Children's bank account with a debit card

You can use a debit card to pay for goods in shops and online, and to withdraw cash. Every time you or your child uses a debit card to make a purchase, money is automatically deducted from the balance of the current account connected to the card.

This could make them a good option for children, as they’ll be able to see money coming out of their account almost straight away and won’t be able to spend more than what they have. If they don’t have the funds in their account, they can’t make a purchase. It’s as simple as that.

Ulster Bank offers two types of children’s debit cards. The first is through NatWest Rooster Money which is our pocket money app for kids. This is managed by parents and comes with a prepaid child’s debit card for kids aged 6-17. The Adapt current account is available for 11-17 year olds. This comes with a debit card and is managed by the child. 

With an Ulster Bank Adapt debit card, your kids can spend money on the things they love. We’ve got a range of great resources available to help kids use their money responsibly. Don’t think they’re ready for a full current account yet? Rooster Money  by NatWest is a great stepping stone to the full current account.

Unlike a regular debit card, a prepaid debit card isn’t connected to a current account. Instead, you manually load it with money and then top it up again when you want to. This is useful for parents and guardians, as it means you can set budgets for how much your child can spend.

With a children’s bank account and debit card, your kids can go shopping, save up for a new bike or head out for lunch with their friends. But they also teach kids not to spend beyond their means. And as a parent, you’ll have some oversight on how they spend their money – which can help your kids stay safe, and learn useful financial lessons.  

Ulster Bank youth accounts come with two types of debit card. There are a few differences between them:

• Prepaid cards. With the prepaid Rooster Card you’ll add money to your kids’ Rooster app, which is connected to their debit card. From there, they can use it to make purchases in shops, just like a normal card. You’ll be able to set limits, create spending pots to keep savings on track, and get real-time updates on where they’re spending their cash. It’s also secure: there’s a simple freeze option, one-time CVV codes for online purchases, and no chance of debt or overspend.
• Debit cards. If your kids have an Adapt current account, they’ll have a debit card connected to it. This will work like a regular debit card: every time your kids make a purchase or withdraw cash, money will be instantly deducted from their current account balance.

Both our Rooster Card and Adapt cards are free. You can upgrade your kids’ Rooster Money account to Rooster PLUS to unlock new features.