The age at which you can open a bank account depends on whether you are opening it independently or with a parent/guardian, and varies by country and bank policies:
- Generally, you must be at least 18 years old to open a bank account on your own
- For minors under 18, accounts can often be opened jointly with a parent or guardian, who may need to be a co-owner or custodian of the account
- Some banks offer special youth or teen accounts starting from around age 11 or 13, but these require parental involvement
. For example, in the UK, NatWest offers accounts for ages 11-17, with different rules for those under 16 and those 16-17 years old
- In Germany, children as young as 7 can open a basic account but need parental consent
- To open an account for a minor, banks typically require identification for both the minor and the adult, proof of address, and sometimes an initial deposit
In summary:
- 18+ years : Can open a bank account independently.
- Under 18 years : Usually requires a parent or guardian to open a joint or custodial account.
- From about 7 to 13 years : Some banks allow basic or savings accounts with parental consent.
- Teen checking accounts : Often start at age 13 with parental involvement.
This structure helps minors learn financial responsibility while ensuring legal and financial oversight by adults.
