“The new generation want their banking to fit their digital world”
Interview with Head of BUUT Hein ter Braak
Communicating through Snapchat, shopping via TikTok, getting Fortnite skins for your birthday and carrying no cash at all – welcome to the digital world of a new generation. Welcome to BUUT, a neobank built for young people who expect their banking to be intuitive, visual and interactive. “Kids got it instantly and began swiping money between pots. Ironically, it was mostly the parents we had to explain it to: ‘This is a bank.’”
Hein ter Braak, who heads ABN AMRO’s new bank, explains how the idea was turned into a product in less than a year. “BUUT is built on three key advantages: first, the success of our peer-to-peer payment app Tikkie, with over 10 million users, which shows how an outstanding product and user experience can set a brand apart. Second, having ABN AMRO as our sponsor bank, providing its licence, regulatory expertise and processing capabilities. And third, our modern tech foundation, enabling us to scale quickly and cost-effectively.”
Snack or save?
The BUUT app was designed together with the target group – children aged 10 to 16 and their parents. “We constantly validated the concept with them. We didn’t invent the product, they did,” says Ter Braak. For instance, the ‘potjes’ (virtual pots) feature allows children to visually label money, whether for snacks, clothing or to save up for a new game console. “With one card, they can pay from any payment pot they choose, with money flowing out in real time. Seeing exactly where it’s going and how much is left helps encourage more thoughtful spending.”
Social media-style video clips explain everything from discussing pocket money with parents to budgeting and online scams. “Financial education flows naturally into the experience. It’s about making money managementeasy and even fun.”
Parents see their kids dealing with a world that looks quite different from the one they grew up in. “The app helps them talk about money with their kids. It includes a parental interface where they can monitor spending and transfer money into specific savings pots.”
Don’t mention the bank
BUUT was introduced in September 2025 as Tikkie’s bank, not ABN AMRO’s. “Almost everyone in the Netherlands knows the Tikkie app, but it’s not a bank. Younger generations don’t want a traditional bank; they want an intuitive product that fits seamlessly into their lives,” says Ter Braak. “The BUUT brand also gives us the flexibility to challenge industry norms and create something unique for these generations.”
The team is working on new features and plans to open up BUUT to young adults in 2026. The app’s design and functionality will be tailored to match that age group’s evolving financial needs. While teenagers prefer quick, bite-sized information, older users look for more advanced tools to help them save, invest or manage their student loans. As their financial lives evolve, BUUT will grow with them, Ter Braak promises.
But its impact for younger users is already clear. He illustrates: “A 12-year-old called our customer support desk the other day. He wanted to know if he could charge his parents 9 euros for pulling weeds. Why 9 euros, we asked?It turned out he wanted to buy something that cost 9 euros.” It shows that younger generations do not necessarily want a bank, they want answers to questions such as: how do I pay, how can I save, am I spending too much? Meeting young clients in their own space is what truly sets BUUT apart.”
