ESAF Small Finance Bank vs HDFC Bank: Children’s Savings Accounts

ESAF Small Finance Bank vs HDFC Bank: Children’s Savings Accounts

ESAF Small Finance Bank does not offer a dedicated children’s account, even though it has special accounts for students as well as senior citizens and women. HDFC Bank offers a dedicated children’s savings account called Kids Advantage Account.

Children’s Savings Accounts from ESAF Small Finance Bank

ESAF Small Finance Bank does not offer a dedicated children’s account, though it has special accounts for students, senior citizens and women. Its regular and premium accounts are likely available for minors also under the guidance of parents or guardians.

Regular Savings Account

The account is the standard savings account of the bank and comes with its set of benefits and restrictions. The minimum age of the accountholder has to be 18 years but it is very likely that this account will be also available to minors.

Features

  • The account can be opened with a minimum payment of Rs. 1,000, though the minimum average quarterly balance has to be Rs. 2,000
  • The bank limits the amount of cash one can withdraw or deposit at non-base branches (i.e. a non-home branch) to Rs. 50,000
  • The ATM withdrawal limit is pegged at Rs. 30,000 per day and POS transactions are limited to Rs. 2,000 at Tier II to Tier IV locations and Rs. 1,000 in Tier I to II locations
  • Accountholders of the Regular Savings Account can ask for and receive a chequebook of 10 leaves every 6 months
  • The customer can access the account through all modes such as online, mobile and phone banking

Premium Savings Account

The premium savings account from ESAF also warrants a minimum age limit of 18 years to become an accountholder.

Features

  • The account needs a minimum initial payment of Rs. 5,000 and the minimum average quarterly balance is Rs. 10,000
  • Unlike the standard account, there are no limits on withdrawals or deposits at non-base (i.e. non-home) branches
  • The ATM withdrawal limit is Rs. 50,000 per day for all ATMs – the bank’s own and other bank ATMs. POS limit stays the same as the standard account at Rs. 2,000 for Tier II to Tier IV locations and Rs. 1,000 for Tier I to II locations
  • Premium Savings Account holders can request and receive a chequebook of 50 leaves every 6 months
  • The account has an auto-sweep facility for fixed deposits
  • Access to the account is available through online, mobile and phone banking channels as with standard accounts

Children’s Savings Accounts from HDFC Bank

HDFC Bank, the largest private sector bank in the country in terms of market capitalisation as of September 2019, offers a dedicated children’s savings account called Kids Advantage Account.

Kids Advantage Account

The primary aim of the account is to help build a corpus for the child for her future financial needs.

Features

  • The account is available for every child up to the age of 18 years
  • The bank mandates a minimum average monthly balance of Rs. 5,000 below which it charges service fees. The service fee is Rs. Rs. 150 in case the balance is between Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 5,000, and Rs. 300 in case the balance is less than Rs. 2,500
  • Minors above the age of 10 years can open and operate the account on their own
  • HDFC Bank requires the parent or guardian to have a savings account with the bank before they can open a Kids Advantage Account
  • The international ATM-cum-Debit card debit card comes with a Rs. 2,500 ATM withdrawal limit and Rs. 10,000 POS limit per day
  • HDFC Bank also offers an education insurance cover of Rs. 1 lakh for the child in case the parent or guardian passes away in a road, rail or air accident
  • Its MoneyMaximizer option allows the accountholder to agree to a sweep-out option. Under this when the account reaches or crosses Rs. 35,000, any sum in excess of Rs. 25,000 is automatically transferred to a fixed deposit for 1 year and 1 day
  • The accountholders get a free payable at par chequebook of 25 leaves at the time of account opening and every year thereafter
  • The account comes with free net, phone and SMS banking facilities

Reference Facts

  • ESAF Small Finance Bank Website: www.esafbank.com
  • Headquarters: Thrissur, Kerala
  • Call Centre Number: 1800 103 3723
  • HDFC Bank Website: www.hdfcbank.com
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Call Centre Number: 1800 258 3838