As a parent, you constantly deal with striking the right balance between giving your children the guidance and direction they need and letting them have the independence to make their own decisions. There’s not always an “easy” button.
Luckily, many banks have found such a solution for how parents can help their teens learn to manage their finances with helpful tools and features.
With the best teen checking account options today, parents can worry less about the struggle between providing guidance and enabling autonomy as teen account options have begun to develop essential money skills in kids ahead of entering adulthood.
Teen checking accounts provide this by allowing parents to set up account alerts and rules, have online and mobile access as a joint account holder, transfer money from their linked checking account and oversee their kid’s debit card spending.
Together, all of these features help the adult co-owner oversee the teen’s account and help them manage money and develop financial responsibility.
Below, we cover the top teen checking accounts and detail their features for you to decide which accounts serve as the best checking accounts to consider for your teens.
Best Teen Checking Account Options—Top Picks
|
4.5
|
4.8
|
4.5
|
|
No subscription fees.
|
Starts at $5.99/mo. (for up to five kids).
|
Free (no monthly fees).
|
Best Teen Checking Accounts
Now, let’s take a look at some of the most feature-packed offerings among both traditional checking accounts and financial apps with many checking features.
1. Cash App Families (Cash App’s Debit Card for Teens)
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 8 cash app homepage.](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/cash-app-families-signup-2025-2026-1000.webp)
- Available: Sign up here
- Price: Free* (no subscription fees)
Does your teen need to start learning smart saving, spending, and even investing habits? Cash App Families can accomplish all three—with no subscription fees—putting the power of Cash App into your teen’s hands while keeping their financial safety firmly in yours.
Teens get an account with a designable Cash App Visa® Card, which they can use to spend money where Visa is accepted. Meanwhile, access to Cash App allows them to save money toward specific goals, send money to friends, accept offers for instant discounts at their favorite places, earn high interest on savings³, and check out securely in stores and online by using a QR code.
If your teen direct-deposits $300 or more each month, they’ll also unlock a bevy of other features, including getting paid two days earlier, no ATM fees¹ when withdrawing from more than 40,000 in-network ATMs, and one waived out-of-network ATM withdrawal per month.
Cash App Families even has an investing feature with fractional shares, allowing kids to purchase as little as $1’s worth of stocks and Bitcoin (parent permission is required).²
Meanwhile, parents/guardians who sponsor the teen** enjoy some of the best oversight features among teen debit cards. You can monitor your teen’s activity from your own Cash App or receive real-time transaction alerts for their payments and purchases. You control which features—stocks, Bitcoin², sending money, the Cash App Visa® Card—your teen can access, and certain spending categories are auto-blocked for teens. Parents can also send money for allowance whenever they want, and built-in tools allow parents and teens to budget and save together.
Parents/guardians must download Cash App (also free), then invite their teen to create a sponsored account. Cash App Families can be used by teens ages 13-17. Use our link to learn more about or sign up with Cash App today.
- Cash App Families is a money app and debit card that helps teens ages 13-17** learn about, spend, save, and invest money while under the protection of a large suite of parental oversight tools.
- Teens get a customizable Cash App Visa® Card*, can make and receive instant person-to-person payments, can fund their account with direct deposit, and can even buy as little as $1's worth of stocks and Bitcoin.²
- Your teen can earn 3.25% interest on savings. No account minimums.³
- Pay your kids an allowance, and use Cash App's tools to save and budget together.
- Safety features such as real-time transaction alerts, account monitoring (from the parent's Cash App), alerts for teen payments to new contacts, contact blocking, feature control, and payments control. Also, Cash App auto-blocks certain spending categories to teens, and strangers can't find teens in Cash App search.
