Recently, as our child has gotten older, the amount of gift money he receives for holidays and birthdays has grown. My wife and I discussed opening a dedicated bank account for him to save this money and, at the same time, start teaching him about financial management from a young age. After researching children’s accounts in Spain, I found that each bank offers something slightly different. I’m starting this thread to share my research with everyone and welcome any additions or corrections! Comparison of Major Banks’ Children’s Accounts Basically, to open an account for a minor, parents or legal guardians need to be present with their NIE/DNI and the child’s NIE/DNI or the Libro de Familia. The good news is that most children’s accounts are free of administration and maintenance fees. I focused on a few banks we are more familiar with and created a simple table for easy comparison. Bank Account Name Key Features Santander Cuenta Junior Ages 0-17, no fees, comes with a prepaid debit card, and has a dedicated app for financial management. BBVA Cuenta para Niños Ages 0-17, also no fees, parents can directly manage and monitor the child’s account through their own BBVA app using the children’s bank account features. CaixaBank ImaginTeens Aimed at teens aged 12-17, with a focus on mobile payments and online experiences, featuring a dedicated app with a very modern design. ING Cuenta Naranja Mini A purely online savings account for ages 0-18. It doesn’t come with a physical card, focuses on saving, and offers a little interest, making it ideal for simply putting money away. My personal take is that if you want your child to learn how to use a card and manage spending early on, Santander and BBVA’s options are quite suitable. They provide a debit card as part of the children’s bank card package, allowing kids to spend within a limit set by their parents, which is great for hands-on experience. If you just want a safe place to store money, ING’s Cuenta Naranja Mini is sufficient. It’s simple to use, kind of like an old-school passbook. CaixaBank’s ImaginTeens is clearly designed for older kids, with cooler features and more social elements. In the end, we weighed our options and chose the Cuenta Junior for our son, mainly because our own primary account is with Santander, which makes management easier. The opening process was quite smooth; we brought all the necessary documents to the branch, and the staff processed it quickly. Now, he gets a sense of achievement seeing his ‘balance’ in his own banking app and is always talking about saving up for a big Lego set. So, I’d say our initial goal of financial education is being met . Has anyone else opened a similar account for their kids? Are there any hidden pitfalls or better recommendations? Let’s discuss! For example, do some smaller or regional banks offer better products? Please share your experiences!

Sharing My Experience Opening a Child's Bank Account (Cuenta Infantil) in Spain

Oakhaven

Recently, as our child has gotten older, the amount of gift money he receives for holidays and birthdays has grown. My wife and I discussed opening a dedicated bank account for him to save this money and, at the same time, start teaching him about financial management from a young age. After researching children’s accounts in Spain, I found that each bank offers something slightly different. I’m starting this thread to share my research with everyone and welcome any additions or corrections!

Comparison of Major Banks’ Children’s Accounts

Basically, to open an account for a minor, parents or legal guardians need to be present with their NIE/DNI and the child’s NIE/DNI or the Libro de Familia. The good news is that most children’s accounts are free of administration and maintenance fees. I focused on a few banks we are more familiar with and created a simple table for easy comparison.

Bank	Account Name	Key Features
Santander	Cuenta Junior	Ages 0-17, no fees, comes with a prepaid debit card, and has a dedicated app for financial management.
BBVA	Cuenta para Niños	Ages 0-17, also no fees, parents can directly manage and monitor the child’s account through their own BBVA app using the children’s bank account features.
CaixaBank	ImaginTeens	Aimed at teens aged 12-17, with a focus on mobile payments and online experiences, featuring a dedicated app with a very modern design.
ING	Cuenta Naranja Mini	A purely online savings account for ages 0-18. It doesn’t come with a physical card, focuses on saving, and offers a little interest, making it ideal for simply putting money away.

My personal take is that if you want your child to learn how to use a card and manage spending early on, Santander and BBVA’s options are quite suitable. They provide a debit card as part of the children’s bank card package, allowing kids to spend within a limit set by their parents, which is great for hands-on experience. If you just want a safe place to store money, ING’s Cuenta Naranja Mini is sufficient. It’s simple to use, kind of like an old-school passbook. CaixaBank’s ImaginTeens is clearly designed for older kids, with cooler features and more social elements.

In the end, we weighed our options and chose the Cuenta Junior for our son, mainly because our own primary account is with Santander, which makes management easier. The opening process was quite smooth; we brought all the necessary documents to the branch, and the staff processed it quickly. Now, he gets a sense of achievement seeing his ‘balance’ in his own banking app and is always talking about saving up for a big Lego set. So, I’d say our initial goal of financial education is being met.

Has anyone else opened a similar account for their kids? Are there any hidden pitfalls or better recommendations? Let’s discuss! For example, do some smaller or regional banks offer better products? Please share your experiences!