A London-based startup is attempting to financially educate Britain’s 8 to 18-year-olds.
Mobile banking company Osper has raised $10m and launched a mobile-only banking service and prepaid debit card.
They hope the technology will give parents the confidence to transfer more financial responsibility to their children.
The founding round included Index Ventures and Horizon Ventures as well as Travelex CEO Peter Jackson and ex-Chariman of Sainsbury’s Bank Darren Shapland.
Dual app
Osper launch their service today hoping that real-time monitoring of spending and loading will create more a transparent and open conversation about money.
The service is composed of a MasterCard prepaid debit card and mobile app which comes with separate logins for both young people and their parents.
It effectively gives kids the power to manage their own money while giving parents the ability to monitor the account and transfer money into it.
Founder Alick Varma explains:
Data suggests that young people’s needs are not being met by financial services at the moment.
Despite three quarters of young people having a bank account, less than 30% use online banking and there is a heavy reliance on parents lending cash or their credit card for purchases with one in five UK children using their parents’ cards in secret.
Data suggests that young people’s needs are not being met by financial services at the moment.Child-friendly
Osper do not offer an overdraft so that users cannot spend more than they have and also offers a card lock function if a card is stolen.
It’s features like these that gave investors the confidence to invest.
CEO of Travelex Peter Jackson added:
Osper provides banking for young people using the devices they understand – no branches or cumbersome setup process, just user-friendly mobile apps within a safe, secure and regulated environment.
I have no doubt the service will disrupt consumer banking for young people and beyond.