Kids savings accounts - not worth the hassle
Kids savings accounts - not worth the hassle
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anonymous-user

Original Poster:

78 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
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[redacted]

Zoon

7,253 posts

145 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
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The limited deposit accounts aren't worth it, you only end up with half the advertised rate per year, so 4% actually becomes 2%.
I note you said you needed to remember to log on every month, could you not set a standing order up for the deposit?

alscar

8,364 posts

237 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
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That does indeed sound somewhat painful.
Appreciate a risk but have you ever thought of perhaps starting an Investment Trust ISA on their behalf - we started ones for each of our children ( as Trustees ) and then converted them over to their name when they reached 18 with F and C -now Columbia - we paid in a lump sum to kick them off and then paid in additional as and when.

Zoon

7,253 posts

145 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
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alscar said:
That does indeed sound somewhat painful.
Appreciate a risk but have you ever thought of perhaps starting an Investment Trust ISA on their behalf - we started ones for each of our children ( as Trustees ) and then converted them over to their name when they reached 18 with F and C -now Columbia - we paid in a lump sum to kick them off and then paid in additional as and when.
I have done similar with Vanguard S&P 500, returns have hammered savings rates but obviously comes with risk.

bmwmike

8,336 posts

132 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
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I've got HSBC for the kids and it was easy enough but could be smoother. Prior to age 11 there is no online access which was a pain. Once the little un turned 11 they sent a card and logon details automatically.

My eldest keeps forgetting her logon and locking the account, we've called HSBC (probably the same Indian call centre) and they were pretty good to be fair, they knew i was sat nearby prompting and assisting, but the child did most of the interaction and got the details reset. I think it does them good to have to go through the pain of call centres, teleprompters and dealing with actual bank stuff.


Granadier

1,160 posts

51 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
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I still have my Abbey National Junior Saver passbook somewhere. No online access then, you went into the building society to deposit or withdraw money and they would write in your passbook. It got me in the [Abbey] habit of taking care of my money from a young age.

Mr Whippy

32,357 posts

265 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
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Why not just open them a building society account?

I’m pretty sure Yorkshire Building Society will be as good as any high street bank on rates, but infinitely better on support.
They’ll even do stuff face to face, passbook only, or allow internet type management if desired.

Why you’re persevering with HSBC for this is beyond my comprehension.
They don’t do customer service any more. It’ll get worse.

bmwmike

8,336 posts

132 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
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No skin in the game here other than i just setup my kids online bank account. Had a question, got through to HSBC via the app chat in about 5-10 minutes, but crucially didn't have to wait on a telephone. Am a premier customer for whatever that means these days but i don't think that helped me. It was all via their app.

That said, given the hassle you've had i'd not persevere either, plenty of other banks.

JapanRed

1,589 posts

135 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2022
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Surely a standing order is the way forward here? I didn’t think anyone routinely went into their bank account to transfer a recurring payment each month anymore.

Also, assuming you have a 16 or 18yr horizon, why are you messing about with cash savings accounts rather than investing into shares?

4% sounds great but you only get that on the first £100. It is indeed pitiful but all cash savings accounts have been until the past few months.

bmwmike

8,336 posts

132 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
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The chat function notifies you even when logged out if there has been a response.

alscar

8,364 posts

237 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
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Armchair , I’m no Financial expert so not advice but waste a few minutes looking at Columbia Investments website. Search by Private Investor and then at least 3 options will come up for different ideas for children.