Barclays to acquire GoHenry, a money management platform for 6-18 year olds

Source: Barclays

Barclays PLC has today announced that Barclays Bank UK PLC has entered into an agreement to acquire GoHenry, operating through GoHenry Limited from Acorns Grow Incorporated. Completion of the transaction is expected to occur in Q4 2026, subject to certain regulatory approvals and other conditions.

GoHenry’s digital platform allows UK children to learn to earn, save, spend and invest through a purpose-built app, with integrated tools for parents to monitor, guide and support their children’s financial choices. It enables children to spend through a prepaid debit card with parental controls, set savings goals and complete money lessons, while family members can invest in their future through Junior ISAs.

GoHenry is one of the most recognised brands for youth banking in the UK youth banking segment with an NPS of +58 and, since launching in 2012, has helped over 2 million young people to build money skills. Supported by a team of circa 200 and a cloud-based technology platform, GoHenry currently serves more than half a million UK children.

The transaction accelerates Barclays’ strategy to deepen customer relationships, including with mass affluent households, through purpose-built capabilities. Barclays intends to retain the GoHenry brand with its standalone app. The transaction brings together a renowned youth proposition and Barclays’ expertise in banking, enabling Barclays to serve customers of all ages.

The transaction is expected to reduce Barclays’ CET1 ratio by approximately 5bps upon Completion (based on Barclays’ CET1 ratio as at 31 March 2026). The transaction will not affect financial guidance or targets for Barclays Group or Barclays UK for 2026 or 2028.

Barclays and Acorns are also exploring other ways to collaborate to better serve our customers.

Vim Maru, chief executive officer of Barclays UK, said: “GoHenry has played a pioneering role in creating youth-focused financial services, building a market-leading brand for children thanks to its innovative all-in-one app.

“We’re excited to welcome GoHenry to Barclays, where it will turbocharge our offering for households and families. GoHenry supports our vision to offer a deep and seamless banking experience to customers through all of life’s big moments, whether opening a very first account, saving for retirement, and everything in between.”

Louise Hill, founder of GoHenry, said: “Our mission has always been to make every kid smart with money. Joining forces with Barclays gives GoHenry a platform to accelerate that mission in the UK.

“It also enables us to offer GoHenry members a pathway to continue their money journey when they hit 18 – because financial education shouldn’t have a start or end date. GoHenry isn’t going anywhere. What changes is our ability to do more.”

Noah Kerner, chief executive officer of Acorns, said: “At Acorns, we’re bringing financial wellness to the whole family. Acquiring GoHenry in 2023 accelerated that ambitious vision, establishing Acorns Early as a US leader in the kids space with over 1.4 million customers.

“As we double down on growing the leading financial wellness app for American families, selling the GoHenry UK business to Barclays allows GoHenry to serve many more UK kids and further its important mission.”

Acorns will retain the GoHenry US business, which now operates under the Acorns Early brand, as well as Pixpay in Europe.

Barclays is a Platinum Partner of Open Banking Expo UK & Europe 2026, which takes place on 13-14 October at the Business Design Centre in London. Click here to find out more.