How Old do You Have to Be to Get a Debit Card? – DollarBreak

We get a lot of questions about whether or not people under the age of 18 can get a debit card, so we decided to answer them all. If you’re 18 or older and want to open a checking account, if you meet the federal government’s minimum requirements, you can apply for a debit card. However, there are some exceptions. Depending on your age and state of residence, you might not be able to open a checking account.

When somebody asks you, “How old do you have to be to get a debit card?” The answer to this question is important, because they are usually looking for a more secure alternative. If you are so young that a debit card isn’t necessary, then you should think about whether or not you need a bank account. If you do, there are a few things that you should look at. For example, find out how high your overdraft limit is, or find out if you can have multiple financial accounts. You might also want to know about minimum balance requirements, or special features that are available on some debit cards.

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How old do you have to be to get a debit card at most banks?

In many countries – including the United States – only adults 18 and older can get a debit card. Minors do not have independent access to a debit card, but they can be legally added to an adult’s account.

Services like Green Light Card offer prepaid debit cards for children of all ages. There is no minimum age for these true prepaid solutions.

The answer to the question of how old you have to be to get a debit card depends on your age. You can get a debit card at any age, but it can be challenging to find the right account for your family.

Options like Chase’s High School Checking and American Express’ Serve offer financial products designed specifically for teens and minors. Most local banks and credit unions also offer family options.

However, not all of them offer parental controls to protect your child and your money when using the account. Most of these accounts have some interesting features, but there are also limitations to consider.

Look out for monthly fees, deposit limits, minimum balances and hidden fees for loading your child’s card.

Why should a minor have access to a debit card?

There are many advantages to owning a debit card. It’s not just a wallet that you can access with a snap of your card. In fact, there are numerous reasons why minors in particular should learn how to manage their money digitally.

Here are a few of them:

• Cards make shopping so much more convenient
• Family accounts make it easier for parents to give money to their children.
• Digital banking prevents children from overspending
• Cards guarantee the safety of money
• The right card can be a great tool for teaching children how to manage money.

As we move toward a cashless society, the temptation and ease with which children can recklessly spend money with a debit card is a concern for all parents. A prepaid bill removes this fear. Famzoo offered the perfect option.

You can bundle the prepaid cards, let your kids manage the money and stay in control yourself. Set a budget for your kids, upload a chart and schedule a weekly meeting with them to analyze their spending.

This way, you can teach your children to keep their spending within a budget and instill good financial habits before they have the chance to ruin their lives with debt.

1. Cards make shopping easier

When you give your child a debit card, you create a secure channel to access money safely and affordably when away from home.

Lunch money, money for school activities and programs, and other necessities can be easily transferred to the cards, so you as a parent don’t have to carry cash around. With the card you can give your children some independence.

2. Family accounts make it easier for parents to give money to their children

This is very useful for children who are away studying or who often travel with sports teams. Being able to send money to your child in real time, wherever they are, is incredibly useful.

For many parents, the card offers a peace of mind that cash just can’t match.

3. Digital banking keeps children from overspending

Debit cards and digital money management are now the norm when it comes to managing finances as an adult. Giving your child the same tools is essential to instilling good spending habits.

Apps like these offer simple and practical ways to teach your kids about money, saving for the future, and investing wisely.

Related: 100+ legitimate ways to make money online

4. CardsSafe your money

There’s nothing worse than losing your wallet and all the money in it. Although the loss of your debit card is inconvenient, many banks offer crisis options that allow you to cancel the missing card and order a new one.

Unlike cash, which can be easily lost or stolen, cards cannot be used by unauthorized persons to withdraw money. This adds an extra layer of safety for your child and reduces the chances of them facing money theft and bullying.

Why is using money cards an important skill for children?

It’s no surprise, then, that younger generations are moving to new technologies faster than any other demographic. They grew up with access to the internet and all it has to offer.

Digital banking is not a luxury for this generation. Financial technology is a basic management tool that will help children throughout their lives, along with the responsible money management you will teach them.

1. Cheques are cancelled

When was the last time you wrote or received a check? That was probably a long time ago. There are now many apps and tools that offer faster and more efficient ways to transfer money.

