Barclays has agreed to acquire the UK business of GoHenry, a money management platform for 6 to 18 year olds, from American fintech and financial services company Acorns Grow.
Who is GoHenry?
GoHenry is a British fintech founded by entrepreneur Louise Hill in 2012. The company was originally called PKTMNY, pronounced “pocket money”, but the name was quickly changed after Hill acknowledged that “nobody could say it and nobody could spell it.”
The platform aims to help children aged 6 to 18 understand and manage their money. It offers prepaid debit cards with parental controls, junior ISAs, and a money management app through which children can earn, save, invest, and complete child-friendly financial literacy lessons.
Since its launch, GoHenry has grown to serve over 2 million young people across the UK, the US, France and Spain, 500,000 of whom are based in the UK.
The Deal
The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to complete in the final quarter of 2026. The GoHenry brand will remain unchanged.
Why is Barclays Buying GoHenry?
Barclays intends for the acquisition to deepen its relationships with family households and expand its foothold in the youth banking market, a segment that major high street banks have historically struggled to reach in a meaningful way. GoHenry will complement Barclays’ existing range of children’s banking products.
For GoHenry, the deal represents a significant change of ownership but also a significant opportunity. Hill has welcomed the acquisition, noting that under Barclays, the company will be able to do more and that it also offers GoHenry members a pathway to continue their financial journey once they turn 18, connecting seamlessly into Barclays’ broader product range.
What Does This Mean for Youth Banking?
The acquisition reflects a growing recognition among traditional banks that customer relationships forged early tend to last. By acquiring an established, trusted platform with a strong brand among families, Barclays is not just buying a product, it is buying a pipeline of future customers at the point before they make their first independent financial decisions.
For the wider fintech sector, the deal is a reminder that even the most innovative challengers can find their natural home within a larger institution. GoHenry built something genuinely useful. Barclays is now betting that it can make it bigger.
Written by Katie Wu
26 June 2026