Live in the moment
Want to withdraw the money from your Child Trust Fund? Here’s what you need to know...
Do you have a plan for your money? Why not join over 110,000 Child Trust Fund customers who have chosen to save with us and invest in your future self.
If you don't need to spend the money right away, moving it to your bank account isn’t always the best option (1 because it can be tempting to use the money, and 2 your money sits still and looses value over time).
8 out of 10 Child Trust Fund customers who continued to save their money said they would do so again. So why not take some money now and save the rest in an ISA to secure your future?
Take some and invest the rest in an ISA - the best of both option ➙
- You want to save for your future, like starting a business or a house deposit.
- If your goal is at least (realistically) 5 years away - you'll give your money the chance to grow by investing.
- You don't have to add money until you can.
- You can add as little and as often as you can to your ISA pot - starting with £20.
- If you really need the money, you can withdraw some.
- You don't have to be an investment pro. Leave the hard work to our experts - who do it for you!
How to withdraw your Child Trust Fund money
Set up your MyPlans account
You can do this from age 15. All you need is your Plan number (sent to you in a letter from us) or National Insurance number and an email address.
Go to 'Next steps'
After you turn 18, click the 'Next steps' button when you login to MyPlans under your Plan value/Child Trust Fund amount.
Enter how much you want to withdraw
You can enter the amount you want to take now in the 'withdraw' box. If you want to take all of the money now type '0' into the 'reinvest box.
Remember you can leave as little as £20 in the reinvest box to continue saving for your future in an ISA and keep your member benefits.
Enter your bank details
To make a withdrawal you will need a bank account in your name, for us to send you the money.
After we complete all the checks on our side, your money will be in your bank account within 3-5 working days.
Psst... Did you know you don't have to take your savings? You can take some now to treat yourself, while investing the rest to kickstart investing in yourself. Explore this option
Already 18 & ready to make your choice?
Create your online account and click the 'Next steps' button within MyPlans.
Not ready yet? No stress! Your money will stay where it is. But you can still create your MyPlans account so it’s ready when you are.
Talking to those you trust can help you make better choices about your money. Almost 90% of Child Trust Fund holders said it helped influence their choice. So, start the conversation to shape your financial future!
Support from your loved ones
Weighing up the pros and cons with someone you trust, like a parent, grandparent, or an older sibling, can help clear things in your mind. So why not take a seat on the sofa and get talking about your financial future?
Support from the money experts
With us, you can book video chats or home visits with an adviser who can answer any questions you have about your next steps, ISAs or chat about your finances - oh and you don't have to make your choice there and then.
FAQs
You asked, we answered...
Your member benefits are part of the package when you save with us. We're a mutual, which means we're all about you. No shareholders, just awesome benefits for our Planholders at no extra charge (that's you!).
But if you take all the money from your Child Trust Fund this will close your account with us and you will no longer have access to member benefits.
When you keep your money where it is, or decide to move some or all of it to an ISA, you can create your MyForesters account and take a look at what’s on offer.
Description of member benefits that you may receive assumes you are a Foresters member. Members must be 18 years of age or older and must have an active Foresters Plan and maintain it in good standing. Foresters member benefits are non-contractual, subject to benefit specific eligibility requirements, definitions and limitations and may be changed or cancelled without notice. Member benefits are not regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority or the Financial Conduct Authority and may change in the future.
It will take 3-5 working days, after we complete our necessary security checks, for the money to reach your account. It doesn't matter how much money you want to take out, we need to make sure we pay only you as the Planholder.
Your MyPlans account will show the progress of your withdrawal and ask you to update any documents (if needed) to verify your identity.
Yes, when choosing to take some or all of the money, you can move this to your bank account, whether this is a UK or foreign bank. However, the money can only be transferred to a bank account in your name.
Yes, you can! You don’t have to take it all or save it all, doing a little bit of both is a good option. If you’re not planning to spend all the money now you can continue investing with an ISA for any future goals.
When you invest, your money has potential to grow over time helping you achieve future goals like travelling the world. Even starting small can make a big difference.
No, no one else can take money from your Child Trust Fund, they can only add money until you turn 18. At age 18 the money is yours, the money in the account belongs to you as the Planholder, no matter who paid in the money. The money can only be transferred to a bank account in your name.
When you are making a withdrawal, you may be asked to complete an identity check using our third party partner. You will need your driving licence or passport, and will be asked to take a selfie. The link for this will also be sent to your email.