It can be difficult to teach children how to spend and save responsibly, but it doesn’t have to be. A debit card can be a valuable educational tool, especially when the kid is in charge of their own spending with guardrails installed by parents.
What is a Debit Card for Kids and Teens?
Minors can’t open their own bank account until they reach the age of majority in their state—often 18 years old. Parents can choose one possible path: opening a subaccount from their own bank account to provide their kids with a card to use.
Though rules vary by financial institution, some don’t allow minors to have debit cards under their own name before the age of 16. Others choose to offer them to kids who are 13 or younger.
What are the Best Free Debit Cards for Kids and Teens?
1. Chase First Banking
Need insight and oversight into your child’s spending and saving? You can set spend alerts and limits as well as specific locations all in your Chase Mobile® app.
The account works as a joint account between a parent or guardian and their teen, allowing for easy-to-set, customizable parental controls with a debit card dashboard.