Barclays plans to buy GoHenry, a UK money app for young people, from its US parent company Acorns for £180 million, according to CityAM. The deal is expected to close in the last quarter of 2026.
By buying GoHenry, Barclays will reach half a million children aged 6 to 18 and have a clear way to turn them into adult customers when they turn 18.
GoHenry was still losing money when it was sold, reporting a £21.9 million loss in 2024. Barclays is looking at the platform’s long-term potential instead of its current profits.
Louise Hill co-founded GoHenry in 2012 to solve a problem most banks had overlooked for years: kids had no way to learn about money before they could open a bank account. 14 years later, Barclays agreed to buy the business she had built for about £180 million, according to CityAM. The deal is undisclosed and expected to close in Q4.
GoHenry is a money app and prepaid debit card for children aged 6 to 18. It lets kids spend money while parents stay in control with their own app. Kids can earn money by doing chores, set savings goals, take short financial lessons, and give to charity. Parents can set spending limits, block certain types of spending, and see every transaction as it happens.