- Features such as two-day early payment, free in-network ATM withdrawals, and a monthly reimbursement for an out-of-network ATM withdrawal are unlocked when $300+ is direct-deposited each month.¹
- Free account and Cash App Visa® Card*
- Excellent parental controls (including feature lock and real-time transaction alerts)
- Stock and Bitcoin investing²
- Fractional shares²
- Allowance feature
- Customizable cards ($5+)
- FDIC insurance available on a pass-through basis (if certain conditions are met)***
- Certain benefits, such as free in-network ATM withdrawals¹, require direct deposit of at least $300 monthly
Related: 12 Best Debit Cards for Kids [2026]
2. Greenlight (Best Rated Prepaid Debit Card)
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 10 greenlight homepage.](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/greenlight-signup-2025-2026.webp)
- Available: Sign up here
- Price: Core: $5.99/mo. Max: $10.98/mo. Infinity: $15.98/mo. Family Shield: $19.98/mo. (All plans include cards for up to 5 children)
The Greenlight debit card allows kids to begin spending, but provides parents with peace of mind by giving them control over where their kids can spend money. Parents also can choose to receive alerts that tell them when, and how much, money is spent on the Greenlight debit card.
Greenlight works like a prepaid debit card, allowing you to transfer money onto the card for your child to pay for expenses at approved locations. You can choose how much money to load onto the card, and your child will be cleared to make approved purchases so long as a money balance backs up the card.
If your child asks for extra money to get added to the card, you can have them take a photo of the purchase they want to make and receive your approval. This gives you control and allows you to have discussions with your child about why a purchase might be a good or bad idea. And if your child has a job, they can add their own funds to the card via direct deposit.
Greenlight boasts numerous other features, too:
- Parents can open an investment account for kids to get their children investing in stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for the first time.
- Greenlight offers monthly savings rewards based on your tier, listed in the box below.
- Max, Infinity, and Family Shield families can also earn 1% cash back on their spending.
- You may also set up “Parent-Paid Interest” between you and your child, which allows you to foot the bill and pay interest on accounts for up to five kids.
Each monthly Greenlight subscription includes debit cards for up to five kids. Replacement cards cost $3.50 each but are free the first time. If you need to replace your card quickly, you can get express delivery for $24.99. The company also offers a personalized card, with your own photo or design, for $9.99.
Greenlight has no minimum age requirements for this card, but recommends starting at age 6 or older. Read more in our Greenlight card review or sign up today.
- Greenlight is a financial solution for kids that allows them to spend with a debit card, earn money on savings, and even invest their money.
- Greenlight offers flexible parental controls for each child and real-time notifications of each transaction. And it's the only debit card that lets you choose the exact stores where kids can spend on the card.
- Parents can use this app to teach kids how to invest with a brokerage account through Greenlight Max, Infinity, and Family Shield plans.
- Greenlight also provides educational materials such as "Level Up" lessons that simplify investing concepts, as well as videos about their favorite companies.
- Families can earn 2% (Core), 3% (Max), 5% (Infinity), or 6% (Family Shield) per annum on their average daily savings balance of up to $5,000 per family. Also, Max and Infinity families can earn 1% cash back on their monthly expenditures.
- Unlike many apps that simply provide features and controls, Greenlight is also designed to spark discussions with children about spending, investing, and more, fostering a better educational experience.
- Best-in-class parental controls (can prohibit specific stores)
- Can add brokerage account to invest in stocks
- Intuitive Parent + Kid apps
- Competitive cash back & interest rates
- Parent-Paid Interest
- High price points
- No cash reload options
- No parent / child lending
Related: 10 Best Prepaid Debit Cards for Teens & Kids [Reloadable]
3. Chase First Banking (Best Kids’ Debit Card From a Major Bank)
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 12 Chase First Banking debit card homepage.](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/chase-first-banking-signup-relaunch.webp)
- Available: Sign up here
- Price: Free (no monthly fees)
Ready to teach your little ones about earning, saving, and spending money, but not quite sure if you have the time, patience, and/or expertise? Chase First BankingSM offers simple banking for both of you in one location—the Chase Mobile® App—for free.
Chase First BankingSM helps parents teach teens and kids about money by giving parents the control they want and kids the freedom they need to learn. Among the account’s many features?
- One of the best free debit cards for kids and teens—it works anywhere Visa is accepted, and can be used to withdraw money fee-free* from more than 14,000 Chase ATMs nationwide
- Savings goals that you can track via the Chase Mobile® App
- Parental controls, such as setting limits on where and how much they can spend and withdraw from ATMs
- Account alerts that let you know where your child is spending
- Recurring chores and allowance
The account is designed with kids 6-12 in mind, and available for ages 6-17. To get started, you’ll first need to be a Chase customer with a qualifying Chase checking account. If you don’t already have one, consider opening a Chase Total Checking® or Chase Secure BankingSM account to qualify.
