Is there an app where parents are the bank for kids?
Yes. Babalata is an app for US families with kids ages 6 to 18 where parents are the bank: parents keep the real money, and the app records each child's allowance, the amounts the child puts aside, and their savings goals. Babalata has no debit card and no bank account, and it never holds or moves money.
Updated November 10, 2026. Every fact here matches the app and our official fact sheet.
- Who holds the money
- The parent. Babalata does not hold, move, or transfer money.
- What the app keeps
- A record of allowance, amounts put aside and savings goals, entered by the family.
- No debit card
- No debit card and no bank account.
- Ages
- Kids ages 6 to 18. Children under 13 need a parent's approval, given on the parent's own device, before they can use the app.
- Where
- Available on the App Store and Google Play, in the United States only.
What does "parents are the bank" mean?
It means the parent holds the child's money and keeps a record of how much belongs to the child. Some families call it a family bank or an IOU system. The child does not carry a card, and when they want to use their money, the parent hands it over.
A notebook can hold that record. An app holds it where the parent and the child can both see it, and adds goals and progress.
What does the child record in Babalata?
- A kid names what they are saving for, adds a photo, and sets a target amount and a target date.
- Babalata shows how much to put aside each day, week or month to reach the goal by the target date.
- Each time the kid puts money aside, they record the amount in the app, in whole dollars. The app keeps the record; it does not move money.
- The goal's photo is revealed, as puzzle pieces or a fade, while the progress percentage climbs.
What does the parent do in Babalata?
- Set up an allowance, one time, weekly or monthly in US dollars, and mark it as given. The app records it; no money moves.
- See each of your child's goals: the amount saved, the target, the percentage and the target date. Progress comes only from amounts actually recorded.
- Get a notification when your child records an amount toward a goal or reaches a goal.
- Record a gift toward your child's personal goal. It shows as a gift from you, not as your child's own saving.
Where is the real money?
Babalata does not hold, move, or transfer money and is not a bank. There is no debit card and no bank account. Parents keep the real money; the app records allowance, deposits and savings goals that families enter themselves.
The money can stay in a jar or piggy bank at home, or in the family's own bank or credit union account. Babalata keeps the record, and the money itself stays with the family.
What does Babalata not do?
- Babalata is not a bank and issues no debit card.
- Babalata does not hold a child's savings. The real money stays with the family: in a piggy bank or jar at home, or in the family's own bank or credit union account.
- Babalata pays no interest, and amounts in the app never grow on their own.
- There is no automatic saving, no round-ups and no transfers. Each amount is recorded by hand.
- There is no savings match in the app. Parents record gifts only toward a child's personal goal, not a group goal. A family can agree on a match at home.
Is a parents-are-the-bank app right for my child?
It fits a child who is learning to save and plan before they carry a payment card, and a family that wants to keep the real money at home or in its own account.
A child who needs to pay on their own, in a store or online, needs cash or a card. Babalata does not provide either.
Questions parents ask
Does my child need a bank account for Babalata?
No. Babalata has no bank account and no debit card. Your child records what they put aside, and the real money stays with your family.
Can my child spend money through Babalata?
No. Babalata has no card and does not move money, so nothing can be paid through the app. When your child wants to spend, you hand over the real money you are keeping.
Can I record an allowance in Babalata?
Yes. A parent can set up an allowance, one time, weekly or monthly in US dollars, and mark it as given. The app records it, and no money moves.
Does Babalata pay interest on what my child saves?
No. Babalata is not a bank and pays no interest. Amounts in the app are records that your family enters, and they never grow on their own.
What ages is Babalata for?
Babalata's lessons are for kids ages 6 to 18. Children under 13 need a parent's approval, given on the parent's own device, before they can use the app.
Where can we get Babalata?
Available on the App Store and Google Play, in the United States only. Search for Babalata by BABALATA LLC on the App Store or Google Play, or open babalata.com/get on your phone.
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Available on the App Store and Google Play, in the United States only.
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