How to Use Checking Accounts for Minors to Teach Your Kids About Finance

Helping to develop a sense of financial responsibility in a child requires a lot of time and dedication, especially since many kids believe money grows on trees. One great way to get your child excited about developing important money management skills is by opening a kids checking account.

Numerous banks and financial institutions are offering great checking options for today’s youth, which makes opening one easier than you might think. Let’s explore just what it takes to get your child started with a checking account.

What Are Kids Checking Accounts?

Over the years, banks have recognized the value in teaching children financial responsibility. As a result, some have created a type of checking account specifically designed to allow kids to deposit and withdraw money, as well as write checks.

These checking accounts for kids provide you with a way to show your child that money should be managed, not just spent, while making these concepts less abstract by letting him or her put them into practice.

Just keep in mind that, because a child under the age of 18 is unable to legally enter into a contract, you as the parent would sign up your child up for the account.

Benefits of Opening Kids Checking Accounts

Opening a checking account for your kids could offer a number of great benefits. Here are just a few:

• Practical education: You have an opportunity to show your kids how to write checks and use basic banking services while exploring the value of money management.
• Early introduction to fees and penalties: When taking part in this financial system, there are rules to follow and repercussions for breaking them. If your children want to sidestep the rules set up by the bank, they will get an early introduction to fees and penalties–lessons will carry over into adulthood.
• Understand that saving is better than spending: Opening a checking account will show your child that putting money away for safe keeping is better than leaving it lying around, waiting to be spent.

It’s also good to note that opening a checking account early allows your kids to get a jump on their peers so that by the time they’re ready to go off on their own, they will be less likely to feel intimidated by the banking system.

Banks and Credit Unions with Checking Accounts for Minors

There are a number of checking options out there for kids to take advantage of (with your permission, of course):

• Young Americans Bank: This bank is located in Denver, Colo. and is a part of the Young Americans Center for Financial Education, which is dedicated to providing financial education to individuals under the age of 21. The bank offers checking and savings accounts, loans, CDs and even credit cards for kids to use.
• Key Bank: Key Bank is based in Cleveland, Ohio but has locations in a number of cities around the country, including New York City and Indianapolis. It provides a Student Checking Account to high school juniors or seniors who are age 16 and over and comes with no ATM fees, check fees or monthly balance requirement.
• First American Credit Union: This credit union offers membership to individuals who are at least 15 years old and living in certain areas of Wisconsin and Illinois. Young members can open a Teen Checking account that comes with no minimum balance requirement, no monthly fees and unlimited check writing. A great perk is that teens must take “Checking 101,” an online bank class, before being allowed to open an account.

Other banks around the country offer checking accounts for minors. A few include Wells Fargo, USAA and OnPoint Community Credit Union.

Also, in addition to opening a checking account, you could consider opening youth CDs, educating through books and taking advantage of other innovative ideas to teach money management.

Financial responsibility is incredibly important, especially since today’s young people are living in the middle of difficult economic times. By getting your kids started early, you are giving them the opportunity to develop the money management skills they’ll need well before they enter adulthood.