Short answer: there’s no single “best” children’s account in Sri Lanka — the right one depends on what you value most (highest interest, free debit card for teens, digital app & parental controls, low minimum deposit, or reward/bonus schemes). Below I list the most-competitive/commonly recommended children’s accounts (what they’re good for) and the key things to compare so you can pick the best for your child.

Top options (2025 — based on bank product listings and market summaries):

• DFCC Junior / DFCC Teen — Good for rewards, graduated bonus interest and regular gift/reward schemes for children and teens; digital access and incentive programmes. (DailyMirror.lk)
• NDB “NEOS Pixel / Privilege Junior” (NDB Pixel Teen) — Modern/digital-focused junior accounts with debit card access for 13–18 year olds and mobile app integration to teach cashless skills. (NDB launched a Privilege/Pixel junior product in 2024.) (EconomyNext.com)
• Cargills Bank “Podihitiyo” Children’s Savings — Competitive tiered interest rates on minors’ accounts and easy access through Cargills outlets (useful if you want physical deposit points). (anybanq.lk)
• Commercial Bank / “Isuru Minors’ Savings Plan” & Dotcom Teen — Options include a guaranteed maturity payout plan (Isuru) and teen accounts that offer a debit card and teen-focused benefits. Good if you want a formal long-term savings plan with guaranteed payout. (anybanq.lk)
• HNB Teen / MCB Dotcom Teen / Other local banks’ “Junior” products — many banks (HNB, MCB, Pan Asia, DFCC, etc.) run junior/teen accounts with small initial deposits, card access for older minors and school-exam rewards; pick by features you need. (anybanq.lk)

What to compare when choosing (most important in practice)

• Interest / effective yield: nominal rate, whether interest is tiered (higher on bigger balances), how interest is calculated (daily/ monthly) and any bonus/conditional rates. (anybanq.lk)
• Fees & minimums: account opening minimum, minimum balance penalty, monthly/annual fees, card fees for teen debit cards. (anybanq.lk)
• Access & control: can parent be joint signatory? Is there a teen debit card from age 13+? Can the child use mobile banking with parental controls? (Important for teaching money management.) (EconomyNext.com)
• Extras & rewards: some banks give gifts, scholarship/ exam rewards, vouchers, or starter credits for newborn accounts. These are useful motivators for children. (anybanq.lk)
• Branch/agent network & deposits: convenience of branches/ATMs or alternative deposit points (e.g., Cargills outlets), especially if you’ll deposit cash often. (anybanq.lk)
• Long-term options: some minor plans (Isuru etc.) are designed to mature at 18 with guaranteed payouts — useful if you prefer a lock-in/goal saving product. (anybanq.lk)

Quick recommendations by priority

• If you want the best learning / digital experience for a teenager: NDB’s Pixel/NEOS teen accounts or banks that offer teen debit cards + app (NDB, DFCC, Commercial Bank). (EconomyNext.com)
• If you want the highest interest / formal guaranteed payout at maturity: compare minor fixed/term products like Commercial Bank’s Isuru Minors’ Savings Plan and tiered offerings (rates vary; check current rates before opening). (anybanq.lk)
• If you need easy cash deposit points and good tiered rates: Cargills Bank Podihitiyo is worth considering. (anybanq.lk)
• If you want rewards & motivation (gifts, vouchers, scholarships): DFCC Junior and similar bank junior programmes. (DailyMirror.lk)

Important: rates, fees and specific features change often. Because you want the “best” today, I recommend checking the current account brochures (interest rates, fees, debit-card age rules) on the banks’ websites or calling the bank before opening. The market listings and product launches I cited above (DFCC, NDB Pixel/Privilege Junior, Cargills Podihitiyo, Commercial Bank Isuru/Dotcom Teen) are live offerings mentioned in bank summaries and news, but exact rates and conditions must be confirmed directly with the bank. (anybanq.lk)

If you like, I can:

• Fetch and compare current interest rates, fees and teen-debit-card rules for 3–5 specific banks (DFCC, NDB, Cargills Bank, Commercial Bank) right now and give a side‑by‑side recommendation. (I’ll check each bank’s official product page and list the five most important facts with links.)