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Youth and Student Bank Accounts in Switzerland – Comparison 2025

Philippe

April 23, 2025

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• Why Open a Minor’s Account in Switzerland?
• At What Age Can You Open a Bank Account in Switzerland?
• Advantages of a Youth Account in Switzerland
• 📘 Financial Management Education
• 💳 Cashless Payments (Card, TWINT)
• 🛡️ Security and Parental Control
• 📱 Digital Tools Tailored to Youth
• Youth Accounts from Major Traditional Banks in Switzerland
• 👶 Accounts Available from Birth
• 🧒 Teen and Young Accounts
• ✅ Advantages of Traditional Banks
• ⚠️ Drawbacks Compared to Neo-Banks
• Spotlight on Swiss Neo-Bank Youth Accounts
• 🟣 Yuh 14+ – The Junior Account from Age 14, No Parental Approval Needed
• 🔴 Neon – For Young People from Age 15
• 🔵 Zak – Banque Cler’s Digital Offer from Age 15
• Comparison of the Best Junior Offers in Switzerland (Yuh, Neon, Zak and Traditional Banks)
• And After 18? What Happens to the Youth Account
• ✅ What Changes After Reaching Majority:
• 📱 And at the Neo-Banks?
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Minor Bank Accounts in Switzerland

Why Open a Minor’s Account in Switzerland?

Opening a bank account for a child or teenager in Switzerland is much more than a simple formality. It’s an essential educational tool that allows young people to become familiar with money management from an early age. With a junior account, they learn to manage their budget, track their spending, and save safely.

In an increasingly digital world, cashless payments, banking apps, and debit cards are now part of daily life—even for the youngest users. Minor accounts are therefore designed to meet their specific needs while ensuring a secure framework, often overseen by parents.

In Switzerland, families have several options: traditional offers from major banks and more modern solutions provided by neo-banks like Yuh, Neon, and Zak, which appeal increasingly to teenagers thanks to their ease of use, modern design, and mobile-first approach.

In this article, we review the main conditions for opening a minor account, the differences by age, and the best offers available in 2025.

At What Age Can You Open a Bank Account in Switzerland?

In Switzerland, it is possible to open a bank account for a minor from birth, provided it is done by legal guardians (usually the parents). These accounts are often used to receive pocket money, gifts, or to start saving from a very young age.

From a certain age—generally around 12 to 15 years old—the teenager can begin to manage their account themselves, depending on the bank’s policy and parental agreement.

There is no federal law mandating a single age for a minor to open an account. Each bank is free to set its own rules, often aligned with stages of financial maturity:

• 👶 Children (under 12 years): accounts opened and managed exclusively by parents
• 🧑‍🎓 Teenagers (13–17 years): partial or full management, with or without parental authorization
• 🧑 Young adults (from 18 years): full access to all banking services

This flexible framework allows financial responsibilities to be gradually adapted according to age and maturity.

Advantages of a Youth Account in Switzerland

Opening a junior account offers many benefits for both children and their parents. These accounts are not limited to storing money: they are a true financial learning tool, tailored to the age and needs of the child or teenager.

📘 Financial Management Education

A bank account helps young people understand the value of money, track their spending, and plan their purchases. This fosters gradual autonomy in managing a personal budget, with or without parental supervision.

💳 Cashless Payments (Card, TWINT)

Most junior accounts include a debit card (Mastercard or Visa) and allow the use of TWINT, Switzerland’s popular mobile payment app. Young users can thus pay in stores, online, or between friends without handling cash.

🛡️ Security and Parental Control

Minor accounts generally offer a secure framework, with no overdraft facility, and customizable spending limits. Some banks offer parental management interfaces, allowing adults to monitor or approve certain transactions.

📱 Digital Tools Tailored to Youth

Neo-banks like Yuh, Neon, and Zak focus on an intuitive mobile experience, with modern interfaces, real-time notifications, and visual features (budgets, spending categories, goal-based savings, etc.) that make understanding easier for young users.

Youth Accounts from Major Traditional Banks in Switzerland

In Switzerland, major banks like UBS, Raiffeisen, PostFinance, Credit Suisse, and the cantonal banks have long offered specific accounts for children, teenagers, and young adults. These offers are well-established and often linked to educational or loyalty programs.

