In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Details
    • Product overview
    • Fees
    • Overdraft information
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Your reviews
🏆 Finder award

Nationwide FlexOne current account review

  • Rachel Wait's headshot
Nationwide FlexOne Account
Incentive
Eligible for a FlexOne Saver account, Flex Regular Saver and Flex Instant Saver.
Account fee
£0
Interest (AER)
2% AER
Overseas card transactions
0%

Our verdict

Opening a current account for your child can help them to establish good money habits early on. Learn more about what the Nationwide FlexOne account has to offer.

Gold Finder Awards Badge
Finder Awards 2023 highly commended
Innovation Award

If you're looking to open a bank account for your child, the Nationwide FlexOne account is a solid option, as long as your child is at least 11 years old. It wins points for offering the choice of either a debit card or a cash card, which means you can choose to have more control over what your child spends and where if that's something you're more comfortable with. It also stands out through its lack of foreign transaction fees, making it a good choice for those who regularly travel abroad.

However, as always, compare other options first to make sure you're completely happy with your choice. Check out our guide to best debit and prepaid accounts for kids for more information.

Pros

  • Account is free to open and manage
  • Fee-free transactions abroad
  • Interest paid on credit balances
  • Choice of cash card or Visa debit card
  • FSCS protection

Cons

  • Interest only paid on balances up to £1,000
  • Must be at least 11 to apply
  • Accounts for 11 and 12 year olds can only be opened over the phone or at certain branches with a tablet
  • No specific app for children

In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Details
    • Product overview
    • Fees
    • Overdraft information
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Your reviews

Details

Product overview

Account name FlexOne
Incentive
Eligible for a FlexOne Saver account, Flex Regular Saver and Flex Instant Saver.
Provider Nationwide BS
Account fee £0
Interest (AER) 2% AER
ATM withdrawal limit £300
Debit network Visa
Card type Cash / Debit
Minimum eligibility age 11 Years
Minimum operating balance £0
Minimum opening balance £0
Direct debits
Current account switch guarantee
Cheque Book

Fees

Currency conversion withdrawal for overseas cash withdrawal in Europe (EEA) 0%
Currency conversion withdrawal for overseas cash withdrawal in non-Europe (EEA) 0%
Foreign cash transaction fee in Europe £0
Foreign cash transaction fee in rest of world £0

Overdraft information

Arranged overdraft available
Overdraft Grace Period 14:30 same day

What is the Nationwide FlexOne current account?

The Nationwide FlexOne current account is designed for 11- to 17-year-olds. There are no fees for maintaining the account and you’ll be able to choose between a cash card and a Visa debit card. Once your child turns 18, they’ll automatically be switched to a debit card if they don’t already have one.

The FlexOne account can be managed online, via the app, in branch or over the phone. Your child can keep the account until they turn 23 when it will be moved to a FlexAccount or FlexDirect account.

How does it work?

The Nationwide FlexOne account offers the following key features:

  • No monthly fee. There’s no monthly fee for maintaining the account or for anything else.
  • No foreign transaction fees. There are no fees for using your Nationwide card for purchases or cash withdrawals overseas.
  • A choice of a cash card or debit card. Cash cards can only be used to get money from cash machines and print mini statements, while debit cards can be used to pay for items in shops and online. Contactless payments on the debit card are limited to £45 instead of the usual £100.
  • Interest on balances. A small amount of interest is paid on balances.

Who is it for?

The Nationwide FlexOne account is for UK residents aged between 11 and 17. It’s designed to help them learn how to manage their money and start to become more independent.

What are the benefits?

One of the main benefits of this account is that there are no monthly account maintenance fees and no fees for using your card abroad. The fact that it offers 2 types of card also makes it attractive – you might prefer to give a younger child a cash card, for example, while the debit card could be more suitable for older kids.

How does it compare with other popular banking apps?

Product UKFSA-CUR Finder Score Account fee Interest (AER) Overseas cash withdrawals Overseas card transactions Switching deals benefits Incentive Smallprint Link
Finder score
Free
2%
0%
0%
Eligible for a FlexOne Saver account, Flex Regular Saver and Flex Instant Saver.
More Info
Finder score
Free
0%
0% Mon-Fri (max. £1,000 per month) conversion fee plus cash fee of £0 up to £200 per month
0% Mon-Fri (max. £1,000 per month)
Get a £20 welcome bonus when you spend your first £20 (T&Cs apply).
Go to site More Info
Chase Current Account
Finder AwardOffer
Chase logo
Finder score
Free
0%
0%
0%
Receive 1% cashback on everyday debit card purchases capped at £15.
18+, UK residents. Cashback available for your first 12 months for new customers. Max £15 per month. Cashback exceptions apply.
Go to site More Info
Monzo Free Account
Finder Award
Monzo logo
Finder score
Free
0%
0% conversion fee plus cash fee of 0% on up to £400 per 30 days (3% thereafter)
0%
Monzo Instant Access Savings Pot earns you 3.60% AER interest (variable), paid monthly into the Pot you create.
Go to site More Info
Finder score
Free
3.25%
£0
£0
Starling Bank are removing the interest rate from their personal and joint current accounts on 10 February 2025.
Go to site More Info
first direct 1st Account
Finder AwardOffer
first direct logo
Finder score
Free
0%
0%
0%
Switch to a 1st Account and get £175*. Requires credit check. New customers only and T&Cs apply.
*Within 45 days of your account opening you need to switch to first direct using the Current Account Switch Service (including at least 2 Direct Debits or standing orders), deposit £1,000, make 5+ debit card payments and log in to digital banking. New customers only, who haven’t previously held a first direct product.
Go to site More Info
loading

Finder Score for bank accounts

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Fees, features and customer service across 20+ of the most popular banks are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the account – simple.

Read the full methodology

How to apply

FlexOne accounts for 11- and 12-year-olds can only be opened over the phone or at certain branches with a tablet. You’ll need to contact your local branch to set up an appointment and find out what options are available.

Older children can apply for the account online and will need to provide their address history for the past 3 years, as well as a valid UK passport or driving licence (if they’re old enough) or an original birth or adoption certificate. If they don’t have a passport or driving licence they may need to come into the branch with their ID.

If your child is 16 or 17 and is employed, they will also need to provide their employer’s address.

Is it safe?

Yes, Nationwide is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the PRA. As a result, eligible deposits will be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000 per person.

Overdrafts are not available for under-18s, so you don’t need to worry about debt.

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.

Frequently asked questions

Your reviews

No reviews yet. Write a review
Go to site