- Chase Total Checking® also grants access to thousands of branches and ATMs. You can pay $0 in monthly fees, subject to meeting certain conditions.** And you can collect a $400 new-customer bonus when you make total direct deposits of $1,000 or more within 90 days of coupon enrollment.
- Chase Secure BankingSM offers the same Chase ATMs and branch locations as well as a $125 sign-up bonus when you make stated qualifying activities and meet certain conditions.
Once you open a qualifying Chase Checking account, you may use our link to apply for a Chase First BankingSM account for your child.
- Chase First Banking is a free, just-for-kids banking account that teaches children and teens about their finances through the Chase Mobile® app and a Visa debit card.
- The account is designed with kids 6-12 in mind, and available for ages 6-17.
- Kids can use their debit card anywhere Visa is accepted, and withdraw money fee-free* from thousands of Chase ATMs.
- Parents can enjoy peace of mind by limiting how much and where their children can spend and withdraw money, and set up spending alerts.
- Parents can reward responsibility with allowance transfers, set to repeat on the schedule you choose.
- You must be a current Chase customer with a qualifying Chase checking account to sign up. If you don’t already have one, consider opening a Chase Total Checking or Chase Secure Banking account to qualify.
- Free account
- No monthly maintenance fees
- Chore and allowance functionality
- Parental controls on spend/ATM limit and location
- No paired investment account
- No interest
Related: 9 Best Debit Cards for Teens [Reviewed by a CPA + Father]
4. Modak (Debit Card for Kids Without Monthly Subscription Fees)
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 14 modak signup](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/modak-signup.webp)
- Available: Sign up here
- Price: No monthly subscription fees*
Modak is a feature-rich debit card for kids that not only provides minors with a safe and secure way for minors to learn about financial management, but also plenty of motivation—in the form of rewards.
Kids get a Modak Debit Card—a physical Visa® debit card that they can use anywhere Visa® is accepted. They can use MoCard to make purchases at both brick-and-mortar and virtual vendors, and they can also add their card to the Apple Pay and Google Pay digital wallets. Spending is limited to whatever funds are in the account; if the account is shy, you won’t face an overdraft fee—the purchase simply won’t go through.
And there’s a wealth of options for getting money into a kid’s account. Modak allows parents to fund their kids’ accounts through bank accounts (ACH transfer), debit cards, and credit cards. However, kids can also receive funds through direct deposit if they have a job, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and even Mobucks (or MBX)1—one of the app’s multiple rewards programs:
- MBX: This is an in-app reward system that can be redeemed for actual cash. Kids earn them by completing financial learning challenges, reading lessons, even walking 5,000 steps in a day2.
- Scratch ’em All: Every purchase made with a MoCard unlocks a digital “scratch,” which when scratched reveals a number of rewards, from financial tips and small digital tokens, to MBX, to even AirPods3.
- Referral Program: You can earn $10 for every person you refer to the app, up to eight referrals4.
Kids can even create their own payment link, which they can then send to anyone who wants to fund their account. That not only works great for parents and friends who want to send money for Christmas, birthdays, and other occasions, but it’s also a way kids can get paid for their side hustles.
Meanwhile, parents will love safety and control features such as biometric security measures (fingerprint and facial recognition) for the app, the ability to lock and unlock the child’s card, and spend monitoring. They can also teach financial responsibility through allowance and chore features, as well as through personalized and trackable savings goals. And Modak is a rarity in that it offers 24/7 support (as well as Spanish-language support during business hours) via phone, chat, and email.
The app itself charges no monthly fees* and has no minimum deposit; however, Modak does charge a small fee for certain services, such as for loading a Modak card using a debit or credit card.
A parent can sign up to five children ages 17 and younger. To get started, sign up with Modak today.
- Modak is a free debit card for kids and teens that rewards your child for building their financial smarts ... and good habits of all sorts.
- Comes with a Modak Visa® debit card that can be used anywhere Visa® is accepted, online or in physical locations. The card is also compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- Security features include easy card lock/unlock, monitoring tools, and biometric measures.
