BEST OF

3 Best Teen Checking Accounts of 2024

The best teen checking accounts come from Alliant Credit Union, Capital One and Navy Federal Credit Union.

Chanelle Bessette
By Chanelle Bessette 
Edited by Sara Clarke

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A teen checking account can guide your child toward better saving and spending habits and make them more familiar with banking.

Why trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the financial accounts that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating banks and credit unions.

» Need help making a decision? Here’s how to choose a teen checking account

Keep in mind that children under 18 typically need an adult to be a joint owner on the account. If you’re a joint owner, you’ll be able to access the account and monitor its transactions.

The following are the top checking accounts for teens.

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Best Teen Checking Accounts

NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Capital One MONEY: Teen Checking Account
APY

0.10%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Bonus

N/A

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

Not yet rated

NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Navy Federal Credit Union Free Campus Checking
APY

0.05%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Bonus

N/A

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

Not yet rated

NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Alliant Credit Union Teen Checking
APY

0.25%

Bonus

N/A

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

Not yet rated

» Want more options for high school graduates? See our list of the best checking accounts for college students

Tips for parents

Being a joint owner on a teen account means you’ll have oversight of your child’s spending. It also means sharing responsibility for fees and other consequences, such as overdraft charges, so you’ll want to find a bank or credit union that keeps those to a minimum.

» Not sure if your kid's ready for a bank account? Explore NerdWallet’s best prepaid debit cards

If high yields are more of a priority than having an account marketed specifically toward teenagers, consider adding your child to another good checking account option.

» For standard checking options, see NerdWallet’s best checking accounts. Some may allow a joint account with a family member.

Last updated on March 22, 2024

Methodology

We took a close look at over 90 financial institutions and financial service providers, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on assets and membership; and other notable and/or emerging players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.

Financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Affirm, All America Bank, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Amalgamated Bank, America First Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Andrews Federal Credit Union, Associated Bank, Axos Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Bank7, Barclays, Bask Bank, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, BMO, BMO Alto, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Bread Savings, BrioDirect, Capital One, Carver Federal Savings Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIBC U.S., CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens, Citizens Bank, City First Bank, Climate First Bank, Commerce Bank, Community First Credit Union of Florida, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Delta Community Credit Union, Discover® Bank, E*TRADE, EverBank (formerly TIAA Bank), Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation, First National Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Flagstar Bank, FNBO Direct, Global Credit Union, GO2bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Greenwood, Hope Credit Union, Huntington Bank, Industrial Bank, Ivy Bank, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Laurel Road Bank, LendingClub Bank, Liberty Bank, Live Oak Bank, M&T Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, NASA Federal Credit Union, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC, One, OneUnited Bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Popular Direct, Quontic Bank, Regions Bank, Revolut, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Securityplus Federal Credit Union, Self-Help Credit Union, Service Credit Union, SoFi, State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina, Suncoast Credit Union, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TD Bank, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Upgrade, USAA Bank, Varo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo and Zynlo Bank.

Frequently asked questions