To get a debit card at 17, open a checking account with a parent or legal guardian as co-signer on the account. Federal law requires the bank to verify the identity of everyone on the account, and because people under 18 generally cannot enter binding contracts on their own, almost every bank in the United States requires an adult co-owner before it will issue a debit card to a minor. Once the account is approved, the card is mailed to you, usually within 7 to 10 business days.
Why a Parent or Guardian Has to Be on the Account
Contracts signed by minors are generally “voidable” under state law, meaning a person under 18 can walk away from an agreement with limited legal consequences. A bank account is a contract, so this is a risk the bank will not take alone. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has said whether a bank can open an account for a minor without a responsible adult depends on state law, and most institutions require a parent or guardian as co-owner or custodian.1OCC. Guidance to Encourage Financial Institutions’ Youth Savings Programs and Initiatives Practically, that adult is legally responsible for the account, including any fees or negative balances you rack up on the card.
Documents You and Your Co-Signer Need
Every U.S. bank runs a Customer Identification Program before opening an account. At a minimum, the bank has to collect four things from both you and the adult co-signer: full legal name, date of birth, a residential address, and a taxpayer identification number.2eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks
To back that up with documents, plan to bring:
- For you: an unexpired government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID card, or passport. If you do not have a photo ID, a birth certificate together with a Social Security card usually works.
- For your co-signer: their own government-issued photo ID and their Social Security number.
- If neither ID shows a current home address, a separate proof of address like a utility bill or rental agreement.3Wells Fargo. What You’ll Need to Open an Everyday Checking Account
A Social Security number is not the only path. Federal rules let non-U.S. persons use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number instead, together with a passport number or another government document showing nationality or residence and a photograph.2eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks If you or your parent holds an ITIN rather than an SSN, call the specific bank first to confirm they accept it. Most large national banks do.
Which Type of Account to Open
Banks generally offer two paths for a minor who wants a debit card, plus a third option that skips the bank entirely.
Joint Checking Account
A joint account gives you and the adult equal access to the money. Either of you can deposit, withdraw, or spend without the other’s permission. Both of you are also on the hook if the account goes negative. Joint accounts are simple to open and easy to keep using once you turn 18, but the adult has less control over your spending along the way.
Teen Checking Account
Many banks offer checking accounts designed for customers roughly 13 to 17. These are usually linked to a parent’s existing account, and the parent can set daily spending and withdrawal limits through the bank’s app. Monthly maintenance fees are commonly waived while the account holder is under a set age, often 24 or 25. You get your own debit card and account number; your parent can see transactions in real time. When you turn 18, the account usually converts automatically to a standard checking account.
Prepaid Debit Card
If a bank account is not workable, a prepaid debit card is loaded with a set dollar amount and works like a gift card. You can only spend what has been loaded, so overdraft is not possible. Some prepaid cards can be bought at retail stores with no age restriction and no bank account. The catch: prepaid cards do not build banking history, may carry reload or monthly fees, and typically lack the fraud protections a bank-issued debit card comes with.
Applying and Getting the Card
Once your documents are ready, you and your parent or guardian can apply in one of two ways. Many banks let you complete the whole process through a secure online portal where you upload scans of your IDs and enter your personal information. Others require anyone under 18 to come into a branch. Check the bank’s website first so you know which one applies.
After you submit, the bank verifies both applicants. This usually includes running the co-signer’s name through ChexSystems, a reporting agency that tracks banking history like unpaid negative balances, involuntary account closures, and suspected fraud. If the co-signer’s record is clean, approval typically takes a few business days, and the physical card arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days after that.
You will need to activate the card before you can use it. Most banks let you do this in the mobile app, by calling a toll-free number on the sticker attached to the card, or at the bank’s ATM when you set a PIN. Once activated, the card works right away at stores, online, and at ATMs.
Turn Overdraft Off Before You Start Spending
The biggest early risk with a debit card is spending more than what is in the account. Federal rules bar a bank from charging overdraft fees on everyday debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals unless you specifically opt in to overdraft coverage. The bank has to give you a written notice explaining how the service works, and you have to affirmatively agree before any fees can be charged.4Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Regulation E 1005.17 – Requirements for Overdraft Services
If you do not opt in, the bank simply declines any debit card transaction that would overdraw the account. No fee, no negative balance. For a first-time cardholder, leaving overdraft coverage off is the cleanest way to avoid surprise charges. The average overdraft fee across U.S. banks was roughly $27 as of 2025, though many banks have reduced or eliminated the fee. If your account does incur one, your adult co-signer is legally responsible for covering it.
If Your Card Is Lost or Stolen
Speed matters. Federal law caps your liability for unauthorized transactions, but the cap depends on how fast you report the card missing:
- Within 2 business days: your maximum liability is $50 or the amount of unauthorized charges, whichever is less.
- After 2 business days but within 60 days of your statement: your maximum liability rises to $500.
- After 60 days from your statement: you could be responsible for the full amount of unauthorized transfers that happen after that 60-day window.
These limits come from the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, which governs debit card transactions nationwide,5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1693g – Consumer Liability and its implementing regulation lays out the same tiered structure.6Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Regulation E 1005.6 – Liability of Consumer for Unauthorized Transfers If something outside your control, like a hospitalization or extended travel, keeps you from reporting on time, the bank has to extend these deadlines to a reasonable period. Report a lost or stolen card the same day you notice it is gone, and your exposure stays small.
What Changes When You Turn 18
Once you turn 18, you have the legal capacity to hold a bank account in your own name without a co-signer. What happens next depends on the account you opened. Many teen checking accounts automatically convert to a standard adult checking account on or around your 18th birthday, which can come with a different fee structure. Ask your bank about any new monthly charges or minimum balance requirements that kick in after the conversion.
If you have a joint account and want to remove the adult co-signer, you generally need that person’s consent. Most banks and state laws will not let one joint account holder remove the other unilaterally.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Can I Remove My Spouse From Our Joint Checking Account Often the simplest move is to open a new individual checking account after your 18th birthday and transfer your money over, rather than trying to restructure the joint account you already have.