## Thẻ Ghi Nợ Tốt Nhất Dành Cho Trẻ Em và Thanh Thiếu Niên: Greenlight, BusyKid và Nhiều Hơn Thế Nữa
Con gái tôi, thuộc thế hệ Z, đã có công việc làm thêm sau giờ học cách đây một năm, vì vậy cháu muốn có một cách dễ dàng để tiếp cận tiền của mình và tiết kiệm cho những mục tiêu cụ thể, như chuyến đi nước ngoài sắp tới. Tôi muốn tìm một giải pháp có thể phát triển cùng cháu vượt qua cả cấp ba và đại học, vì vậy chúng tôi đã chọn một thẻ ghi nợ dành cho thanh thiếu niên có thể hữu ích cho cháu sau khi tốt nghiệp. Chúng tôi cần một thẻ có chức năng gửi tiền lương tự động, chuyển tiền dễ dàng và – quan trọng nhất với tôi – không mất phí.
My Gen Z teen got her first after-school job a year ago, so she wanted an easy way to access her money and save for specific goals, like an upcoming trip abroad.
I wanted something that could grow with her beyond high school and through college, so we chose a teen debit card that could be useful to her beyond graduation. We wanted automatic deposit for her paychecks, easy transfers and — most important to me — no fees.
If she was younger, I might have been more interested in educational features or options for encouraging her to do her chores, but she’s a bit beyond that.
However, I still wanted some safeguards, including setting limits on spending and getting alerts when she makes purchases.
That feature came in handy recently when she went to a coffee shop with her friends. I wasn’t alarmed when I got an alert that she made a purchase at a nearby restaurant, but then I got a second alert for a purchase of the same amount at the same restaurant. I texted her immediately to ask if there was a mistake. It turns out, she ordered French fries for the group, but the serving size was too small, so she bought a second round.
If you’re considering a debit card for your child or teen, there are several options that can help your child save their cash and build good money habits. We’ll help you sort through the features to pick the card that’s right for your kid.
The best debit cards for kids and teens, compared
Card
Monthly fees
Age
Greenlight Debit Card
$6 to $15, for up to five children
Any
BusyKid Debit Card
$4 for up to five children
Any
GoHenry Debit Card
$5 for one child; $10 for up to four children
6 to 18
Step Debit Card
None
Any
Axos First Checking
None
13 to 17
Capital One Money Teen Checking
None
8
Chase First and High School Checking
None
6 to 17
As of April 23, 2025.
Why you might want a debit card for your children
It’s easy to discount this, but children can start earning money at an early age. Whether from birthday gifts, rewards for stellar report cards or generous grandparents, your child may enjoy a steady source of income well before they hit double digits.
Teaching your child how to manage money early on can set them on the right path for their financial future. Experts recommend exposing your children to financial literacy topics from an early age. “Even as a toddler, they can still start becoming comfortable and confident with money,” Amy LeBaron-Blacketting, an assistant professor of family life at Brigham Young University, said in an interview with ZDNet.
While a piggy bank is a great visual aid for exposing young children to savings and cash management concepts, opening an account with debit card access for your child can be more convenient, easier to manage and educational, as it allows them to participate in complex financial transactions such as transferring cash to savings accounts, opening a certificate of deposit and investing.
But not all banks and credit unions offer accounts with debit card access for minors under the age of 13.
A debit card designed for kids — one with helpful educational tools and an intuitive interface — can help teach them how to set savings goals, “earn” money from parents for completing chores or receive direct deposits from a real job once they begin receiving paychecks. And debit cards are generally a safer option than carrying cash.
If you’re worried about overspending or poor money management, most debit cards designed for kids are connected to apps that have parental controls and protections so you can keep a close eye on your children’s financial activities.
Are debit cards for kids safe?
New technology always presents risks, especially when kids are involved. And it’s not just concerns about screen time — about 5% of children have suffered identity theft, according to the 2024 Child & Family Cybersecurity Study from Javelin Research.
Though that was not the fault of the financial industry, the banks do play a role in the problem. Data mining has become a valuable resource for businesses, and financial corporations have shown that they’re willing to sell customer data. So the burden ultimately falls on customers to monitor and protect their own — and their children’s — data.
Weighing the benefits and risks of a debit card for your child involves a balancing act. The main thing to consider is how much you’re comfortable sharing online. While every issuer is different, you’ll need to provide identifying information about yourself and your child to sign up, including birth dates, Social Security numbers, address and a phone number.
