A teen checking account to guide them on the road to success

Help your teen learn responsible financial habits now, without worrying about overspending in the process.

Father showing daughter her teen checking account on computer
The Run Down
  • Members between 13–17 years old are eligible
  • Joint ownership for parents (joint owner must be an Alliant member)
  • No minimum balance and no monthly service fee78
  • Easily manage money with an award-winning mobile app
  • Access to 80,000+ fee-free ATMs59
  • $20/month in ATM fee rebates78
  • Contactless Visa® debit card – one for you and one for your teen
Rates
0.25 %
APY 61
0.25 %

Supercharge your teen checking account! To earn our great interest rate each month, simply opt in to eStatements and have at least one electronic deposit to your teen checking account.61 Learn more about high-rate checking.

Simple, quick, secure

Bank like a financial pro with the Alliant mobile app. Make payments, deposit checks, manage cards and so much more. 

Learn more


Why parents across the country choose Alliant

CNBC Best No Monthly Fee Checking Account

"Best No Monthly Fee Checking Account"

GoBankingRates Best Credit Union

"Best Credit Union"

BankOn Teen Checking 2021-2022


Helping them on the road to adulting

No unexpected fees

Wave goodbye to monthly service and minimum balance fees, and say hello to 80,000+ fee-free ATMs and $20/month in ATM fee rebates. Please review our simple fee schedule with your teen to help them understand how to avoid other fees, such as stop payment charges.

Smart limits & parental monitoring

Daily debit card limits provide peace of mind and curb splurges. Teen checking daily limits are $500 in cash ATM withdrawals, $500 in debit card PIN-based purchases and $5,000 in debit card signature-based purchases. Plus, adult joint owners have full account access and can set up transaction alerts to monitor their teen's spending.

Transferring money to your teen is a breeze

It's easy to move money from your Alliant account to your teen's, whether it's a one-time transfer or recurring transfers, like their weekly allowance. Standard ACH transfers are free, and only the adult joint owner can set up outgoing transfers.

Contactless Visa® debit card

Simply tap your contactless debit card when paying for clothes, pizza and even gas! It’s fast and easy, and your account is covered with state-of-the-art fraud protection. Learn more ways to use your new debit card
Alliant Contactless Visa® debit card

Mobile-friendly

Your teen's smartphone and the Alliant Mobile Banking App make account management and budgeting simple. They can even leave their debit card at home, because it's compatible with digital wallets like Apple Pay™, Samsung Pay™, Google Pay™, and other payment apps like PayPal, Venmo and Cash App.

Build their first budget

Help your teen review their spending patterns with Alliant's online and mobile banking. By checking their transaction summary monthly, you can help them determine which purchases have the highest reward, making it easier to budget and adjust their spending.

Tips for parents

What's the key to teaching your teen smart money management skills? It's talking to them about money and giving them increased responsibility for managing their own spending in a teen checking account.

Teach your teen how to use a checking account, including how to use mobile deposit for checks, effectively manage their money and avoid paying checking fees.

Talk with your teen about why saving a portion of their paycheck from summer or part-time jobs makes sense for their future. Have them deposit their paycheck using the Alliant Mobile Banking App, then transfer part of that paycheck into their savings account.

These days, teaching kids about money also includes clueing them in on the dangers of fraud. Talk to them about the importance of keeping their account secure, and rest easy knowing their account is covered by Visa’s $0 fraud liability feature37. With this added protection, they’ll never pay for unauthorized fraudulent charges on their debit card.

Wondering how to start the conversation?

Watch this video for three easy steps to start a basic conversation about money with your teen!

Step 1: Download and fill out an application

Is your teen a member of Alliant?

(membership is required)

Yes, my teen is already a member. I only need to open a Teen Checking Account.

Teen Checking (PDF)

No, my teen isn't a member yet, I need to open their membership and Teen Checking Account at the same time.

Membership + Teen Checking (PDF)

Step 2: Submit application

Teen Checking applications are transacted via secure email. Just fill out the form below and we will email you with instructions within one business day. Note: Please use the same name and email address you used when you set up your current Alliant account to ensure you receive the secure email.

Note : * indicates a required field

Here is Alliant's California Privacy Statement (PDF), as required by the California Consumer Privacy Act.

We’ll give you a call if we need additional information from you. If you mailed in your application and haven’t heard from us about the status of your account within 14 business days -– or if you've faxed in your application and haven’t heard from us within 7 business days –- give us a call at 800-328-1935 to request an update.


Need an alternative way to submit your application?

Mail to:

Alliant Credit Union 
Attn: Account Services
PO Box 66945
Chicago, IL 60666-0945

Fax to:

(773) 462-2124

Teen Checking Account Rates

0.25 %
APY 61
0.25 %

Let Me Know When Alliant Rates Get Even Better

Here is Alliant's California Privacy Statement (PDF), as required by the California Consumer Privacy Act.

Teen Checking Account FAQs

Who is eligible for an Alliant Teen Checking Account?

Members who are 13–17 years of age are eligible to open an Alliant Teen Checking Account.

As a joint owner on an Alliant Teen Checking account, will I be able to view it in online banking?

Yes, joint owners can view your teen’s checking and savings accounts once given access. To view Alliant joint account(s) within online banking, the primary account owner must first give access.

For teen checking accounts, your teen should log in to Alliant Online Banking, then click into their Alliant Teen Checking account in the left sidebar of the main My Accounts page. 

1. Select Account Details.
2. Select Manage Joint Owners.
3. Select Manage Online Access.
4. Follow the onscreen prompts to select the account(s) your teen would like you to have access to.
5. Click “Update.”

After your teen completes the above steps, you can view your teen's checking account by logging into your Alliant Online Banking.

How can I transfer funds from my account to my teen’s account?

You can transfer funds to your teen’s account by using our “Transfer Money” feature within Alliant Online Banking. Transfers can be made member-to-member or to external accounts and can be scheduled as one-time of as recurring transfers.

How do I report a lost or stolen debit card ?

If your debit card was lost or stolen, please call us at 800-328-1935 (24/7). For international callers, contact us at 773-462-2000 (24/7). You can also report a lost or stolen debit card by logging in to your secure Alliant online banking account or the Alliant mobile banking app

Does an Alliant Teen Checking Account pay interest?

Yes, but you must meet two simple requirements monthly to qualify. If you don’t fulfill each requirement monthly, you won’t earn high-yield checking interest for that month. Requirements include:

1. Opt out of paper statements and start receiving free eStatements.

2. Have at least one of the following recurring monthly electronic deposits to your Alliant Teen Checking Account: Direct deposit, monthly ATM deposits or transfers from another financial institution into your Alliant account. Transfers between your Alliant accounts do not qualify as an electronic deposit.

What is the difference between a regular checking account and a teen checking account?

An Alliant Teen Checking account must be opened as a joint account with a parent or guardian. It offers many of the same features as our regular checking account, but it offers greater peace of mind for parents or guardians through a variety of controls.

What happens when an Alliant Teen Checking Account holder turns 18?

The Alliant Teen Checking Accounts will automatically convert to a regular Alliant Checking Account once the accountholder turns 18. The existing joint owner(s) will continue to remain as joint owner(s) unless they are specifically removed by the primary owner. We'll send a new debit card, which should be activated as soon as possible. The debit cards for the teen account should be shredded, as they will be deactivated shortly after the teen's birthday. At account conversion, the daily ATM Debit Card spending and withdrawal limits will be increased to the regular checking account limits.

Are my account funds insured to protect me from loss?

Alliant deposit accounts are federally insured up to $250,000 by the NCUA. To learn the details of funds coverage, visit the NCUA page on the Alliant website

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