Parents opened nearly three times as many new stocks and shares Junior ISAs than ISAs in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to Scottish Friendly.
The mutual’s data showed the number of new JISA policies being opened jumped 19% quarter-on-quarter, while openings for ISAs were up 5% quarter-on-quarter.
In addition, parents in Greater London, the Northeast and the Northwest increased the opening contribution amounts by 8%, 8% and 5% respectively. In comparison, opening contributions have risen by 2% across the UK as a whole.
The growth in JISAs came despite many parents continuing to face cost-of-living pressures, Scottish Friendly said.
Kevin Brown, savings specialist at Scottish Friendly, said of the data: “It is hugely encouraging to see parents prioritise the future financial resilience of their children in this way. It cannot be overstated how much of a difference it can make starting early. In fact, the earlier the better when it comes to ensuring your child gets to benefit from compound growth, and potentially over a full 18 years.
“The fourth quarter of 2025 saw persistent inflation pressures but with January’s data suggesting that may be easing, the hope is that prioritising children’s savings will be easier for many households.”
Scottish Friendly is urging the Government to consider changing the current rules so that close family members, in particular grandparents, can open a JISA on a child’s behalf.
“Removing the rule that restricts it to just parents and legal guardians could be transformational in helping build a nest egg. Giving grandparents the ability to help set up these accounts would likely mean even more children could benefit fully from long-term investing from the very start of their lives,” Brown added.
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