- Age requirement: 17 or younger
- Minimum deposit: None
- Minimum balance required: None
- Free account and card*
- Allowance and chore functions
- Savings goals
- Numerous account funding options
- Compatibility with Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Multiple rewards systems
- No ATM access with card
- Thin educational content
- No transition to adult account when minor turns 18
Modak is a financial technology company and not a FDIC-insured bank. Checking account and the Modak Visa® debit card issued by Lewis & Clark Bank, Member FDIC.
Related: 13 Best Money Apps for Kids [Banking, Investing + More]
5. Revolut <18 (No-Fee Prepaid Debit Card for Kids)
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 16 revolut under 18 signup](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/revolut-under-18-signup.png.webp)
- Available: Sign up here
- Price: No monthly fees
Revolut <18 is a prepaid debit card for kids designed to teach them money skills for life. Aimed at building healthy money habits from an early age, the unique, customizable card1 empowers parents to have full insight into their kids’ card activity through providing instant spending alerts and parental controls.
You can choose to freeze the card, as well as set controls on how they use the cards online and with contactless payments through your Revolut app. You can also set spending limits on how much your child can use with the prepaid card.
Parents use the card and accompanying app to teach kids about earning, budgeting, saving and even investing money (depending on the plan chosen). You can also use the card to manage chores and allowance, set savings goals as a family, and help your children manage their money.
And if your child did something deserving of a reward? You can send parent-paid bonuses when they complete specific tasks. Simply add money to their digitized piggy bank through the app. You can send and receive money in seconds through Revolut’s payments feature, which allows fast transfers between account holders and also global transfers at transparent rates.
You must have a personal Revolut account before you can open a Revolut <18 account for your children. You can add up to five Revolut <18 accounts per parent account.
To learn more about Revolut <18, visit their site and open an account for yourself and your child.
- Revolut <18 is a prepaid debit card for kids designed to assist parents teach kids ages 6-17 about money. Families can handle chores and allowance, create budgets, set parental controls and more.
- Revolut <18 comes with unique, customizable cards* that parents can use to set up tasks and goals to work on together as a family.
- Prepaid debit card for teens
- Parental controls
- Round-ups
- Chore and allowance management
- Customizable designs (fees apply)
- Children can't load funds, only parents can
- Parents need to have a personal Revolut account
Related: 10 Best Banking Apps for Kids & Teens [Kid + Teen Banking]
6. Axos First Checking (Best Free Teen Checking Account w/Interest)
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 18 Axos First Checking homepage.](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/axos-first-checking-new-2026.webp)
- Available: Sign up here
- Price: Free (no monthly fees)
Axos First Checking is a free joint bank account for teens and adults offered by Axos Bank—an online-only bank with a focus on technology-driven finance.
First Checking offers teens and their parents (or other adult owners of the account) a free debit card, peer-to-peer transfers, direct deposit, bill pay, extensive security features, even interest payments.
The Axos First Checking account comes with a debit card—you can choose either Visa or Mastercard—that you can use to spend in store and online, as well as to withdraw cash. While Axos Bank doesn’t have its own ATM system, Axos offers fee-free access to 91,000 ATMs nationwide, and it reimburses up to $12 in third-party ATM fees every month.
If you’re worried that your (or your teen’s) card is lost or stolen? You can lock and unlock the card from your Axos account. And the card limits cash withdrawals to $100 daily and debit transactions to $500 daily.
Axos First Checking charges zero monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees, and non-sufficient fund fees. It’s designed for teens between ages 13 and 17 (up to 18 years old in Alabama). And once your teen reaches adulthood, it’s easy to convert to another Axos checking account, giving the newly minted adult full control.
Read more in our Axos First Checking Account review.
- Axos Bank First Checking is a joint checking account targeted for teenagers ages 13-17 and their parents.
- Account holders get a Visa or Mastercard debit card that can be used to spend online or in person, or to withdraw cash at any ATM. (Axos provides up to $12 in monthly domestic ATM fee reimbursements.)
- No monthly maintenance, overdraft, or non-sufficient fund fees.
- The debit card's security features include account alerts, card locking, and daily transaction alerts of $100 (cash) and $500 (debit).
- Currently, you can earn up to 0.10% APY on any balance.
