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Opening a teen checking account can be a great way to help kids learn the basics of money management. You can find teen bank accounts to fit different needs offered by traditional and online banks.
Who has the best student checking accounts? We reviewed teen checking options at a variety of financial institutions to find the answer.
Banks may refer to teen checking accounts as youth or student accounts, but they generally mean the same thing. A teen checking account is designed to hold deposits and allow teens to spend or withdraw cash via a debit card.
Here are eight recommendations for the best teen checking accounts to open.
Axos Bank First Checking is a great checking account for teens aged 13 to 17, and parents who prefer a joint checking option. Parents can view their teen's spending, sync accounts to a centralized dashboard, set up account alerts, and lock or unlock their teen's debit card all through the Axos Bank mobile app.
The account requires no minimum deposit required and has no monthly fees. It also earns interest—a nice plus for teens who want to watch their balances grow. Teens can use their debit card to withdraw cash at any ATM, and Axos Bank offers up to $12 in foreign ATM fee reimbursements per month. (Note: A “foreign” ATM is one that isn’t a free ATM provided by your bank or its banking network, if the bank belongs to one.)
Capital One is a well-known name in online banking and the MONEY Teen Checking account is designed with teens and tweens in mind. Parents can open MONEY accounts for kids eight and older, with no minimum deposit requirements or fees. Once teens turn 18, they can transfer their balances to a Capital One 360 Checking account.
This account comes with a debit card, which kids and teens can use to withdraw cash fee-free at more than 70,000 ATMs. Balances earn interest and you can get an even better rate with a Capital One Kids Savings account. Based on the fees and annual percentage yield (APY), it's one of the best savings accounts for kids.
Chase High School Checking is a checking account for teens aged 13 to 17 that parents can open if they already have an eligible Chase checking account. Some of the main features include:
This account could be ideal for a working teen who wants a secure place to stash their paychecks or parents who prefer traditional banking to online banking. The main caveat to know is that parents must have a Chase checking account of their own to help their teen open a High School Checking account.
The Chime Account isn't specifically for teens, but it could be a good fit for 18- and 19-year-olds who are looking for a free checking option. Since this is an online checking account, there are no branches. But teens can withdraw cash at more than 60,000 ATMs fee-free.
Here's something else that makes this checking account a standout: Teens can deposit cash at more than 75,000 retail locations, including Walgreens and Duane Reade. You can deposit up to 1,000 every 24 hours and up to 10,000 monthly. That's a nice benefit you don't typically get with an online checking account.
First Citizens Bank doesn't offer a separate teen checking account. Instead, parents can set up a Together Card for teens or other family members as part of a family banking package. An eligible First Citizens Bank checking account is required to get a Together Card.
The card is tied to a deposit account and is reloadable, so parents can easily add cash with no transaction fees. That's an advantage over prepaid debit cards, which may require a load feed to add cash each time. Working teens can set up direct deposit of their paychecks to the card and withdraw cash at First Citizens Bank branches or ATMs.
USAA offers bank accounts for military families, including the Youth Checking account for teens. The account has a low $25 opening deposit requirement and there are no monthly maintenance fees. Teens can also get a debit card which they use to make purchases or withdraw cash at more than 100,000 ATMs.
Other than the $25 opening deposit, the main requirement to open this account is USAA membership. Membership is extended to military members and their families. There's no minimum age requirement children need to meet for a Youth Checking, but they must be at least 13 to get their own account login at USAA.com or through the USAA mobile app.
Valley Bank is a rarity in that it offers an introductory reward with new teen checking accounts. The reward isn't exorbitant—just $25—but it's a nice incentive to consider banking here in place of other teen checking options. All teens have to do to qualify for the reward is sign up for a debit card for the account.
Teens can manage their accounts online, at ATMs, or at Valley Bank branches. This account could be a good stepping stone for teens to learn how a checking account works, with no monthly fees.
Wells Fargo Clear Access Banking is a checking account that is designed for teens as young as 13 and young adults up to 24 who are enrolled in school. There is a $5 monthly service fee but there are multiple ways to avoid it. Teens pay no overdraft fees and it's worth noting that this is a checkless checking account.
