Raising a child comes with countless joys—and financial responsibilities. As an expat parent in Germany, navigating the best ways to save for your child’s future can be overwhelming. From education funds to long-term savings plans, there are many options to consider. But where do you start?
In this article, we’ll explore:
practical ways to save for your child
address the unique challenges expat families face
and introduce a simple, flexible solution: bunq’s child savings account.
Whether you're planning for big milestones or just want to build good financial habits early, this guide will help you take the first steps toward securing your child's future.
This article is presented by bunq, an online bank, which offers the right solution for your family's financial needs—from Joint Accounts to easily manage shared finances with your partner, to up to four free Child Accounts.
With their Child Accounts, you can earn up to 2.26% interest on your child's savings, manage Pocket Money the modern way with full parental oversight, build your child’s healthy financial foundation with a personalized and debt-risk-free bank cards, exclusive bunq Deals, and the best travel exchange rates with zeroFX fees.
What are the biggest challenges expat parents face when saving for their children in Germany?
For many expat parents, knowing where and how to start saving for their children in a new country can be overwhelming. From navigating unfamiliar banking systems to managing cross-border finances, the process often feels complex and time-consuming.
That’s where bunq’s Child Account comes in. It offers a free bunq Pro plan for your child until they turn 18, making it easy to start building their financial future right away. The account grows with your child—allowing you to manage savings visibility, set spending limits, and grant them their first personalized, debt-free bank card. With tools like Budgeting Pots, Auto-Save, and real-time transaction insights, you can teach your child smart financial habits from day one.
As an expat, you’ll also benefit from seamless international transfers with minimal fees and ZeroFX, giving you access to the best exchange rates while traveling or sending money abroad.
Living in a new country is hard—saving for your child’s future shouldn’t be.
With bunq, it’s simple, secure, and built for families on the move.
What should parents consider when choosing a savings account for their child?
A solution that fits the whole family’s financial needs – Look for an account that supports both parents and children, making it easy to manage shared finances in one place.
A competitive interest rate – Maximize savings growth with an account that offers strong, consistent returns.
Support for long-term financial growth – Choose a bank that evolves with your child, providing tools to help them learn smart money habits while giving you full control and oversight.
Ease of setup and automation – Make saving effortless with features like scheduled deposits and round-up savings.
Simple ways for others to contribute – A custom bunq.me link allows family and friends to easily send gifts or contribute to your child’s savings for birthdays and special occasions.
What are your practical tips for expat parents to build long-term savings for their child?
One of the most popular tips we hear from parents—for parents—is to start saving early.
Whether it’s for future expenses, your child’s education, or to fund their dreams as they grow, early planning makes a big difference.
Why is it beneficial to start saving for your child early?
The earlier you start saving for your child, the more you benefit from the power of compound interest. This means you earn interest not just on your savings, but also on the interest those savings generate—creating exponential growth over time.
With bunq, you can start saving from the moment your child is born and earn up to 2.26% interest, paid out weekly.
You can also automate scheduled deposits into your child’s savings account and check in anytime to see how their savings are progressing. You’re always in control—set the visibility and access level for your child so their savings grow safely, with age-appropriate engagement.
What savings options are available with bunq?
There are two options to meet every parents need:
1. Preparation & early years
If parents are expecting or the child is still too young for their own account, we recommend the bunq Free Plan. It lets parents open multiple savings accounts (e.g. to set money aside for their children) — and that’s still completely free.
2. When the child needs their own account
That’s where the Core Plan (€3.99/month) comes in. The parent needs to have a bunq account with the Core Plan or higher, and from there they can open free child accounts. Each child gets their own bunq Pro account at no extra cost — you can add up to 4 children under one parent account. So there is only a cost for the parent’s own plan.
How else will bunq help me save for my child’s future?
With help from Finn, bunq’s smart AI assistant, saving for your child’s future is simple and flexible. Set personalized savings goals and allow Finn to show you how much and how often you want to save to reach them faster.
Turn on Auto-Save to automatically round up each purchase and send the spare change straight to your child’s savings account—effortless, everyday saving that adds up fast.
Want to involve family and friends? Share your child’s personalized bunq.me link so they can contribute to birthdays, holidays, or their future fund with just a tap.
And from your own parent account, you can go even further—invest in stocks, funds, or crypto, all in one place.
