Best Debit Cards for Teens

The best debit cards for teens typically come with features that help younger folks bank safely. Parental controls, preset spending limits, and money management educational tools are some common examples.

Fee structures are also typically lower because these accounts focus more on financial education than revenue generation.

In this post, we’ll cover all of the best debit cards out there that are specifically designed for children. From big, traditional banks to smaller digital options, you’ll get an overview of the best cards and bank accounts for your kids.

14 Best Debit Cards for Teens

Here are 14 of the best teen debit cards available today:

1. Chase First Banking

  • Monthly Fee: None
  • Minimum Age: 6

This free debit card is intended for kids and aims to help parents teach their children about good money habits.

You can manage all of your Chase accounts (including First Banking) from the mobile app, where you can monitor your child’s spending and set alerts and limits.

Your teen can request funds (which you can approve or deny) and make fee-free withdrawals at more than 15,000 ATMs.

Kids can also set savings goals and transfer money from their Earn or Spend accounts to build towards them. Parents can easily make transfers from their own accounts for chores and allowances and track savings account progress.

Chase First Banking is available exclusively to current Chase checking customers. (Not a Chase customer? See our many Chase Bank Promotions and get become one today!)

2. Greenlight

  • Monthly Fee: $4.99
  • Minimum Age: None

Greenlight is a digital financial technology company that provides some of the best debit cards for kids through its FDIC-insured partner bank, Community Federal Savings Bank.

The Greenlight debit card is mobile app-based with separate logins for kids and parents.

Parents can assign chores, set up recurring allowance transfers, and restrict purchases from certain retailers. You can also make instant transfers, set up real-time notifications, and pay interest on your kids’ savings.

The app is designed to teach financial responsibility. Kids can set savings goals and divvy funds up between their Spend, Save, and Give accounts.

In addition, they’ll have access to educational resources and can check tasks off their chore list to earn parent-assigned perks.

The core Greenlight card comes with a monthly fee of $4.99 that’s waived in your first month. There’s no minimum age, and you can have up to five kids on your plan for the same fee.

3. Copper

  • Monthly Fee: None
  • Minimum Age: 13

Copper is a banking app and debit card for teens that boasts more than 300,000 current users.

The modern platform feels similar to a neobank and allows teens to build up a personal finance foundation.

Copper has no minimum balance requirements or fees and connects with both Apple Pay and Google Pay. You can also link your card with payment apps like Cash App and PayPal.

The Copper debit card works anywhere Mastercard is accepted, and you can set up direct deposit and withdraw cash from more than 50,000 free ATMs.

For parents, Copper takes a slightly more hands-off approach. You’ll still be able to pay out allowance and track spending, but Copper empowers teens cardholders to independently manage their finances.

Copper accounts are FDIC insured through its partner bank, Evolve Bank & Trust.

4. GoHenry

  • Monthly Fee: $4.99
  • Minimum Age: 6

GoHenry is an online bank account for you and your kids. There’s a parent account that is linked to each child’s account, which you can manage from the mobile app or website.

Once your accounts are set up, you can set up recurring or one-off transfers however you see fit. You can also enable one-time or weekly spending limits and turn cards on or off when you need to.

Kids’ accounts are split into four sections — Earn, Save, Spend, and Give.

  1. Earn comes with a list of chores to complete or a recurring allowance payment.
  2. Save allows for as many savings goals as you want and lets kids see how close they’re getting to each one.
  3. Spend allows kids to use their goHenry debit card within parental limits.
  4. Give allows kids to make small contributions to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

You can have up to four GoHenry child accounts linked to your parent account. You can add money to the parent account with a debit card and move money around to each child’s account however you want.

GoHenry costs $4.99 per child per month, and you’ll get a month for free when you sign up. For larger families, they have a Family Plan that costs $9.98 for up to 4 children.

5. FamZoo

  • Monthly Fee: $2.50 – $5.99
  • Minimum Age: None

FamZoo provides prepaid debit cards for kids and a financial app designed for the whole family.

The platform is pretty straightforward — you load money onto your parent funding card through a bank transfer, direct deposit, or cash deposit.

Then, you can reload your card at any time and disperse funds to each child’s card whenever you want for free.