- Free (no monthly maintenance fees)
- ATM fee reimbursements (up to $12 per month)
- Converts to adult checking account after minor reaches age of majority
- No paired investment account
- No robust financial literacy resources
7. Chase High School Checking (Teen Checking from a Mega-Bank)
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 20 a screenshot of a chase high school checking debit card.](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/chase-high-school-checking-new-1000.webp)
- Available: Get your code here, then sign up in a branch
- Price: No monthly fees
- Special offer: $125 when you open an account1
Chase High School CheckingSM is an account tailor-made for parents who want their teen to build money independence and enjoy the benefits of banking with a large national bank, but also want to keep an eye on their teen’s finances as they learn the ropes.
This checking account for teens (ages 13-17 at account opening) lets your teen enjoy the convenience of mobile banking through the Chase Mobile® App, as well as a debit card that can be stashed in a virtual wallet, or used to withdraw cash from Chase’s massive nationwide network of 16,000 ATMs.
With Chase High School CheckingSM, your teen can …
- Use direct deposit to get paid from their summer job, or use Chase QuickDepositSM on their phone to remotely (and securely!) deposit physical checks from odd jobs or birthdays.
- Build their savings hassle-free with Autosave, which automatically transfers money from checking to savings.
- Use Zelle® (through the Chase Mobile® app) to send and receive money from friends and family—even if they don’t bank with Chase.
- Have their Chase High School CheckingSM convert into a Chase Total Checking® account when they turn 19.
Meanwhile, parents can stay in the know through account alerts.
Chase High School CheckingSM accounts must be opened in a physical branch, using a coupon code you can receive from Chase here. A parent or guardian must be present, and will be the account co-owner. Students should bring at least one primary ID and one secondary ID.
The parent must have an existing qualifying Chase checking account, such as Chase Total Checking®, which will be linked to the High School Checking account.
Learn more and get your code for Chase High School CheckingSM here.
- Chase High School Checking℠ is a free checking account that helps teens learn financial independence through the Chase Mobile® App and a Visa debit card.
- Enjoy features such as Autosave (automated saving), QuickDeposit℠ (mobile deposit), and account alerts for parents.
- Zelle® lets you send money to (and receive money from) friends and family as long as they have an eligible account at a participating U.S. bank.
- Teens must sign up in a physical branch with a parent or guardian that has an existing qualifying Chase checking account.
- Age requirement: 13-17 at account opening.
- Annual percentage yield (APY): None
- Minimum deposit: None
- Minimum balance required: None
- Special offer: Get $125 when you sign up.¹
- No monthly fees
- Mobile app
- Sign-up bonus
- 16,000-plus fee-free ATMs
- Limited parental controls
- No APY
- Tight age restrictions
- Must sign up in a physical branch
Related: Investment Accounts for Kids [Custodial Brokerage Accounts]
8. Capital One MONEY (Best Free Teen Checking Account)
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 22 capital one money teen checking signup](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/capital-one-money-signup-new.webp)
- Available: Read our review and sign up
- Price: Free (no monthly fees)
Capital One MONEY Teen Checking is one of Young and the Invested’s top choices for parents who want to financially empower their kids at an early age. Yes, this free checking account is predominantly aimed at teenagers, but it’s actually available to kids as young as 8 years old.
This joint checking account offers flexibility for kids and a touch of tranquility for parents. Kids get a Mastercard debit card that they can use at millions of merchants across the U.S., as well as in roughly 210 countries and territories worldwide. Your teen also enjoys access to one of the largest fee-free ATM networks among kids debit cards—more than 70,000+ Capital One, MoneyPass, and AllPoint machines. They can also send and receive money via Zelle, receive direct deposits from employers, and even cash paper checks by snapping a couple photos within the highly rated Capital One app.
Parents, meanwhile, can also pay their kids a regular allowance, or make one-time payments as gifts or rewards. They also can monitor their teens’ transactions, lock and unlock their child’s card, and control their kid’s access to (and transfer limits within) Zelle.
To learn more about the account, read our Capital One MONEY Teen Checking review. Or you can sign up today by clicking “Open Account” above.
- Capital One MONEY is a full-fledged money management account that comes with both a debit card and a highly rated mobile app.
- Boasts one of the largest nationwide fee-free ATM networks, which currently stands at more than 70,000 machines nationwide.
- Security features include monitoring tools and easy card lock/unlock.