The company may also ask you to share your GPS location history, purchase history and behavioral profile — information that may allow the app to share targeted ads for products and services. That said, debit cards for kids are typically no riskier than their adult counterparts for a few reasons:
Child-specific laws: The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA, takes privacy a step further for children under 13 who use banking products by requiring issuers to clearly outline what information they’re collecting and get parental consent beforehand. Pay close attention to whether the issuer intends to sell your child’s data to third parties.
Purchase protection: If your child’s card is lost or stolen, some issuers offer refunds for fraudulent purchases — for an additional fee. Greenlight’s pricier Max and Infinity plans provide purchase protection.
Locking capability: Most debit cards for kids come with a parental locking feature that allows you to protect the cash in the account through your app if the card is lost.
Deposit insurance: Prepaid debit cards issued by banks insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation protect up to $250,000 per person, per institution, meaning you won’t lose the money in your account if the bank fails.
Although the same security measures protect kid and adult debit cards, it bears repeating that any information you share about your child online increases their risk profile. Online data breaches have exposed massive numbers of accounts, which often contain sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, addresses, phone numbers and credit card numbers.
After signing your child up for a debit card, look for bills or credit card applications addressed to them, and ask questions if a debt collector calls with their name on file. The Federal Trade Commission outlines steps to take if you suspect identity theft, and Experian offers a free ID scan service to see whether your child’s SSN is active on any credit accounts.
Setting expectations with your child
Before you hand over a card to a young and eager spender, a detailed conversation about debit card use is crucial. When the debit card arrives, sit down with your child and discuss the critical points.
Safety: Most debit cards provide a locking feature if the card is lost or stolen, but you can’t take the necessary steps without communication from your kid. Remind them to keep their card in a safe place, not to share their password or PIN with anyone and not to make purchases on an unsecured Wi-Fi network. And only use ATMs at banks to mitigate the risk of debit card skimming — a hack to steal card numbers. If they think their card is compromised, they should tell you right away.
Spending rules: If you’re concerned about where your child may spend their cash, consider signing up for a debit card such as Greenlight or Chase First Banking that allows you to block certain retailers. If you’ve already signed up for a card that doesn’t have this feature, talk to your child about appropriate spending habits and let them know that you’ll be monitoring their purchases.
Factors to consider before selecting a debit card for your child
Before you choose a debit card for your kid, consider the following factors:
Parental controls
All the apps listed above offer a variety of parental controls, including the ability to automatically pay an allowance, lock the debit card or check your kid’s available balance. Some features let you select which types of purchases your kids can make, set spending limits and set rewards for completing certain tasks.
Different apps provide varying degrees of control, but most will let you keep tabs on your child’s spending and saving, and help them manage their money as needed.
Educational resources
Most of the cards here include access to educational resources for you and your child. Your kids can learn important skills like budgeting, saving, spending and even investing. Some cards offer resources based on age and financial literacy categories — such as spending, saving, credit and more.
Age
Some debit cards designed for kids have minimum age limits, but most allow you to sign up a child until they’re 17 years old; they can open an account on their own at 18. You’ll have to confirm the minimum or maximum age and decide if it’s the right time for your child to get a debit card.
Eligibility
Many debit cards designed for children require personal information and a shared bank account. Parents must also provide information and download the app to manage their kid’s account and transfer money.
Typically, this information includes simple identification such as email, phone number, address and date of birth. It may also include the parent’s and child’s Social Security numbers.
Spending expectations
Some debit cards for children feature spending and withdrawal limits that parents can set. You’ll want to be sure your child’s spending won’t exceed the debit card’s limits.
Bank familiarity
Don’t forget to check whether your preferred bank offers a children’s debit card. It’s usually easier to get new products or good terms if you already have an established relationship with the financial institution.
How to sign your child up for a debit card
Once you’ve settled on a debit card for your child, you can apply securely on the card issuer’s website by providing all of the required information, including name, date of birth, address, email, phone number and potentially your SSN.
Once your child has a card, help them build responsible financial habits. Talk about how much they can expect to receive regularly and create ground rules to help them allocate their funds responsibly.
FAQs
Which debit cards for kids are free?
There are a number of debit cards for kids that don’t charge membership fees, including Step and Axos First Checking. Paid services may offer more features, though.
How can I tell whether my child’s personal data is compromised?
Minors are prime targets for identity theft, mainly because parents often don’t detect a problem until their child begins working and filing tax returns. Although most debit cards for kids collect only the custodial account holder’s SSN, it’s still prudent to look for signs of child identity theft, including debt collection calls, bills or credit card applications that appear in your child’s name. The FTC outlines steps to take if you suspect identity theft, and Experian offers a free ID scan service to see whether your child’s SSN is active on any credit accounts.
