The forgotten £2,000 in Child Trust Funds that could make a real difference

We’re reminding young people and their families to check whether they have a forgotten Child Trust Fund account that could hold valuable savings. 

Hundreds of thousands of Child Trust Funds remain unclaimed

With the Financial Conduct Authority urging young adults to check for unclaimed Child Trust Funds, and HMRC figures showing that around 760,000 Child Trust Fund accounts worth an average of £2,000 ¹ remain unclaimed, UK Savings Week ² is an opportunity to remind families about the importance of building and maintaining savings for the future. 

A £2,000 savings buffer can strengthen financial resilience

Research from the University of Bristol in September 2025, commissioned by the Building Societies Association and sponsored by Principality Building Society ³, found that households with around £2,000 in cash savings were significantly less likely to fall behind on bills than those with less than £200 set aside ⁴. The findings suggest that savings buffers can play an important role in helping people manage unexpected costs and periods of financial pressure. 

A foundation for young people’s financial futures

For many young people, money held in a Child Trust Fund could represent their first meaningful savings pot, providing a foundation for future financial resilience. 

Building early savings habits for the future

Morgan Miles, Head of Savings Products at Principality Building Society, said: "The FCA's findings are a timely reminder that savings matter at every stage of life.  
While £2,000 may not sound life-changing, the research we sponsored with the Building Societies Association and the University of Bristol found that having this level of savings can make a significant difference to a household's financial resilience. 
Whether it's helping cover unexpected economic shocks, or providing a foundation for future goals, building savings early in life can have a lasting impact." 

Andrew Gall, Head of Head of Savings, Consumer & Insight at the Building Societies Association, said: "For many young adults, discovering a forgotten Child Trust Fund could be the start of a savings journey. Having savings in place provides greater financial resilience and more options for the future. UK Savings Week is about helping people build a regular savings habit and make the most of their money. A forgotten savings pot today could provide greater financial confidence and more opportunities tomorrow." 

Find out more

Find out more about our savings and mortgage products, or visit your local branch.

[1] FCA urges young adults to check for unclaimed Child Trust Funds | FCA

[2] UK Savings Week has been created and run by the Building Societies Association: UK Savings Week | 21st - 27th September 2026

[3] In collaboration with Nationwide and Yorkshire Building Society

[4] bsa.org.uk/information/publications/research-and-reports/understanding-the-role-of-savings-in-building-longer-term-financial-security