- Age requirement: 8+ with a parent-sponsored account
- APY: 0.10%
- Minimum deposit: None
- Minimum balance required: None
- Free account and card
- Access to 70,000+ fee-free ATMs
- Access to Zelle
- Mobile check deposit
- Cash deposits
- Allowance
- Ability to migrate account to 360 Checking when minor becomes 18
- Sparse educational tools
- Few rewards or perks
Related: 10 Best Money Apps for Teens Under 18 [Invest, Pay + More]
What is a Teen Checking Account?
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 24 young woman phone excited](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/young-woman-phone-excited.webp)
A teen checking account works for kids between 13 and 17, though some will offer access to kids younger than this (such as the Capital One MONEY Account). Teens can’t have an account in their name, instead needing an adult co-owner to act as the primary account holder.
You can open a teen checking account through a bank, credit union or other depository institution offering joint account access between a parent or legal guardian and a teenager.
These accounts for teens usually grant power over the account to the adult co-owner, such as by setting spending limits, receiving account alerts or even deciding where a teen can shop through the attached debit card on the account.
Depending on the banking institution, you might also have extra tools and features meant to help with budgeting and saving. The best bank account provides all of these options for free, without a minimum balance.
How to Open a Teen Bank Account
1. Choose the Type of Teen Account You Want (Checking Account vs. Savings Account)
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 25 mother teen daughter smartphone smiling](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/mother-teen-daughter-smartphone-smiling.webp)
It’s pretty standard for banks to offer banking accounts for kids these days, especially with the advent of banking apps for kids and teens. Despite this availability, age restrictions still apply in many cases, though they vary by banking institution. For instance, teenagers generally only have access to kids’ checking accounts, while kids of nearly any age can have a savings account.
Many banking institutions offer the ability to open a savings account for a baby so that you can give financial gifts to babies, kids or grandkids.
Prepaid Debit Cards for Kids
If you don’t wish to open full-blown checking accounts for your children, you can also look into prepaid debit cards for kids and teens. Companies such as Greenlight offer standalone prepaid cards with numerous features in the checking account options discussed above. These teen debit card companies provide protection from overdraft fees, maintaining minimum balances or making a minimum opening deposit.
One significant difference comes from not having the option to automatically convert these teen debit cards to regular accounts. Teen checking account options often allow this.
Teen Checking Accounts
Teen checking accounts are more traditional bank accounts, where the debit card is backed by the money in the account. Past that, though, many teen checking accounts are similar to prepaid debit cards for kids in that they offer a host of various features that help kids learn how to manage money, and help parents keep an eye on their kids.
For instance, with some checking accounts, you can establish parental controls to monitor, manage and shortlist where your kids shop online and offline alike. Further, you can assign chores and disburse allowance payments, automate money transfers and much more.
These accounts may also come with useful financial literacy tools that teach your kids about money and help them develop teenage money management skills.
If even this presents problems for your needs by still offering access to cash by failing to put in place sufficient safeguards, you can open a custodial account. Custodial accounts prevent your child from accessing funds until they reach the age of termination (quite often, the age of majority or adulthood) in their state of residence. Among many available options, custodial brokerage accounts allow you to save for future expenses ranging from college to a car, wedding or even down payment on a home.
You can even establish a Roth IRA for kids if your children have earned income and thus the ability to contribute to a retirement account. With decades of tax-free growth, Roth IRAs are a powerful way to leverage compounding returns to a child’s benefit.
2. Do Your Due Diligence
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 26 father dad children son daughter kids](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/father-dad-children-son-daughter-kids.webp)
Deciding the account type you want is an important step. Once you settle on this decision, you’ll need to look at what options make the most sense for your needs. As with all things kids, you have a large universe of kid-focused accounts to choose from, presenting a challenge for identifying which one makes the most sense for your needs.
It would be best to decide which account features carry the most weight in your decision-making and begin exploring banks, credit unions and fintech companies offering products that meet your needs.
As a first step, consider comparing several of the standard features for accounts like ATM networks, branch locations, app functionality, interest rates, access to debit cards and more.
3. Submit an Application to Open an Account
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 27 family mom dad teens children custodial account](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/family-mom-dad-teens-children-custodial-account.webp)
Once you’ve chosen a bank and an account that fits your needs, you can apply for a new account. A bank account is a valuable start to your child’s financial independence and can help prepare them for the future.
