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Our Child bank account
Adapt bank account

Open a child & teen bank account

This account is available to 11-17 year olds who are UK residents. 11-15s must apply with a parent or guardian who has a NatWest current account.

Why choose our under 18's bank account?

 

You won't have to pay any regular set fee to have this account.

Buy things in shops or online, and withdraw cash with your contactless debit card.

Works with Apple Pay and Google Pay™.

Earn 2.70% AER / 2.67% Gross p.a. (variable) interest on your balance.

Manage your account wherever, whenever with our mobile banking app.

Make banking simple with our mobile app

View your bank account on the go

View your accounts, your balance and check recent transactions (things you’ve spent money on) and transfer money between your own accounts.

Get Cash without your debit card

Withdraw up to £130 every 24 hours from our branded ATMs, as long as it's within your daily withdrawal limit. You must have at least £10 available in your account and your debit card must be active.

Freeze and unfreeze your debit card

If you've misplaced your debit card, you can lock it until you find it. Card been lost, stolen, damaged? The quickest way to report this is with our app.

Pay in cheques securely

Use your camera to deposit cheques 24/7 using our mobile app. This feature allows you to pay in up to £750 per day. It's simple, secure and saves you a trip to the branch. Limits apply.

Managing your account

Ways to pay

Contactless debit card

Buy things in shops and online, and withdraw your cash from a cash machine.

Apple Pay and Google Pay

Pay for things easily using your phone when you're out and about.

Make regular payments

Set up Direct Debits and Standing Orders to pay regular bills, like a gym membership.

Interest

Earn interest on your balance

You’ll earn interest on everything you pay into this account.

How to open a bank account for a child or teen

A parent or guardian can only open a child or teen account if you already bank with us. If you're a teen aged 16-17 you can open the account yourself. Below are guides for parent/guardians of existing customers, new parent/guardian customers and for teens to open an account.

Information Message

To apply for a current account, parents or guardians must be 18+ and UK resident.

Parent/guardians: existing NatWest customer

  1. You'll need to complete our online application or apply in branch. (To open in branch you must bring your own device e.g. a mobile or tablet and our staff can assist you opening the account yourself). 
  2. You’ll need to provide a proof of ID e.g passport, as well as proof of your current address for yourself and the child or teen you're opening the account for.
Information Message

Parent/guardians: new NatWest customer

  1. In order to open this account for a child, as a parent or guardian you must have a bank account with us. If you don't already, you can review our accounts and apply here.
  2. Once your NatWest account is open, we'll need you to complete an online application with both sets of details, as well as to provide yours and your child's proof of ID.

Looking for a pre-paid debit card option instead? Take a look at our NatWest Rooster Money card. Kids aged 6-17. Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply. Fees may apply depending on card selection.

Information Message

Teen aged 16-17: how to open the account yourself

  1. If you're 16-17, you can apply for your own bank account. However if you aren't able to provide proof of identity, you'll need to apply with a parent or guardian who has a NatWest current account.
  2. We'll need your ID (and your parent's ID if you don't have one) and for you to complete an online application (with both sets of details if you don't have your own proof of ID).

If you're 11-15, your parent or guardian must have or open a bank account with us to open an account for you.

Information Message

Open a child's bank account online - FAQs

Get ready to apply

Before you apply, we need to check you're happy with a few things, and ask you a few questions up front. Then we can make your application as quick and simple as it can be.

First things first. You can apply if you:

  • are aged 11 - 17 and a UK resident

Now please take a look at the important legal info:

How your information might be used

It's important for you to understand how we use and share your information. Please read this short summary before you continue with your application.

As part of the checks that we will complete to verify your identity, we’ll take an image of your face so that it can be compared with your photo ID and this biometric data is captured.

All okay? Apply for your Adapt account today

We'll ask you a couple of questions to get you started.
It'll only take a minute.

Note: If your parent or guardian is opening another Adapt account, you won’t be able to apply until that account is opened.

How old are you?
Does your parent or guardian have an account with us?
Do you have any Photo ID?
This is your Photo ID and not your parent or guardian's. It must be in date.

or

Does your parent or guardian have our mobile app?

Great, let’s get you started

We'll ask your parent/guardian to log in to their mobile banking app. They just need to confirm their details and then it's over to you to complete the application. 

Once you’re done, we’ll ask our partners HooYu to do a quick ID check on you.

You’ll need:

  • A Photo ID
    This can be a Passport,  Driving Licence (full or provisional), PASS card, or an ID card from an EU or EEA country.
  • A liveness check
    We’ll ask you to take a selfie to compare you to your Photo ID. You'll need a device with a camera to upload these.

We may also ask for:

 

Parents or Guardian

We'll ask you to log in to your app and confirm your identity before we launch the application. Check that you've logged out of the app before handing the device back to your child.

Apply using a mobile or tablet

Scan the QR code on the device that your parent or guardian has their app on. You’ll then be able to apply in a flash.

You need our app to continue

Your parent/guardian will need to download and set up the app. It won’t take long to do.

They’ll just need their:

  • Online Banking PIN and password
  • Mobile phone so we can send a one-time passcode
Do you have a UK birth or adoption certificate?
We can use this to identify you
Does your parent or guardian have our mobile app?

Great, let’s get you started

We'll ask your parent or guardian to log in to their mobile banking app. They just need to confirm their details and then it's over to you to complete the application. 

Once you're done, we’ll ask your parent or guardian to either pop into a branch or post us the following info:
 

 

Parents or Guardian

We'll ask you to log in to your app and confirm your identity before we launch the application. Check that you've logged out of the app before handing the device back to your child.

