Teen Checking Account
The Checking Account That Grows Up With Them
First debit card. First paycheck. First taste of financial independence. A Commerce Teen Checking account carries your teen from their first purchase to their first adult account, without removing your visibility and control.
For teens ages [13–17] with a parent or legal guardian as joint account holder.
Teen Checking Account
The Checking Account That Grows Up With Them
First debit card. First paycheck. First taste of financial independence. A Commerce Teen Checking account carries your teen from their first purchase to their first adult account, without removing your visibility and control.
For teens ages [13–17] with a parent or legal guardian as joint account holder.
How Teen Checking Works
Teens ages 13–17 can open a checking account at Commerce with a parent or legal guardian as a joint account holder. As Commerce does not permit minors to open consumer checking accounts on their own, the joint account structure helps to protect your teen while giving them genuine ownership of their own money.
- Open the account together. Parent or legal guardian and teen open the joint account at any branch.
- Fund it. Make your opening deposit of $25 and set up automatic transfers for allowance if you'd like.
- Teen gets their card and app access. The debit card arrives in [7–10] business days; mobile banking access is immediate.
- Parents stay connected. Monitor account activity, get alerts and transfer money anytime from your own login.
What You'll Need for Account Opening
Opening a joint checking account starts by visiting a branch together. Here’s what you need to bring:
- A government-issued ID like a driver's license for you and an ID or birth certificate for your teen
- Social Security numbers for both the parent or legal guardian and the teen
- Proof of address
- An opening deposit of $25
Commerce requires individuals to be 18 or older to open an account on their own, which is why a parent or legal guardian must open the account jointly with any teen under 18.
One Account, Two Experiences
A teen checking account works best when it gives a teen the independence to manage their own money with a parent’s guidance along the way. With Teen Checking, you will have visibility into their account, but your teen will get their own experience.
| Teens Receive | Parent Account Controls |
|---|---|
| Their own Visa® debit card | Ability to see every transaction |
| Real-time available balance | Instant transfer capabilities |
| Spending history and purchase tracking | Ability to lock the debit card |
| Savings goals and progress | Financial education resources |
Bottom line is your teen gets a banking experience that feels like theirs, and parents get to support their learning over time.
Key Features Parents and Teens Both Love
ATM Access Wherever They Are
Withdraw cash and make cash deposits at any available Commerce ATMs and other verified networks.
Direct Deposit for That First Job
When the first part-time job arrives, your teen can use direct deposit to send the paycheck straight into their own checking account. Their pay is available fast, and they won’t have to wait for the funds from the paper check to become available to them.
A Debit Card That's Actually Theirs
Teens get their own debit card with purchase protection and security features built in. If they lose their debit card, you can lock the card instantly from the mobile app and order a replacement card. You can also add it to a digital wallet like Apple Pay® or Google Pay™ for tap-to-pay convenience.
No Overdraft Fees
We keep it simple: transactions that would push the account to a negative balance are declined. Your teen can't spend money they don't have, so you'll never see an overdraft fee.
No Monthly Service Fee
No monthly maintenance fee, no minimum balance requirement. Every dollar your teen earns stays theirs. Other fees may apply for optional services.
Mobile and Online Banking
Through the Commerce Bank Mobile Appfootnote 1, teens can check account balances, track spending, set savings goals and use mobile check deposit for items such as birthday checks and first paychecks.
Message and data rates may apply from your mobile carrier.
Build Financial Confidence Before They Leave Home
The best time to make money mistakes is when the stakes are a $12 lunch, not a rent payment. A teen checking account creates a safe environment for money management with real decisions, real trade-offs and consequences that stay small. Pair the checking account with a Commerce savings account and automatic transfers to build a save-first habit early and explore Commerce's financial education resources together to keep the conversation going through their whole financial journey.
The Right Account at Every Age
As your child builds financial confidence, you should be at a bank that is built for every experience. From elementary school to the world beyond, Commerce will grow with your family each year. Plenty of families have different accounts at once — Greenlight for a younger sibling, teen checking for the one with a job.
Here's the path your family can follow:
- Ages [Under 13]: Greenlight® debit card (freefootnote * with qualifying accounts) — Chore and allowance automation, category-level spending controls and financial literacy games. An early introduction before a real bank account.
- Ages [13–17]: Teen Checking — A joint checking account for teens and parents: their own debit card, direct deposit, mobile check deposit and the mobile banking tools they'll use for life.
- 18+: Commerce FREE Checking — A seamless step into adult banking, with the account history and habits already in place.
FAQS for Commerce Teen Checking
What should you look for in a teen checking account?
Can a 10-year-old have a checking account?
Can a 14-year-old have their own checking account?
What happens to my minor’s bank account when they turn 18?
Will this account cost anything when my teen turns 18?
What happens if my teen loses their debit card?
Ready to Open a Teen Checking Account?
Find a branch
Ready to Open a Teen Checking Account?
Start your teen's financial journey with an account that teaches money management now — and grows up right alongside them.
Ready to Open a Teen Checking Account?
Start your teen's financial journey with an account that teaches money management now — and grows up right alongside them.
Disclosures:
1. Message and data usage fees apply; check with your wireless or VoIP provider for more information.
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