Best Savings Accounts for Kids

Find the best children's savings account for your family.

By Gabrielle Olya October 18, 2018 Open a Savings Account

If you want to set your child up for financial success, you might be considering opening a savings account specifically for him or her. Not only can you use it to contribute funds for their future, but it can also be used as a valuable tool for your son or daughter to learn the importance of saving early on. When choosing a kids’ savings account, consider the institution you are opening it with, any associated fees and the interest rate the savings can earn.

Keep reading to find out more about the best savings accounts for kids.

The Best Savings Accounts for Kids

Alliant Credit Union Kids Savings Account
Boeing Employees Credit Union Early Saver Account
Capital One Kids Savings Account
Citizens Bank CollegeSaver
PNC ‘S’ Is for Savings

Alliant Credit Union Kids Savings Account

Best for: Credit union members who want to open a savings account for kids under 12

Pros: High interest rate; joint ownership for parents, grandparents or guardian available; online and mobile banking; low $5 initial deposit required; no monthly fees if you opt in for eStatements

Cons: Joint account owner must be an Alliant member; $1 paper statement fee

The Kids Savings Account offered by Alliant Credit Union is available to children and grandchildren of credit union members who are 12 and under. The biggest perk of this account is its high APY — 1.90 percent as of Oct. 10, 2018. The credit union will also waive the initial deposit to start the account. Deposits can be made via ATM or mobile app, and the app also allows children to easily set savings goals.

Teach Them: 7 Things Today’s Kids Really Need to Know About Money

Boeing Employees Credit Union Early Saver Savings Account

Best for: Those who want the potential to go from a savings to checking account

Pros: Premium interest rate on first $500; no minimum balance requirement; no monthly fee; free online and mobile banking

Cons: APY drops significantly after first $500; eStatements and online banking is not available for those under 13

Children under the age of 18 can automatically become a BECU member by opening an Early Saver Savings Account. Enrollees will receive a 6.17% APY on the first $500 deposited into the account, after which the APY will drop to 0.10 percent. BECU also offers a conversion checking account option that can be opened once the account holder turns 18.

Try This: Why a CD Is the Best Tool for Teaching Your Kid to Save

Capital One Kids Savings Account

Best for: Online tools, including the ability to transfer funds, set up automatic payments, set up and track savings goals, and make mobile deposits

Pros: 1.00% APY; no monthly or maintenance fees; no minimum deposit to open or keep the account

Cons: Lower APY than other options

The Kids Savings Account from Capital One has no minimum or fees and an interest rate that is higher than the national average. There is an option to enroll in automatic savings so allowances can be deposited on a schedule, as well as the option to link multiple accounts. Kids can also set up savings goals for each of their accounts. The account is accessible via a mobile app that allows for parental controls.

Related: Best Online Savings Accounts

Citizens Bank CollegeSaver

Best for: Those who can meet monthly account minimums so account holder can receive a large bonus on their 18th birthday

Pros: No monthly maintenance fees; $1,000 bonus plus interest when child turns 18 if monthly account minimums are met

Cons: Minimum balance of $500 to open an account if child is between 6 and 12; must be opened before a child’s 12th birthday; low interest rate

Your son or daughter can earn $1,000 toward their college education with this child savings account. Note that there is a monthly minimum with this account: $25 for children under 6, and $500 for children between 6 and 12 years old. The APY is on the low end at 0.05 percent, but the $1,000 bonus can make up for it depending on how much is placed into the account and for how long.

PNC ‘S’ Is for Savings

Best for: Access to child-friendly financial learning tools

Pros: Interactive banking and educational tools designed for kids; interest earned on balances as low as $1; Auto Savings can establish a savings routine for your child; unlimited deposits; no monthly service charge

Cons: $25 minimum to open; low interest rate

With this account, children can learn about saving and spending money with tips from their favorite Sesame Street characters and interactive online banking experiences. You can also set specific savings goals with this account. The account is free of service charges for those under 18; for those 18 or older, you can avoid the $5 monthly service charge by maintaining a $300 monthly balance or by making an automatic transfer of $25 or more each month. The biggest negative of this account is the low interest rate, which was 0.01% APY as of Oct. 10, 2018.

Click through to read more about the 10 best student savings accounts.

More on Savings Accounts

Rates are accurate as of Oct. 10, 2018.

GOBankingRates is a personal finance and consumer interest rate website owned by ConsumerTrack, Inc., an online marketing company serving top-tier banks, credit unions and other financial services organizations. Some companies mentioned in this article might be clients of ConsumerTrack, Inc., which serves more than 100 national, local and online financial institutions. Rankings and roundups are completely objective, and no institution, client or otherwise, paid for inclusion or specific placement. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of GOBankingRates alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the companies included in the article. All fees and rates are subject to change at the issuers’ discretion, and some bonus offers might no longer be available on the issuers’ websites, depending on how you access the web page.