Your child gets their first phone, wants to pay by card like you do, or the school asks for an account to pay for a trip. That's a good moment to open your child's first bank account. It sounds like a big step, but in practice it's simple and safe once you know what to check.
What a child's account is, and when to open one
A child's account (sometimes called a "junior account") is a special type of personal account. The bank opens it in the child's name, but until the child turns 18, the account is linked to a parent's or guardian's own account. Parents can see what happens on the child's account and set rules for how it's used.
Most banks in Poland let you open this kind of account for children who are just a few years old (the account itself, without a card). The age at which a child can also get a payment card depends on the bank: some banks (e.g. PKO BP, Erste) issue cards to children from age 6-7, while others (e.g. Alior Bank) only from age 13. There is no single "right age" to open one. It depends on whether your child already shops on their own, goes on school trips, or needs pocket money in electronic form rather than only in cash.
What to check when choosing an account
Not every child's account looks the same. Before signing up, it's worth checking a few things.
Fees
A good child's account should be free: no monthly maintenance fee and no fee for issuing the card. Also check whether the bank charges for withdrawals at another bank's cash machine. That's a common cost people forget about.
Spending limits
This is one of the most important features of a child's account. Parents can set a daily or weekly spending limit on the card, as well as a limit per single transaction. This way, the child can't spend more than they should, even if the card is lost or someone quotes the wrong amount.
Mobile app and parent view
Check whether the bank has an app (a program on the phone) where parents can see the child's spending history as it happens. This is more convenient than waiting for paper statements and helps you notice anything unusual quickly.
Payment card
A child's card is usually a debit card, meaning it only lets them pay with money that is actually on the account. The child can't "spend more than they have," because the bank won't lend them money. That's an important difference from a credit card, which children shouldn't have yet.
Parental controls: how they actually work
Parental controls in banking don't mean parents read their child's private messages. They simply mean that:
- parents can see the transaction history on the child's account,
- parents can set and change spending limits,
- parents can block the card with one tap in the app if it's lost,
- at many banks, parents must approve opening the account and any major change.
This lets the child learn independence (they decide for themselves how to spend their own pocket money), while parents stay confident that nothing gets out of hand.
How to teach your child to use the account safely
This is the most important part, and it's often overlooked. The account and card are a great opportunity to teach your child a few rules for life.
Explain what a PIN is: a four-digit code used to confirm a card payment in a shop. The PIN is only for the child. It should never be shared with anyone, not even a best friend.
Explain what an SMS code is too (sometimes called an authorization code): a code the bank sends to confirm an action in the app. Nobody from the bank will ever call and ask the child to read such a code out loud. If someone asks for it, even claiming to work for the bank, it's a scam. The best response is to hang up.
Tell your child never to click links in unknown text messages or emails, even if they promise a "prize" or a "gift from the bank." This is one of the most common tricks scammers use, aimed not only at adults but at younger phone users too.
When to move to an "adult" account
A child's account automatically changes once the child turns 18. At that point, the bank usually offers a switch to a standard personal account, no longer supervised by a parent. This is a good moment to talk about managing money independently: budgeting, saving, and reading contracts before signing them.
If you, as the parent, are looking for a good personal account for yourself at this point, for example to transfer pocket money from, you can compare current bank offers at /en/best/personal-accounts.