One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is which type of account will work best for different needs, be it saving or spending money. You may need to visit a bank in person, but you may find many banks, credit unions and fintech apps now allow you to apply online.
In either case, the application process should only take about 10-15 minutes.
4. Fund the Teen Checking Account and Activate the Debit Card
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 28 mom with teen daughter](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/mom-with-teen-daughter.webp)
As a condition for opening accounts with a minor, you often need to fund the account at the opening as part of the final stage of the application process. Placing funds into your child’s account can usually be done with a debit card, credit cards or existing bank account. There may be some institutions where restrictions vary.
If you opened a checking account, your account might come paired with a free debit card or bank card your kid can use to make purchases or make withdrawals from their deposit accounts. If so, this card usually takes 1-2 weeks to arrive in the mail after receiving approval of your application, though some banks and credit unions offer temporary cards immediately.
No matter the timing of when your child receives their debit card, you need to activate the card either online through a secure web portal or by telephone through a toll-free number provided on the card at receipt.
Many modern banking apps also allow you to activate it through a smartphone app and even carry the card in a digital wallet like Apple Pay (age 13+) or Google Pay (age 16+). If your bank account offers a mobile banking app (most do these days), whether opened with a traditional bank, credit union or other financial institution, you should consider downloading it on your phone.
These allow you and your child to check the children’s savings account balance and monitor any account fees, transactions and more.
Further, you can use these mobile apps to monitor account activity or restrict access to funds.
Several of today’s most popular apps, including Greenlight, let parents assign chores and pay allowance through apps with just a few taps on their smartphones.
How Old Do You Have to be to Open a Teen Checking Account?
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 29 young man woman smartphones apps](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/young-man-woman-smartphones-apps.webp)
To open a kids bank account, the parent or accompanying adult must be at least 18 years of age (or the age of majority in the state of residence), and typically the child must be under the age of 18. But some banks may impose stricter age requirements for kids, requiring them to be under the age of 12 or between certain ages like 13 to 17.
Likewise, you might be able to open a joint account, allowing both the adult and minor to be on the same account title.
What Do I Need to Open a Teen Checking Account?
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 30 mother daughter teen smartphone app online](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/mother-daughter-teen-smartphone-app-online.webp)
Now, you can open a banking account with a debit card for your child with a few clicks of a button, thanks to digital systems and fintech apps.
As part of the U.S. Patriot Act, the government requires financial institutions to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities. Therefore, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information identifying each person who opens an account.
For you, this means you’ll need to supply your target bank with some necessary information when looking to open an account. This includes information like:
- Your name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Social security number
- Valid government-issued ID
To open a checking account with banks like Wells Fargo, Bank of America, U.S. Bank, or Capital One, a deposit account with a credit union, or even mobile banking apps like Greenlight, you will need to supply a handful of essential pieces of documentation.
Afterward, your kid can start making deposits into these joint accounts, working toward financial goals, using a paired ATM card and managing their money.
While what you need may vary by institution, but the information above will be standard requirements. The account holder will need to provide all or some variation of the above items the joint account held between the minor and parent or guardian with the following documents:
- Your driver’s license
- Your Social Security number
- Your child’s Social Security number (potentially a Social Security Card)
- Your child’s birth certificate
- Proof of address (usually a utility bill)
Features to Consider for Opening a Teen Checking Account
![8 Best Teen Checking Accounts [Banks for Teens] 31 young adults laughing](https://youngandtheinvested.com/wp-content/uploads/young-girls-laughing-in-a-group-medium.webp)
Keep these factors in mind when looking for a bank account for your child.
1. Online banking through a desktop portal or mobile app
Because kids control most of their information through their phones, it is imperative to have a service provider who can provide online banking and management capability.
The interface needs to provide great functionality, including transferring funds, setting spending limits, providing text or email alerts, accepting mobile deposits, and working for multiple accounts if there are several account holders.
2. Checking and savings account
Make sure you segregate your child’s funds in a kid’s savings account and a separate checking account. This can help with developing a savings mindset.
Likewise, you can use many popular banking apps for minors to create savings pods that designate money held in the joint account for specific savings goals.
