Parents and education

When can a young person open a bank account?

By Mehdi - 9/4/25

Bloon's opinion

Opening a bank account for a child can be done from an early age, but it's advisable to wait until the child is mature enough to understand the basics of money management, generally around 8 to 10 years of age depending on the individual. This gives the child a first glimpse of financial management, while accompanying him or her in the learning process. It's important for the child to be able to enjoy gradual autonomy, while benefiting from genuine parental control adapted to securing his or her first banking experiences and making the experience a positive and worry-free one.

Are you wondering whether it's too early or already the right time for your child? It's not easy to know when to open a bank account, especially with all the offers available from traditional and online banks. But learning to manage money at a young age is a real opportunity.

Why is it useful to open an account for your child?

It's the first step towards greater autonomy. Little by little, your child learns the value of money, how to make choices and avoid unnecessary expenditure... In short, a good foundation for the future. But at what age should they start? And how do you go about it?

At what age is this possible?

There isn't really an "official" age, as it all depends on your child's maturity. But in practice, here's how it works:

From birth
You can open a Livret A or savings account in your child's name. However, he won't be able to touch it until he's 12. In the meantime, you manage everything: deposits, withdrawals, expenses... but only for things that concern him (school, clothes, leisure activities...).

From age 12
He or she can start to have a little more control: some banks allow teenagers to open a Livret Jeune with your consent. They can deposit or withdraw money, but always within limits. You retain control over transactions and have to sign for withdrawals.

From 16 to 18
Here, they can have a real bank account (with card and everything else), but always with your authorization. There are also accounts for emancipated minors, which work like those for adults.

What to look for

Even if the law sets a few benchmarks, your decision depends above all on your child:

Does he understand what a sum of money represents?
Does he already know how to watch what he spends?
Has he ever heard of a budget, a bank card or the idea of saving?

A few practical tips

✔️ Choose an offer designed for young people
Some banks, like Bloon, have created simple, educational formulas. The aim: to help children learn without putting them in difficulty.

✔️ Take the first steps together
It's important that your child understands what's expected of him or her. Explain how an account works, what an IBAN is for, how to track expenses and so on.

✔️ Set clear rules
As with all learning, having a framework helps. Set limits together: how much he can spend, what the money is for, what his priorities are.

✔️ Accompany without doing everything for him
The idea is not to let him loose in nature, but to let him experiment, keeping an eye on his choices to help him better understand.

And which bank to choose?

It all depends on what you're looking for.

Traditional bank: more reassuring, with an advisor and a physical branch, but often more expensive.
Online banking: more modern, lower fees, but more autonomy required (and sometimes less human support).

In short, opening a bank account for your child is a bit like teaching him to ride a bike: at first, you hold the saddle, then little by little, he moves forward on his own. And that's when he really starts to grow up. 🚲💳

‍