UCO Bank vs Kotak Mahindra Bank: Children’s Savings Accounts

UCO Bank offers its UCO Smart Kids Savings Bank Scheme for children above 10 years of age while Kotak Mahindra Bank offers a dedicated account called Junior – The Savings Account for Kids.

Children’s Savings Accounts from UCO Bank

The bank offers the UCO Smart Kids Savings Bank Scheme for children above the age of 10 years.

UCO Smart Kids Savings Bank Scheme

The account allows kids to open and run a savings account without any need for joint ownership with parents or guardians.

Features

  • Any literate child above the age of 10 years can open and operate the account
  • There is no minimum balance requirement
  • The kids get two chequebooks a year
  • The ATM card is personalised with a photograph. Kids also get a good looking passbook
  • Children can withdraw up to Rs. 3,000 per day subject to a limit of Rs. 15,000 per month through ATMs or net banking
  • A key benefit of this UCO Smart Kids Savings Bank Scheme is the ability for children to undertake transactions through net banking after a certain period of time
  • The bank also offers concessions for education loans

Children’s Savings Accounts from Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited

Kotak Mahindra Bank offers a children-focussed account called Junior – The Savings Account for Kids. Here is a look at some features of the account.

Junior – The Savings Account for Kids

The account comes in two variants, the standalone account and a bundle pack that includes the Junior Savings Account and a Guardian Savings Account.

Features

  • The account offers one of the higher interest rates for children’s accounts at 5% (as of November 2018)
  • Bundled plan accountholders get access to a Recurring Deposit (RD) or a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP). The RD starts from as little as Rs. 2,000 and tenures that start from 36 months, while in the case of SIP the guardian can choose the amount and tenure
  • The standalone Junior Account comes in different variants such as Platina, Ace, Pro, Classic, Edge and Nova. The distinction between these is the minimum balance required in the account and the customer segment to which the account is offered. For instance, the Platina account is a continuation of a portfolio of plans that Kotak Mahindra Bank acquired from its purchase of ING Vysya, while the Classic account is targeted at semi-urban and rural areas, and so on
  • There is no minimum balance requirement for bundled Nova accounts provided they have an RD or a SIP in place. Otherwise, an average monthly balance of Rs. 5,000 is needed for Junior accounts. For non-junior accounts, the average monthly balance required is Rs. 5,000 (Nova), Rs. 10,000 (Edge and Classic), Rs. 50,000 (Ace) and Rs. 1 lakh (Platina)
  • The charges for non-maintenance of the average balance ranges from Rs. 150 to Rs. 600 per month depending on the balance and the type of account.
  • The Junior Savings Account offers personalised debit cards with daily withdrawal limits of Rs. 5,000 for kids above 10 years of age
  • The bank offers certain children-centric privileges such as Junior Foodie, Junior Day Out, Junior Shopper, Junior Learner and Junior Angel

Reference Facts

  • UCO Bank Website: www.ucobank.com and www.ucoebanking.com (net banking)
  • Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal
  • Call Centre Number: 1800 274 0123
  • Kotak Mahindra Bank Website: www.kotak.com
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Call Centre Number: 1860-266-2666, 1860-266-0811 (for 811 Digital Bank Customers)