Apply using a mobile or tablet

Scan the QR code on the device that your parent or guardian has their app on. You’ll then be able to apply in a flash.

You need our app to continue

Your parent/guardian will need to download and set up the app. It won’t take long to do.

They’ll just need their:

  • Online Banking PIN and password
  • Mobile phone so we can send a one-time passcode

You need ID to open your account online

If you don’t have a Photo ID, we’ll need to see your birth or adoption certificate. You can get a copy of your certificate from:
 

  • England and Wales:
    The General Register Office
  • Scotland: 
    The National Records of Scotland
  • Northern Ireland:
    The General Register Office for Northern Ireland

Your parent/guardian must have a NatWest current account

Oops, we can't go on with your application just yet because we need your parent or guardian to have an account with us. Fancy having them join NatWest? They can check out our account options below. 

After they've opened their account and got their Online Banking sorted, just pop back here to finish off your Adapt account application. 

Eligibility conditions & criteria apply.

Do you have any Photo ID?
Your ID needs to be in date and have your name on it

or

Do you have a proof of address?
It must show your name and address. We can’t accept mobile phone bills or downloaded copies of letters.

or

Great, let’s get you started

Your application will be completely online, as part of our checks we’ll ask our partner HooYu to confirm your identity using:
 

  • Photo ID
    This can be your Passport, a UK Driving Licence (full or provisional), or an ID card or driving licence from an EU or EEA country.
  • A Liveness check
    A selfie to compare to your Photo ID. You'll need a device with a camera to upload these.
  • Proof of your address
    We may need to check your address is right, you can find out which proofs of address we accept (opens in new tab)
Does your parent or guardian have an account with us?
Does your parent or guardian have our mobile app?

Great, let’s get you started

We'll ask your parent/guardian to log in to their mobile banking app. They just need to confirm their details and then it's over to you to complete the application. 

Once you’re done, we’ll ask our partners HooYu to do a quick ID check on you.

You’ll need:

  • A Photo ID
    This can be a Passport,  Driving Licence (full or provisional), PASS card, or an ID card from an EU or EEA country.
  • A liveness check
    We’ll ask you to take a selfie to compare you to your Photo ID. You'll need a device with a camera to upload these.

We may also ask for:

 

Parents or Guardian

We'll ask you to log in to your app and confirm your identity before we launch the application. Check that you've logged out of the app before handing the device back to your child.

Apply using a mobile or tablet

Scan the QR code on the device that your parent or guardian has their app on. You’ll then be able to apply in a flash.

You need our app to continue

Your parent/guardian will need to download and set up the app. It won’t take long to do.

They’ll just need their:

  • Online Banking PIN and password
  • Mobile phone so we can send a one-time passcode

You must prove your address and identity

Sorry, you can't apply for an account because we need you to prove your identity and address

No worries if you can't do this. You can apply with a parent/guardian if they have a NatWest current account. 

If they don't have one yet, follow the link below to show them our current account range. 

Once they've applied, got their welcome email and their Online Banking details, come back here to continue your account application. Simple!

Eligibility criteria & conditions apply. 

Does your parent or guardian have an account with us?
Do you have a UK birth or adoption certificate?
We can use this to identify you
Does your parent or guardian have our mobile app?

Great, let’s get you started

We'll ask your parent or guardian to log in to their mobile banking app. They just need to confirm their details and then it's over to you to complete the application. 

Once you're done, we’ll ask your parent or guardian to either pop into a branch or post us the following info:
 

 

Parents or Guardian

We'll ask you to log in to your app and confirm your identity before we launch the application. Check that you've logged out of the app before handing the device back to your child.

Apply using a mobile or tablet

Scan the QR code on the device that your parent or guardian has their app on. You’ll then be able to apply in a flash.

You need our app to continue

Your parent/guardian will need to download and set up the app. It won’t take long to do.

They’ll just need their:

  • Online Banking PIN and password
  • Mobile phone so we can send a one-time passcode

You need ID to open your account online

If you don’t have a Photo ID, we’ll need to see your birth or adoption certificate. You can get a copy of your certificate from:
 

  • England and Wales:
    The General Register Office
  • Scotland: 
    The National Records of Scotland
  • Northern Ireland:
    The General Register Office for Northern Ireland

You must prove your address and identity

Sorry, you can't apply for an account because we need you to prove your identity and address

No worries if you can't do this. You can apply with a parent/guardian if they have a NatWest current account. 

If they don't have one yet, follow the link below to show them our current account range. 

Once they've applied, got their welcome email and their Online Banking details, come back here to continue your account application. Simple!

Eligibility criteria & conditions apply. 

Parents: prefer a pocket money app managed by you?

NatWest Rooster Money comes with a prepaid debit card option from age 6.

  • Monitor their spending with limits and alerts.
  • Create custom pots for saving money.
  • Free Rooster card subscription: for NatWest customers with kids aged 6-17.

T&Cs apply (PDF, 100KB). Eligibility criteria apply. Card offer includes up to three cards, other fees may apply. Fees apply for non NatWest personal customers.

Information Message

Other ways we can help

NatWest Thrive

Let’s make your kids’ dreams come true. NatWest Thrive with Marcus Rashford is a movement to help young people develop the self-belief, confidence and skills to achieve what they want.

Rooster Run

Try out our digital game, Rooster Run and discover the world of NatWest Rooster Money.

Invest for the future

If you’re looking to invest money for your kid’s future, a junior ISA could be a good option. Money is invested which means it could grow more than in a normal bank account. The value of investments can go down as well as up, your capital is at risk. Eligibility criteria, fees and charges apply.