Parents can monitor kids’ spending through a shared dashboard that allows for automated allowance, rewards for completing chores, and expenses.

You can also pay interest on your kids’ savings and charge penalties for missed work. Kids have access to their own accounts where they can budget, spend, and save.

You have a few options when it comes to paying for Famzoo. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Monthly Fee: $5.99 per month
  • 6-Month Prepaid Fee: $25.99 ($4.33 per month)
  • 12 months Prepaid Fee: $39.99 ($3.33 per month)
  • 24 month Prepaid Fee: $59.99 ($2.50 per month)

There are no overdraft fees, and FamZoo debit cards will work anywhere that accepts Mastercard.

6. BusyKid

  • Monthly Fee: $1.67
  • Minimum Age: 5

BusyKid is an online platform that teaches budgeting and provides hands-on financial guidance for young people.

It’s available for kids aged 5 to 16, and you can use preset or custom chore charts with allowance incentives built-in.

Kids can also get a taste of real-world financial habits like investing and donating to charities.

On the parent side, you can match savings goals, track spending and withdrawals, and set custom restrictions.

The BusyKid Visa Prepaid Spend Card gives kids freedom to spend under parental controls.

For $19.99 per year, you’ll get one Spend card, and each additional card costs $7.99 per year.

7. Capital One Money

  • Monthly Fee: None
  • Minimum Age: 8

Capital One Money is a fee-free teen checking account with a debit card and access to the Capital One mobile app.

The account is designed with teens in mind, but kids aged 8 and up are eligible.

Parents and teens each get a login to the account, so teens can manage their balance with parental oversight.

There are no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, and teens can earn interest with a 0.10% APY.

They also won’t have to worry about ATM fees, with free ATM withdrawals at more than 70,000 locations.

Capital One Money is an online account, so parents and teens will have exclusively digital access to all of its features.

8. Jassby

  • Monthly Fee: None
  • Minimum Age: None

Jassby’s platform is built around financial literacy and aims to help families develop good habits together.

The contactless Jassby Mastercard comes with no monthly or transaction fees. Parents can fund the card digitally and set up alerts or spending limits.

The most unique feature here is Jassby’s Financial Literacy (FL) Score. Kids using the platform increase their scores by utilizing its savings and spending tools effectively.

It’s a cool feature that gives kids an idea of how a credit score works without the need to use a credit card too early.

With Jassby Rewards, you’ll earn points for making smart money moves, and the higher your FL Score, the more point multipliers you’ll get. Points are redeemed in the Jassby shop or for cashback on retail purchases.

Jassby is an entirely free platform, so you won’t pay a monthly or annual fee for the service.

9. Mazoola

  • Monthly Fee: None
  • Minimum Age: None

Mazoola is a Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)-compliant app that comes with a virtual debit card for kids.

The app claims to be the only one of its kind that adheres to COPPA, so online safety and privacy are at the forefront with Mazoola.

The app is designed to help kids learn how to manage money in a digital world.

Through the app, kids can view their balance, set savings goals, complete chores, and make peer-to-peer payments. With the Mazoola virtual debit card, they can make digital purchases.

Parents also have access to the app and can easily send money, set spending limits, track chores and goals, and receive alerts.

Mazoola cards are issued by Evolve Bank & Trust, so all funds are backed by the FDIC.

Accounts are fee-free, and there’s no minimum deposit required to open one.

10. TD Go

  • Monthly Fee: None
  • Minimum Age: None

TD Go is a reloadable prepaid debit card that allows teens to spend freely within parental boundaries.

The card is pretty straightforward, and you can sign up for one online — all you’ll need is your teen’s Social Security Number and at least $20 for initial funding.

From there, you can reload the card at any time online or over the phone, but it’s important to note that there is a $1 fee for each time you add funds.

You can opt to link the card with direct deposit or authorize others (like grandparents) to add funds as well.

There’s no monthly fee for a TD Go card, and teens aren’t able to overdraft their balance. The card is also eligible for fee-free withdrawals at all TD Bank ATMs.

11. Current Teen Banking

  • Monthly Fee: $3
  • Minimum Age: None

Current Bank offers a digital teen account that gives young people the freedom to spend and learn within parental controls.

Parents can make free, instant transfers to the teen account and get notifications for all purchases.

