read this far hoping for a concrete number, I’ll have to disappoint you. But here’s the best I can say:
Most kids in the UK are ready for some form of card between the ages of 8 and 13. It depends on maturity, interest, and how much guidance you’re able to give. For some, six might not be too early for a tightly controlled prepaid card. For others, 12 might be too soon for a full account.
It’s less about age and more about mindset. And as with most things in parenting, you’ll probably just know. You’ll spot the signs that your child is ready to take a small step into financial responsibility — and when that moment comes, having a bank card in their wallet might be exactly what they need.