With apps like Venmo, PayPal and Acorns, and feature-rich apps offered by banks, it’s easy and cheap – even free – to send money to friends and family, pay and lend small amounts to colleagues, split checks and even invest your change.

Wise Summary

• Cheaper transfers than banks
• Quality of customer service
• Spending limit of $1 million
• Covers almost all countries

2. Managing money through applications – new standard

Almost all established banks offer some form of online banking, often in the form of websites, apps or both. This is one of the most convenient ways to manage your assets.

The most popular banking apps allow users to set notifications for low account balances or automatic bill payments.

Familiarizing your children with real-time money management will help them make better decisions as they develop their own financial skills when they enter the workforce.

Many FinTech apps take a fun and simple approach to saving and investing, encouraging young users to start saving early.

Banks like PNC offer features that allow users to automatically transfer a certain percentage of their deposits to a savings account, and even allow users to lock in portions of their money by earmarking funds for a specific purpose.

This visualization of savings and easy access to interest rate calculators can help teach kids financial literacy in a way that makes smart money fun.

3. Children learn to function in a cashless society

Americans are about to make a major shift in the way they manage their money. The trend towards a cashless and more virtual economy will become even stronger in the coming years.

By the time your child starts working, the main way they handle money will likely be through an app or digital platform.

Involving children in digital governance can help them become more independent without compromising security or transparency.

How to issue a debit card to a minor

There are two main options for giving your child a card. You can create a pre-paid co-pay card for your child or use Family Virtual Banking.

You can get an extra card from the bank and give your child unofficial permission to use it by giving him your PIN.

However, many merchants verify the identity of young card users and may refuse payment if the name on the card does not match the name on the user’s ID.

Another important point is that the terms and conditions of most banks prohibit the use of the debit card by anyone other than the account holder. Your account can be hacked and you risk heavy fines if you break the rules.

Opening an account specifically for minors is the safest and most effective way to give your child a debit card.

Use of family banking

You can also sign up for a virtual family bank to create your own prepaid cards for your kids. Family Virtual Banking provides tools that allow the account holder to create and manage multiple sub-accounts – one for each family member.

In practice, this means that you can create different accounts for each of your children, which you can manage from one place.

According to Balance, FamZoo was voted best banking product for families and debit card service for teens. FamZoo offers cards for children ages thirteen and up, with options like to-do lists, permissions, and advanced parental controls.

FamZoo is an affordable option with lots of features for just $5.99 a month for a family account and four free maps.

Precautions

When it comes to financial products, give your children the opportunity to make good and not so good decisions. There are a few things to consider before giving your child their own bank card.

1. Risk of fraud

Children may be exposed to suspicious individuals, both online and offline, who may attempt to fraudulently obtain the money on the card. Be sure to teach your children to use the cards responsibly.

2. Reimbursement of late payments

In the event of a fraudulent transaction, you will not be repaid as quickly as with a credit card. There are various measures to protect against fraud for direct debits. Make sure you read the terms and conditions of your account.

3. Overdischarge

As with any bank account, overdraft fees on prepaid accounts can be high. Limiting spending with these cards promotes financial responsibility, but you should be careful not to overspend.

Consider establishing parental controls or opening an account that does not allow overdrafts, but only transactions that can be covered by the account balance.

How old do you have to be to get a debit card?

Debit cards are becoming the new standard for modern money management. More than 47 billion debit card transactions were recorded in 2012 alone. They are an integral part of our modern world and provide financial literacy.

A debit card for your child can make life easier for your family and prepare your children to make better decisions as they grow up to be independent consumers.{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Can you have a debit card at 13?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:” No. You can’t have a debit card until you are 14 years old.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Can a 12 year old get a card?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:” Yes. Do you have to be 18 to get a card? No.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Can my 11 year old have a debit card?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:” Yes, you can apply for a debit card for your 11 year old.”}}]}

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you have a debit card at 13?

No. You can’t have a debit card until you are 14 years old.

Can a 12 year old get a card?

Yes. Do you have to be 18 to get a card? No.

Can my 11 year old have a debit card?

Yes, you can apply for a debit card for your 11 year old.