👶 Accounts Available from Birth

Most of these institutions allow account opening from birth, provided the account is opened and managed by legal guardians. These savings accounts sometimes offer preferential interest rates, particularly on the first CHF 10,000 or 20,000.

🧒 Teen and Young Accounts

From around 12 or 13 years old, some banks offer accounts for teenagers, with debit cards, online access, and mobile payments. These accounts automatically convert to youth or student accounts at age 18.

✅ Advantages of Traditional Banks

• Physical branch network, which can reassure parents
• Extensive services: access to savings, SEPA transfers, classic e-banking
• Personalized support: some banks offer workshops or educational tools

⚠️ Drawbacks Compared to Neo-Banks

Despite their solidity, traditional banks sometimes have more complex or less intuitive interfaces than neo-banks. Additionally, account opening often requires an in-branch visit with a more administrative process, and fees may be less transparent once the minor reaches adulthood.

Spotlight on Swiss Neo-Bank Youth Accounts

Neo-banks like Yuh, Neon, and Zak are revolutionizing access to banking services for young people in Switzerland. Fully mobile, easy to use, paperwork-free, and generally free of charge, they offer a modern alternative to traditional offerings—while meeting the expectations of smartphone-native teenagers.

🟣 Yuh 14+ – The Junior Account from Age 14, No Parental Approval Needed

Yuh, launched by PostFinance and Swissquote, offers a unique product in the Swiss market: a free bank account accessible from age 14, without parental authorization required. The Yuh 14+ account includes:

• A free Mastercard
• TWINT for mobile payments
• 1 free ATM withdrawal per week at any Swiss cash machine
• No currency exchange or transaction fees in Switzerland and abroad
• No overdraft allowed – built-in security
• Funds insured up to CHF 100,000

👉 This account does not yet allow investing, but young users can follow the markets and their favorite brands via the app.

🔴 Neon – For Young People from Age 15

Neon is a well-established Swiss neo-bank that offers a free account from age 15. It’s not a dedicated junior account, but a standard fee-free account adapted to teenagers.

Key features:

• Free Mastercard
• Integrated TWINT
• No fees for payments abroad
• Spaces for interest-bearing savings
• Access to Neon Invest from age 18

📱 The app is modern, intuitive, and ideal for young people who want to manage their finances independently from age 15.

🔵 Zak – Banque Cler’s Digital Offer from Age 15

Zak, Banque Cler’s mobile solution, is also available from age 15. It combines the advantages of a traditional bank with a modern user experience.

Main features:

• Free Visa Debit card
• Mobile payments via TWINT, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more
• Free withdrawals at Credit Suisse ATMs
• “Pots” feature for managing savings goals or projects

💡 Registration is done via smartphone, and Zak emphasizes simplicity and transparency, with no hidden fees.

Comparison of the Best Junior Offers in Switzerland (Yuh, Neon, Zak and Traditional Banks)

To choose the right account for a child or teenager, it’s essential to compare opening conditions, fees, included services (card, TWINT, withdrawals, etc.), and the level of autonomy granted to the young user.

Key takeaways:

• Yuh is the only neo-bank offering a junior account without parental authorization from age 14.
• Neon and Zak are suitable for young people from age 15 but remain under parental control until adulthood.
• Traditional banks offer accounts from birth, but the experience is often less modern and requires a branch visit.

And After 18? What Happens to the Youth Account

When the young person reaches 18 years old (or 20 at some traditional banks), the youth account automatically converts into an adult bank account. This transition comes with several changes to be aware of.

✅ What Changes After Reaching Majority:

• End of youth benefits: preferential conditions such as boosted interest rates, unlimited free withdrawals, or sign-up bonuses may end.
• Ability to subscribe to adult banking products: credit cards, long-term savings solutions, investments, or even personal loans become accessible.
• Full autonomy: the account holder becomes solely responsible for their finances. Parental access is generally removed.
• Possible new fees: some banks start charging account maintenance fees once the user becomes an adult.

📱 And at the Neo-Banks?

At Yuh and Neon, the transition is smoother:

• The account remains the same, with no changes to the app or interface.
• The user simply gains access to new features, like Yuh Invest or Neon Invest, available only from age 18.
• No additional fees are automatically applied at majority.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Minor Bank Accounts in Switzerland