You can also block select merchants, set spending limits, and send out allowance payments for completed chores.

Teens will get their own Current debit card and can make purchases wherever Visa is accepted.

There are budgeting and money management tools, and teens can build up their savings with round-ups and savings pods.

There’s also an option to get involved by donating to select charities.

The Current Teen Banking account costs $36 per year (per teen), and there are no fees for overdrafts, low balances, transfers, or account inactivity.

12. Alliant Teen Checking

  • Monthly Fee: None
  • Minimum Age: 13

​Alliant Credit Union offers one of the best teen checking accounts around — there’s no monthly fee or minimum balance requirement, and the account comes with an interest rate of 0.25%.

Teen Checking is only available to the children of current Alliant members, and the account is jointly owned by you and your teen.

Members aged 13 to 17 can open a Teen Checking account, which comes with a contactless Visa debit card and fee-free access to more than 80,000 ATMs. Plus, you’ll get $20 per month in reimbursements for out-of-network ATM use.

The only fee associated with the account is a $25 non-sufficient funds (NSF) charge, so it’s important to ensure that your teen has a good handle on their balance.

13. Step

  • Monthly Fee: None
  • Minimum Age: None

Step is a no-fee financial app that provides teen bank accounts through its partner bank, Evolve Bank & Trust.

There’s no minimum balance requirement and no monthly, overdraft, ATM, or late fees with the account.

The Step Visa Card is customizable, and teens can download the app and get a card on their own, but not to worry — parental consent is required to unlock the card and start using it.

The Step Card is compatible with Google Pay and Apple Pay, and you can load funds through payment apps, a linked bank account, or direct deposit. Step even allows for secure spending that helps teens build up their credit.

For parents, Step allows for easy transfers, and you won’t have to worry about your teen overspending — the account doesn’t allow for overdrafts.

Step is available to anyone under 18.

14. Serve

  • Monthly Fee: $6.95 – $7.95
  • Minimum Age: None

Serve provides flexible prepaid debit cards that, while they aren’t specifically for kids, could be a good option for your teen.

There are four different card options, with each one tailored to a specific need.

All four options are free if you buy online, but there’s a $1.50 charge if you purchase one in a retail store. Here’s a quick look at each one:

1. Free Reloads (American Express)

​Free Reloads comes with a monthly fee of $6.95, and you can add funds to the account for free at more than 45,000 locations. There are no transaction fees, plus free withdrawals at MoneyPass ATMs.

2. 1% Cash Back (American Express)

1% Cash Back is a rewards card that comes with a $7.95 monthly fee, plus an additional fee of up to $3.95 when you reload funds. Like Free Reloads, the card comes with free access to MoneyPass ATMs.

3. Free Direct Deposit (American Express)

This card comes with a $6.95 monthly fee, but it’ll be waived with a monthly direct deposit of $500 or more. Cash reloads cost up to $3.95 per transaction, and ATM use is free at MoneyPass locations.

4. Pay As You Go (Visa)

Pay As You Go has no monthly fee, but if you plan to use the card a lot, it might not be worth it — the card comes with a $1 fee per transaction, plus $2.25 per ATM withdrawal. There’s also up to a $3.95 fee for cash reloads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are kids’ accounts safe?

In short, yes, but you should always do your homework on a specific account before opening anything.

Just like adult accounts, you’ll want to make sure that the account you choose for your child is backed by the FDIC. Also, be sure to read any fine print and look into the digital security measures in place.

If you’re a little uneasy about the safety of a kid’s bank account or debit card, go with one of the bigger banks like Chase or TD.

These traditional banking options provide a high level of security and peace of mind when it comes to any account.

What age should kids get a debit card at?

This is a decision for you and your family to make, but ideally, you’ll want teens to be familiar with managing a bank account by the time they finish high school.

Teen accounts and cards are typically low-risk, and early exposure to banking and budgeting helps set young people up for financial success.

Do I need an account with a bank to open one for my child?

It depends on the bank. Some banks and credit unions require a previous banking relationship for access to kids’ accounts, but there are plenty of options that are exclusively offered to kids and teens that don’t.

Check to see if your bank has a debit card available for your kids, as it’ll most likely be the easiest way to transfer your funds and monitor all accounts in one place.

 

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