To get a debit card at 17, you open a checking account with a parent or legal guardian as a co-signer, and the card is issued on that account. Federal law requires the bank to verify the identity of everyone on an account, and because people under 18 generally cannot enter binding contracts on their own, almost every bank requires an adult on the account before it will issue a card to a minor.
Documents to Bring
Federal rules require the bank to collect four things from both you and your co-signer: full legal name, date of birth, a residential address, and a taxpayer identification number.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks
In practice, that means you show up with documents. For a 17-year-old, an unexpired government photo ID works best: a driver’s license, state ID, or passport. If you don’t have a photo ID, a birth certificate plus your Social Security card is usually accepted. Your parent or guardian needs their own government photo ID and their Social Security number. If neither ID shows your current home address, the bank may ask for a utility bill or lease as separate proof.2Wells Fargo. What You’ll Need to Open an Everyday Checking Account
If you or your parent doesn’t have a Social Security number, the federal rule also allows an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number paired with a passport or another government document showing nationality and a photo.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks Call the specific branch first to confirm they accept it.
Why a Parent or Guardian Has to Sign
Contracts signed by minors are generally voidable under state law, which means a person under 18 can back out with limited consequence. A bank account is a contract, so that rule creates risk for the bank. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has noted that whether a bank can open an account for a minor without a responsible adult varies by state, and most institutions require a parent or guardian as a co-owner or custodian to manage that risk.3OCC. Guidance to Encourage Financial Institutions’ Youth Savings Programs and Initiatives The adult on the account is legally responsible for it, including any fees or negative balances you run up.
Pick the Right Kind of Account
Three options will come up. They differ mostly in how much control the parent keeps and how much banking history you build.
A Joint Checking Account
Both names are on the account, both people have full access, and either of you can deposit, withdraw, or spend without asking the other. If the account goes negative, both account holders are liable. Joint accounts are simple to open and easy to keep going after you turn 18, but they give the parent less day-to-day oversight of spending.
A Teen Checking Account
Many banks sell a checking product built for customers roughly 13 to 17. It links to a parent’s existing account, and the parent can set daily spending and ATM limits through the bank’s app. Monthly fees are often waived while you’re under a set age, sometimes as high as 24 or 25. You get your own card and account number; the parent can watch transactions in real time. When you turn 18, the account usually converts on its own to a standard checking account.
A Prepaid Debit Card
If a bank account isn’t practical, a prepaid card works like a reloadable gift card. You can only spend what’s loaded, so overdraft isn’t possible. Some prepaid cards are sold at retail stores with no age check and no bank relationship needed. The trade-offs: prepaid cards don’t build any banking history with a bank, they often carry reload or monthly fees, and they typically don’t come with the same fraud protections as a bank-issued debit card.
Applying and Getting the Card
Some banks let minors finish the application online by uploading ID scans. Others require anyone under 18 to come into a branch. Check the bank’s site before you go.
Once you submit, the bank verifies both of you. That usually includes running the co-signer’s name through ChexSystems, which reports on unpaid negative balances, involuntary closures, and suspected fraud. A clean record on the co-signer typically means approval within a few business days, and the physical card arrives in the mail within about 7 to 10 business days after that.
Activate the card before you try to use it. Most banks let you do this in the mobile app, by calling the number on the sticker, or by setting a PIN at the bank’s ATM. Once it’s active, it works right away in stores, online, and at ATMs.
Decide About Overdraft Coverage Before You Use the Card
The biggest early mistake with a debit card is spending past your balance. Federal rules block banks from charging overdraft fees on everyday debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals unless you specifically opt in to that service in writing.4Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Regulation E 1005.17 – Requirements for Overdraft Services
If you don’t opt in, the bank just declines any purchase that would overdraw the account. No fee, no negative balance. For a first debit card, leaving overdraft coverage off is the cleanest way to avoid surprise charges. The average overdraft fee across U.S. banks was roughly $27 as of 2025, and if the account does incur one, your parent or guardian on the account is legally on the hook to pay it.
If Your Card Is Lost or Stolen
How fast you report a missing card decides how much you can be charged for transactions you didn’t make. The Electronic Fund Transfer Act sets the ceiling.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1693g – Consumer Liability The consumer-side rule spells out the same tiers.6Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Regulation E 1005.6 – Liability of Consumer for Unauthorized Transfers
- Report within 2 business days of noticing the loss: maximum liability is $50, or the amount of unauthorized charges if that’s less.
- Report after 2 business days but within 60 days of the statement showing the charges: maximum liability climbs to $500.
- Report more than 60 days after that statement: you can be responsible for the full amount of unauthorized transfers that happen after the 60-day window.
If something outside your control (hospitalization, extended travel) keeps you from reporting on time, the bank must extend these deadlines to a reasonable period. The practical rule: call the bank the same day you notice the card is missing.
What Happens When You Turn 18
At 18 you can legally hold an account in your own name without a co-signer. A teen checking account often converts to a standard adult checking account on or around your 18th birthday, which can bring new monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. Ask your bank what changes.
If you have a joint account and want the adult off it, you generally need that person’s consent; most banks and state rules don’t let one joint holder remove the other unilaterally.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Can I Remove My Spouse From Our Joint Checking Account Often the cleanest path is to open a new individual account at 18 and move your money over.