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The short answer
In Nigeria a child's account is opened and operated by a parent or guardian until the child comes of age. Banks such as UBA, GTBank and Access publish children's and teen accounts with opening balances from about ₦1,000 as at October 2026; children's accounts usually have no card, while some teen accounts offer a card requested by the parent, with limits the parent sets.
How a minor's account works
A child cannot run a bank account alone. Nigerian banks structure children's accounts so that a parent or guardian is the signatory and operates the account on the child's behalf. Access Bank describes its Early Savers account as opened and operated by parents in trust until the child reaches adulthood; UBA says its Teens account is operated by a parent or guardian until the child comes of age.
The identity rules explain why. Channels TV's summary of the CBN BVN rules from 1 May 2026 gives 18 as the minimum age for a BVN, so a child does not have one. The banks instead ask for the parent's BVN or NIN, and often the child's NIN or birth certificate.
What the main banks offer
The table summarises what each bank's own product page said when we checked in October 2026. Rates and conditions change, so check the bank's page before you open one.
| Account | Ages | Opening balance | Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| UBA Kiddies | 0 to 12 | ₦1,000 (operating balance ₦1,000) | No debit card |
| UBA Teens | 13 to 17 | ₦1,000 | Debit card available; parents set limits |
| GTBank Smart Kids Save | 0 to 12 | ₦1,000 minimum balance | Not stated for under-13s |
| GTBank SKS Teen | 13 to under 18 | ₦1,000 minimum balance | Trendy Teen MasterCard at the parent's request |
| Access Early Savers | 0 to 18, including unborn children | "As low as ₦1,000" | Not stated on the page |
Some accounts restrict withdrawals to protect interest: UBA Kiddies, for example, says more than four withdrawals in a month loses that month's interest, and Access Early Savers allows four withdrawals a month without losing interest. Interest rates are shown on each page; we have not repeated them because they change and the UBA pages showed different figures in different places.
Documents banks ask for
Lists vary, but the pages we checked ask for a combination of:
- The child's birth certificate (or international passport).
- Passport photographs of the child and the parent or guardian.
- The parent's valid ID, such as NIN slip, voter's card, international passport or driver's licence.
- The parent's BVN and, at GTBank, the child's NIN and the guardian's NIN.
- Proof of address, such as a recent utility bill.
- Account opening and signature forms.
Access Bank also lists the parent's TIN for Early Savers. If you are opening for a relative's child, ask the bank whether a guardian who is not a parent needs extra documents.
Cards and spending limits for teenagers
A card is where a teen account becomes a learning tool, and also where the risk sits. UBA says parents set the limits on Teens cards; GTBank issues its teen card only at the parent's request. Before you agree to a card:
- Ask the bank what daily ATM, POS and online limits apply and whether you can lower them yourself.
- Turn on SMS and email alerts to your own phone, not only the child's.
- Decide whether online and foreign payments should be switched off until the child shows they can manage.
- Agree house rules: no sharing the PIN, no saving card details in games or apps, and tell you at once if the card is lost.
For phone settings, see keeping children off banking apps.
Worked example: a weekly allowance
Example only: you pay ₦5,000 a week into a teen account and the bank lets you set a ₦3,000 daily POS limit. Over a 4-week month the child receives ₦20,000. If they spend ₦3,000 on two days each week, that is ₦24,000 over the month, more than they received, so the card will decline once the balance runs out. The limit caps each day; the balance caps the month.
What changes at 18
The pages we checked describe moving the child into an ordinary account once they come of age; GTBank says the account is converted to a savings or current account after 18. At that point the young person enrols for their own BVN and becomes the signatory. Plan the handover: update the phone number on the account to theirs and remove your access once the change is made. Lenders also start treating them as an adult borrower, so read can a 17-year-old borrow from a loan app with them first.
Where Pryme fits
A parent with a Pryme Personal Account can use Savings Boxes to set money aside for a child's goals, such as a Fixed Box for next term's fees, with rates shown in the app (Savings Boxes). The Personal Assistant can prepare a weekly allowance transfer and remind you of fee dates, and nothing moves until you approve it (Personal Assistant). For longer horizons, see saving for your child's university.
Questions people ask
Can a child open a bank account in Nigeria?
Yes, but a parent or guardian opens and operates it. Banks such as UBA, GTBank and Access have children's and teen accounts.
What documents do I need to open a kids account?
Usually the child's birth certificate, passport photos of child and parent, the parent's ID and BVN, proof of address and the bank's forms. GTBank also asks for the child's NIN.
Can a 15-year-old have an ATM card in Nigeria?
Some teen accounts offer one. UBA Teens has a debit card with limits set by parents, and GTBank issues its teen card at the parent's request.
What happens to my child's account at 18?
Banks move it to an ordinary account in the young person's name. GTBank says its account converts to savings or current after 18. The young person then needs their own BVN.
Sources
- UBA: Kiddies savings account · accessed Oct 2026
- UBA: Teens account · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank: Smart Kids Save (SKS) · accessed Oct 2026
- Access Bank: Early Savers account · accessed Oct 2026
- Channels TV: what you must know as CBN tightens BVN rules from May 1, 8 Apr 2026 · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.