Citibank vs Equitas Small Finance Bank: Children’s Savings Accounts

Citibank offers a single dedicated children’s savings account called Citibank Junior Account. However, Equitas Small Finance Bank does not have a children’s savings account but it is likely that its standard savings accounts are available to minors like other banks.

Children’s Savings Accounts from Citibank

Citibank offers the Citibank Junior Account as a children’s savings account.

Citibank Junior Account

The account is available for all children below the age of 18 years.

Features

  • Need at least two accountholders of whom the first is the minor and the second the parent or guardian
  • Comes with Systematic Investment Plans that helps the parent plan the child’s future
  • Children above the age of 15 years also get a debit card
  • The Citibank Junior Account comes with two insurance plan options – BSLI Classic Child Plan and Dream Child Plan – that allow the parent to plan for the child’s education. The bank offers 10 different investment funds under the Classic Child Plan
  • Accountholders can open their children’s Investment Services Accounts with the bank. They get online access to the investments and also get comprehensive reports on financial markets

Children’s Savings Accounts from Equitas Small Finance Bank

Equitas Small Finance Bank does not have a children’s savings account but it is likely that its standard savings accounts are available to minors like other banks.

My Savings Account

The account has been designed for people to save and earn interest on their money.

Features

  • There is no average quarterly balance requirements for the account
  • The accountholder does not get a cheque book with the account
  • The interest rates on the account are better than that for larger banks with the minimum interest starting at 5.5% for balance up to Rs. 1 lakh
  • The bank however charges a fee for outward remittances on the My Savings Account. NEFT and RTGS are charged on a slab system while IMPS payments are charged a flat fee of Rs. 5 per transaction

Standard Savings Account

The account requires a minimum average quarterly balance or a minimum fixed deposit amount or a minimum level of debit card usage for purchases. Customers can also group the account with family members to tide over these restrictions.

Features

  • The minimum average quarterly balance for the account is Rs. 5,000
  • Customers can choose to keep a fixed deposit of at least a year of Rs. 50,000 instead of the balance in the account
  • The bank also offers the alternative to have the customer spend Rs. 4,999 using the debit card online or at POS transactions instead of the bank balance or a fixed deposit
  • The account can be grouped with family members having a savings account or business having a current account of higher value. The minimum balance requirements can be avoided this way
  • Accountholders get a Platinum or Signature debit card
  • Standard Savings Account holders get a complimentary chequebook of 25 leaves every half year
  • The bank offers 5 free transactions across RTGS, NEFT, IMPS, demand drafts, cash or cheques

Regular Savings Account

The Regular Savings Account from Equitas Small Finance Bank is a step up from the Standard Savings Account

Features

  • The minimum average quarterly balance for this account is Rs. 10,000
  • Like the Standard Account, customers can choose to keep a Rs. 50,000 fixed deposit for at least a year instead of the average quarterly balance in the account
  • The minimum debit card spend limit if one chooses to not keep the minimum balance or have an FD with the bank is Rs. 9,999. The limit considers both online and POS transactions
  • Like the standard savings account, this one also can be grouped with family members or a business to avoid minimum balance requirements. With family members, the other savings account should have a higher value. With a business, the current account should have at least similar value
  • Customers get a Platinum debit card with the account
  • Regular Savings Account holders are given a free 25 leaves chequebook every quarter
  • The bank offers 8 free transactions across RTGS, NEFT, IMPS, demand drafts, cash or cheques

Reference Facts

  • Citibank Website: www.online.citibank.co.in
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Call Centre Number: 1860 210 2484, +91 22 4955 2484 (from outside India)
  • Equitas Small Finance Bank Website: www.equitasbank.com
  • Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
  • Call Centre Number: 1800 103 1222