Budgeting Financial Planning Relationships & Money How to Open a Savings Account for a Baby By Madison DuPaix Madison DuPaix Madison DuPaix is an expert on family finance who has written about personal finance and career planning for The Balance and the MintLife Blog, in addition to My Dollar Plan, a personal finance website she created. She attended the University of Wisconsin School of Business and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in business. learn about our editorial policies Updated on March 29, 2022 Reviewed by Michael J Boyle Reviewed by Michael J Boyle Michael Boyle is an experienced financial professional with more than 10 years working with financial planning, derivatives, equities, fixed income, project management, and analytics. learn about our financial review board In This Article View All In This Article Setting Up the Account Fees Location Investment Ideas Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: Bambu Productions/Iconica/Getty Images You can always create a savings account in your name with the funds earmarked for a baby—but opening the account in your newborn's name provides not only a savings vehicle but a great gift and financial literacy tool as your child grows. The process is straightforward enough but requires some preparation. Setting Up the Account Children under the age of 18 are not legally allowed to sign documents. As a result, you'll need to open the account with your name on it as well. When the child turns the appropriate age (18, or 13 if you convert it to a checking account), you can go to the bank and remove your name. While your child is still a minor, however, you will have control of the account. You will have the ability to make withdrawals, deposits, or close it if needed. Most banks have no problem including a child's name on an account if a parent will also be listed on the account. The institution will want some confirmation of legal responsibility for the child. You should plan on showing your baby's birth certificate, and you will need both of your Social Security numbers to open the account. Fees Savings accounts often carry fees, but ways to get around them do exist. Start by talking to the bank you currently use. They may let you link this new account to your other accounts, allowing you to avoid fees or minimum balance requirements. Otherwise, seek out a financial institution with low or no fees. Some banks waive charges provided a certain number of deposits are made to the account each month. Another option is to choose an account that offers no service charges if a minimum balance is maintained—and to make that sum your initial deposit. You might reap some tax benefits by officially gifting the sum to your baby, which involves setting up the account as a Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA) or Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA) account. Note Bear in mind that funds deposited in these custodial accounts are irrevocable gifts and can be withdrawn only under certain more restrictive circumstances. Location Online banking is great for adults, but you will eventually want to take your child to visit the bank where the money is. Choosing a bank that is close to home will allow your growing child to make regular deposits and start to appreciate the value of saving. This approach will also familiarize your child with banking services, and other alternatives to strictly online interaction with a financial institution. Investment Ideas The interest on many savings accounts is low. The best rates are often available from local credit unions, which also often offer the additional advantage of having no fees. Discuss options with your local banks that might provide you with more favorable interest rates or tax advantages. You can also move the funds into a more attractive certificate of deposit or investment account as the amount grows, allowing your child to earn more interest on the savings. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Can I open an education savings account for my baby? You can open a 529 College Savings Plan for your child to help save for their education. This is a tax-advantaged savings plan that anyone can contribute to, including other relatives and friends. Any withdrawals from the account for qualified educational expenses are exempt from federal taxes. Depending on where you live, the account may also qualify for state-level tax benefits as well. Which bank is best to open a savings account for a newborn? Most banks will allow you to open an account for a newborn, as long as your name is also on it. The best one to use will depend on your location and banking preferences. Choosing an online bank might allow you to set up an account with higher interest rates, and it will give your child hands-on experience managing their account as they get older. Can I start a Roth IRA for my baby? Your child must have taxable income to have a Roth IRA in their name, so a Roth isn't a good savings plan for a baby. Once your child has an income, such as from babysitting or an after-school job, and pays taxes on that income, you can open a Roth IRA in their name. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. California Legislative Information. "Family Code - FAM §6701 - Capacity to Contract." Wells Fargo. "Kids Savings Account." Wells Fargo. "Teen Checking: A Guide to Your Common Checking Account Fee," Page 1. Bank of America. "Child Savings Accounts." Wells Fargo. "Way2Save® Savings." Bank of America. "Personal Schedule of Fees," Page 6. Bank of America. "Custodial (UTMA) Savings Account for Children." National Credit Union Administration. "Credit Union and Bank Interest Rate Comparison."