You'll need $25 to open the account and parents must accompany teens under 18 to a Wells Fargo branch to set up Clear Access Banking. Older teens 17 and up may consider the Everyday Checking account and apply for a Campus Card, which can double as a Wells Fargo ATM card and official campus ID.
| Checking account | Best for | For ages | APY | Minimum deposit | Welcome offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Axos Bank First Checking | Parental controls | 13 to 17 | 0.10% | $0 | N/a |
Capital One MONEY Teen Checking | Teens and tweens | 8+ | 0.10% | $0 | N/a |
Chase High School Checking | Working teens | 13 to 17 | N/A | $0 | N/a |
Older teens | 18 and older | N/A | $0 | N/a | |
First Citizens Bank Together Card | Reloadable debit card | All | N/A | $50 | N/a |
USAA Youth Checking | Military families | Up to 17 | 0.01% | $25 | N/a |
Valley Bank My Teen Checking | Introductory reward | 13 to 16 | N/A | $25 | $25 |
Wells Fargo Clear Access Banking | College-bound students | 13 to 16 | N/A | $25 | N/a |
We compared checking accounts for teens at financial institutions, including traditional and online banks. In evaluating different teen checking accounts we considered the age ranges each account was intended for, minimum opening deposit requirements, monthly fees, account access, and added features such as rewards or interest. The banks selected represent the best overall in their respective categories.
A checking account isn't the only way to help teens learn about money management. There are a few other account types you might consider instead.
You might consider a savings account for kids in place of a checking account if you'd like to help your child stash money for specific goals. Working on saving for a new video game or something bigger, like a first car, will teach them habits that will serve well later on, when their goal may be down payment on a home or retirement.
When comparing the best savings accounts for kids, consider the opening deposit requirement, fees, and of course, the interest rate they might earn on balances. Online banks may offer higher APYs than traditional banks, with lower fees and deposit requirements.
A reloadable debit card can give teens spending power without requiring them to have a standard checking account. You can add money to the card, which your teen can spend —managing an allowance is a preview of handling a paycheck. Once the money runs out, you'll need to reload it for them to use it again.
Reloadable debit cards can also allow teens to withdraw cash at ATMs if needed. Some cards may allow your teen to enroll in direct deposit so they can easily add their paychecks to the card. If you're shopping for reloadable debit cards for teens, consider any fees you might be charged to deposit funds or maintain the account every month.
You might consider a brokerage account for your child if you're interested in giving them a head start with investing. Any brokerage account you open on behalf of a minor would need to be a custodial account, meaning you would technically own it until they turn 18.
Depending on the brokerage, you may set the account up as a UTMA/UGMA account or a 529 college savings plan. Either one can be a great way to purchase investments for kids starting at an early age. The UTMA/UGMA account will give you more flexibility and isn’t limited to spending for education.
A teen checking account is a bank account that's designed for a teenager, typically aged 13 to 17. Some banks offer checking accounts for teens, tweens, and younger children, all of which require a parent's consent and help to open.
You can find teen checking accounts at online banks, credit unions, and traditional banks, with wide variations in features and fees. Parents may want to start by seeing what's available at their own bank before widening their search. The features discussed in this article will provide tools for evaluating the options.
Teen checking accounts allow the parent to open an account on behalf of their child. The parent ultimately owns the account while the child is under 18, but it can transfer to the child once they reach that age. At 18, a child can generally open an account on their own. But there are benefits to having a teen account.
Typical features of teen checking accounts include:
Some teen checking accounts earn interest, and many of the options offered online have no monthly maintenance fee. Once a teen turns 18, their account may convert to a regular checking account or remain a student account until they reach a certain age if they're enrolled in school.
The best checking account for your teen ultimately depends on knowing which features and benefits are most important. It's helpful to consider the following:
You may also want to consider how easy it is to open a teen checking account. Some banks allow you to open checking accounts for teens online, while others require you to visit a branch.
As noted above, you'll first need to check with the bank to find out if you can open an account online or if you'll need to visit a branch. The next step is gathering the required documents, which include:
You'll also need a minimum opening deposit, if one is required. A typical minimum deposit for a teen checking account can range from $0 to $25.
Plenty of banks offer teen checking accounts, but one may be a better fit than another based on the features or fees. Looking at all of the options offered online and at brick-and-mortar banks can help you make a more informed decision about which one to open.
It's possible to open a teen bank account online, though not all banks offer that option. Parents of teens under 18 will need to provide proof of identity for their child, which may include a birth certificate or Social Security number, to open a bank account for a child online. Teens 18 and older can open bank accounts online themselves.
A minor can have a checking account if it's co-owned by a parent or legal guardian. Generally, state laws prohibit children under 18 (or 19 in some states) from owning bank accounts in their names.
That depends on the bank. Some banks may allow you to keep the account as-is if you're enrolled in school up to a certain age, which may be 22 to 24. Other banks will convert teen checking accounts to regular checking accounts once a teen reaches the legal age of adulthood in their state.
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