Barclays has announced it will acquire youth money management platform GoHenry from Acorns to strengthen its offering for families and younger customers.

The deal, which is expected to complete in the fourth quarter of 2026 subject to regulatory approval, will see Barclays UK take ownership of the UK business whilst retaining the GoHenry brand and standalone app.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 2012, GoHenry provides a digital financial education platform for children aged six to 18. The service combines a prepaid debit card with parental controls, savings tools, financial education content, and Junior ISA investment options.

GoHenry said its platform helps children learn how to earn, save, spend and invest through app-based financial tools. Parents can monitor activity and guide spending decisions through integrated controls and insights.

More than two million young people have used the platform since it launched and around 500,000 children use GoHenry across the UK. The company employs around 200 people and operates a cloud-based technology platform.

Barclays said the acquisition supports its strategy of deepening relationships with customers throughout different stages of their lives, while adding specialist capabilities aimed at younger consumers and families.

"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,” said Vim Maru, chief executive of Barclays UK. "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 the deal would help the company expand its financial education mission while giving customers a route into adult banking services.

"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."

The transaction follows Acorns's acquisition of GoHenry in 2023. Acorns will retain GoHenry's US operations, which now trade under the Acorns Early brand, as well as European youth fintech Pixpay.

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