To get a debit card under 18, a parent or guardian opens a joint bank account with you, and the debit card comes with it. Most banks, credit unions, and family banking apps offer teen or youth checking accounts that bundle a card, mobile app access, and parental controls. The process works the same whether you’re 8 or 17, and it usually takes a single visit to a branch or one online application.
Why a Parent or Guardian Has to Sign On
Under the common law followed in most states, minors can’t enter binding contracts on their own. A bank deposit agreement is a contract, so someone under 18 can’t open an account or hold a debit card solo. An adult signs on as a joint owner, which makes the agreement enforceable and gives the bank a legally responsible party if the account goes negative or accrues fees. That’s why the adult’s name and information appear on every teen account, no matter how the bank markets it.
Account Options That Come With a Card
Three routes get a minor a working debit card. They differ in who controls the money, what it costs, and how much independence the minor has day to day.
Teen Checking Accounts
This is the standard option. A teen checking account is a joint account where both the minor and a parent have access to the funds. The minor gets the debit card and mobile banking. The parent gets oversight tools and, at some banks, the ability to restrict who can deposit or transfer money into the account.1Bank of America. Banking Accounts for Growing Needs
Fees are usually minimal. Many large banks waive monthly maintenance fees on teen accounts, sometimes until the accountholder turns 25.1Bank of America. Banking Accounts for Growing Needs Minimum balances tend to be low or nonexistent. A small initial deposit is usually required to activate the account.
Custodial Accounts (UTMA or UGMA)
Custodial accounts under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act or the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act work differently. The minor legally owns the assets from day one, and an adult custodian manages the account until the minor reaches the age of majority set by state law, which is 18 in some states and 21 in others.2FINRA. Regulatory Notice 20-07 – UTMA and UGMA Accounts Money placed in the account is an irrevocable gift; the adult can’t take it back.
Some custodial accounts offer a linked debit card, but these accounts are more commonly used for saving and investing than for everyday spending. If your goal is just a card for purchases, a teen checking account is the simpler fit.
Prepaid Cards and Family Banking Apps
Fintech services like Greenlight, Current, and Acorns Early issue debit cards that parents load with funds. No traditional bank account relationship is needed in most cases. Monthly costs range from free to roughly $15 per family depending on the plan. Parents can set spending limits, get instant purchase notifications, block specific merchants, and lock the card from their phone.
The trade-offs: some of these cards may lack direct FDIC insurance (though many partner with FDIC-insured banks), and they don’t build a banking relationship the way a checking account does. For younger children who aren’t ready for a full account, they’re a reasonable first step.
Documents You’ll Need
Federal rules require banks to collect four pieces of identifying information from every person on a new account: full legal name, date of birth, residential address, and a taxpayer identification number, which for most people is a Social Security number.3eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Programs for Banks Both the minor and the adult co-owner have to provide all four.
For ID, banks require an unexpired government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, or passport.3eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Programs for Banks A minor without a license or state ID can use a passport. Banks commonly ask for a birth certificate as well to confirm the minor’s age, though it doesn’t count as photo ID on its own. The adult should also bring proof of residential address, such as a utility bill or lease.
How to Open the Account
You can apply in person or online. At a branch, a representative verifies the original documents, walks you through the deposit agreement, and gets signatures from both the minor and the adult on the spot. Online applications involve uploading scans of the IDs and completing electronic signatures; verification usually takes a few business days.
Most banks require a small initial deposit, which can come from cash, a check, or a transfer from the parent’s existing account. Once the application is approved, the physical debit card ships and typically arrives within seven to ten business days. Activate it through the bank’s app or by calling the number on the sticker, then set a four-digit PIN. The card is ready to use.
Spending Limits and Parental Controls
Teen accounts come with daily spending and withdrawal caps that are lower than standard adult limits. A $500 daily cap on combined purchases and ATM withdrawals is a common starting point, though the exact number varies by bank. These caps reset each day and apply regardless of how much is in the account. When the accountholder turns 18 and the account converts, limits typically rise automatically.
Parental controls go further than dollar caps. Through the bank’s app, a parent can usually lock and unlock the card instantly, get real-time notifications on every purchase, and at some banks block specific merchants or spending categories. A reasonable approach is to start with tighter controls and ease them as the teen builds a track record.
Skip the Overdraft Opt-In
At account opening, the bank will hand you a form asking whether to “opt in” to overdraft coverage for debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals. Federal rules bar banks from charging overdraft fees on those transactions unless you affirmatively agree.4eCFR. 12 CFR 1005.17 – Requirements for Overdraft Services Don’t opt in, and any transaction that would overdraw the account simply gets declined. No fee, no negative balance.
Opt in, and the bank pays the transaction and charges a fee that typically runs around $35. Some banks add a daily fee for every day the account stays overdrawn, which piles up fast. For a teen’s first account, a declined swipe is a much cheaper lesson than a stack of overdraft charges. You can change your mind later by contacting the bank, but starting without it is the safer default.5Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Overdraft and Account Fees
If the Card Is Lost or Stolen
Speed matters. Federal law caps your liability for unauthorized debit card charges, but the cap depends on how fast you report. Notify the bank within two business days of learning about the loss or theft, and your maximum liability is $50.6GovInfo. 15 USC 1693g – Consumer Liability Wait longer, and the ceiling jumps to $500.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Regulation E 1005.6 – Liability of Consumer for Unauthorized Transfers
The worst outcome comes from ignoring statements. If unauthorized charges appear on a monthly statement and you don’t report them within 60 days, you can be held liable for every fraudulent transaction that happens after that 60-day window closes.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Regulation E 1005.6 – Liability of Consumer for Unauthorized Transfers These protections cover everyone on the account, minor and adult. Check the account often, turn on transaction alerts, and call the bank the moment something looks wrong. Most banking apps also let you freeze the card instantly while you figure out whether it’s actually lost.
What Changes at 18
Most teen checking accounts convert automatically to a standard adult account on your 18th birthday. A new debit card arrives, the old one is deactivated, and daily spending and ATM limits rise to regular adult levels. The conversion usually happens without any action on your part.
Joint ownership doesn’t dissolve on its own. If your parent was a co-owner on the teen account, they stay a co-owner on the adult account unless you ask the bank to remove them. To put the account solely in your name, visit a branch or contact the bank directly.
Custodial accounts end on a different schedule. The custodianship terminates when you reach the age set by your state’s version of UTMA, either 18 or 21, and the custodian is legally required to hand over full control of the assets at that point. Some states allow the custodianship to be extended past the default age, but only if you first receive notice of your right to demand the assets at the original termination age.2FINRA. Regulatory Notice 20-07 – UTMA and UGMA Accounts If the custodian doesn’t turn things over, you have the right to compel it.