3. Consider the fee menu (monthly service fees, recurring transactions, ATM withdrawals, card reload, etc.)
Savings accounts for kids make building a nest egg easy and accessible, but they typically come with a monthly service fee, monthly maintenance fee for having the account.
Some might come with other fees which make having the account cost prohibitive, like ATM withdrawal fees, card reload fees, annual card fees and more.
There are many fees businesses charge to open a bank account.
Sometimes they’re not as obvious, and you won’t know how much will be charged until it’s time to sign up for the account.
4. Linked debit card (with parental controls)
Your child may be eligible for a debit card or ATM card to spend or access the account if they open eligible bank accounts at a banking, fintech company or credit union.
Parents should be able to set spending and account limits, request text or email alerts for transactions and deposits, add/remove authorized users on the account from a mobile app and receive notifications when their child uses the debit card.
5. Interest income
Most kid’s savings account options earn a small amount of interest, along with many other high-yield savings accounts available only to adults.
Low rates offer little passive income, but you can still find a few which earn competitive APYs.
Kids checking accounts don’t always accrue interest, although it is possible.
Disclosures
Cash App Families
Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card. Direct deposit, Savings, Instant Discounts, Direct Deposit and Offers provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Offers may not be affiliated with third party merchants
* Card use fees apply. Free Cash App Cards come in black, white, pink, or glow-in-the-dark.
** Teens 13 to 17 can use Cash App with sponsorship by an eligible parent or guardian. To view the eligibility requirements for sponsoring a teen, please visit the Sponsored Accounts section of the Cash App Terms of Service.
*** With a Cash App Card, your money is eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance through Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Sutton Bank, and/or The Bancorp Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, for up to $250,000 per customer when aggregated with all other deposits held in the same legal capacity at each bank, if certain conditions are met. See the Cash App Terms of Service.
Cash App is a financial services platform, and not an FDIC-insured bank. Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc..
1 Cash App reimburses ATM fees for all in-network withdrawals when you deposit at least $300 monthly of Qualifying Deposits into Cash App, or spend $500 or more in Qualifying Purchases using your Cash App Card or Cash App Pay in a calendar month. Service fees may apply. See terms for more details.
2 Brokerage services provided by Cash App Investing LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, subsidiary of Block, Inc. Bitcoin services provided by Block, Inc. Bitcoin services are not licensable activity in all U.S. states and territories. Block, Inc. operates in New York as Block of Delaware and is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Investing and bitcoin are non-deposit, non-bank products that are not FDIC insured and involve risk, including monetary loss. Cash App Investing does not trade bitcoin and Block, Inc. is not a member of FINRA or SIPC. For additional information, see the Bitcoin and Cash App Investing disclosures. Additional fees for securities may apply such as regulatory fees and fees to transfer securities externally. Please see our House Rules for more information.
Fractional shares investing may involve additional risks such as non-transferability. For additional information regarding the unique risks and limitations of fractional shares, please see your Investing Customer Account Agreement.
3 Cash App will pass through a portion of the interest paid on your savings balance held in an account for the benefit of Cash App customers at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. To earn interest on your Cash App savings balance, you need to have sponsor approval. Exceptions may apply. Savings yield rate is subject to change.
Chase High School Checking℠
1 Your teen gets $125 when you open a new Chase High School Checking℠ account together with qualifying activities within 60 days of coupon enrollment. Your child can receive only one new checking account opening related bonus every two years from the last coupon enrollment date and only one bonus per account. To receive the bonus: 1) Open a new Chase High School Checking account, which is subject to approval; AND 2) Complete at least 5 qualifying transactions within 60 days of coupon enrollment. Qualifying transactions include: debit card purchases, online bill payments, Chase QuickDeposit℠, Zelle®, or ACH credits. After your child has completed all the above requirements and the 5 qualifying transactions have posted to their account, we’ll deposit the bonus into their new account within 15 days. To receive this bonus, the enrolled account must not be closed or restricted at the time of payout. Eligibility may be limited based on account ownership. Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT (or Form 1042-S, if applicable).
2 Account subject to approval. Monthly fee waived for any month in which you have electronic deposits of $500 or more made to this account, or a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account, or an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.
Revolut <18
1 Customized cards may require fees.



