Opening a minor's checking and savings account

You can set up a checking account at JPMorgan Chase—they don't charge monthly maintenance fees—and it comes with a Verizon card that actually works for online shopping.

Most banks just hand you a Maestro card with their checking accounts, which is useless for anything online, so there's really no point in bothering with them.

I was thinking about opening a checking account at Bank of America to get a Visa debit card, so I'm just wondering... does it actually work for online shopping?

I think that’s available online, though I actually have one set up through my Bank of America account specifically for foreign currency, and apparently JPMorgan Chase and a few other big banks offer it too.
It might be easiest if you just open an account at a branch that's pretty close to where you live, so you don't have to go on a huge trek just to deposit some cash.
If you're planning to use it for PayPal, once you get registered, they usually just pull about $2 from your account and then send it right back to your PayPal balance once everything is verified.
To verify it, you basically just log in and enter a specific code found on your bank statement, but since Bank of America doesn't really send physical statements to your house much anymore, I usually just head down to the local branch and ask the lady at the desk to write the number down for me on a little slip of paper. That's how I handle it, anyway.

Thanks so much to everyone for the help. I stopped by JPMorgan Chase this morning and everything is sorted out; my card should arrive in about two weeks.😁

Olivia Thompson9 said:I was thinking about opening a checking account at Bank of America to get a Visa debit card, so I'm just wondering... does it actually work for online shopping?

What our friend here is saying is spot on—you’ll have zero issues using that card online, it works perfectly fine for web purchases. But, I really should point out one little thing that might trip you up later, because if you start buying stuff in foreign currencies—which, let's be honest, most people do when they're browsing the web—and you're tied to a US dollar account, you're basically at the mercy of whatever exchange rate the bank decides to slap on you that day. It can be a bit of a headache! If you go with a multi-currency setup or a travel card instead, you won't have to deal with all that fluctuation; like, if you have 10 Euros sitting there, it stays 10 Euros. So, for anyone who travels abroad or shops globally, a foreign currency card is definitely the smarter move, though you aren't "wrong" per se—that Bank of America card will get the job done just fine for your online orders. 🙂

Hey everyone, I could really use some advice here.

I’m looking to open a bank account where I can withdraw cash without needing my parents' permission every single time. Ideally, I want something where I can't accidentally go into overdraft either. My income would mostly be from mowing lawns for a couple of neighbors—it’s not a fortune, but it adds up—plus my brother, who’s working now, wants to send me a little extra cash privately so my parents don't find out. I just want enough to grab lunch at school or head out for pizza and ice cream with my friends. My folks aren't exactly in a position to be handing out extra cash right now, so my brother offered to help me out behind their backs. I wouldn't be saving this money; I'd just have my brother deposit it and then I'd pull it out when I need it.

So, basically, what kind of account can I set up where I don't need my parents constantly signing off or approving every time I want to take out, say, $5?

Thanks.
And yeah, I know my grammar is a mess, but I just couldn't be bothered to fix it. 🙄

Since you mentioned being a minor, I'm guessing you're maybe around 15 or 16, so it might be a bit tricky to open an account without getting your parents to sign off on everything first.
The first thing a banker at somewhere like JPMorgan Chase will probably ask you for is your state ID or passport, along with your Social Security number verification, which I assume you already have handy.

Maybe your brother could just open a new checking account in his own name and then give you a debit card to use?
That way, you could just head over to an ATM with the card and your PIN to grab some cash whenever you need it.
He could even try setting up a power of attorney for that account, so you might be able to withdraw money right inside the bank branch instead of just using the ATM.
(Though, of course, you'd still need to have your ID on you.)
And if you just need someone to transfer money to you, you can simply give them that account number.
I'm not entirely sure why there's such a big issue with the older folks in this situation, because if your own brother isn't willing to help you out when he can, I guess it's hard to know who would.

Good luck!

Quick question regarding opening a foreign currency account for a minor—do I actually need to present a state ID, or is providing basic documentation like a birth certificate sufficient?

You’ll obviously need a parent or legal guardian to come along for the ride.

Look, I realize I might be reopening an existing thread, but I’ve been scouring through various posts and honestly, I'm more confused now than when I started. I don't quite grasp how this all works. My question concerns credit cards. I want to get a card—something like a Mastercard or Visa—so I can actually shop online on sites like eBay and stuff. I am 15 years old, and I'm looking for something low-risk and straightforward. I know I'm young, but from what I've seen, it should still be possible to open an account, though I really need some guidance... If anyone could offer some advice or suggestions without making things overly complicated, I would appreciate it. THANKS!

If you're only 15, you aren't getting anything in your own name. You might get some teen debit card, sure, but only if your parents sign off on it and take the blame.

Brandon Johnson4 said:Look, I realize I might be reopening an existing thread, but I’ve been scouring through various posts and honestly, I'm more confused now than when I started. I don't quite grasp how this all works. My question concerns credit cards. I want to get a card—something like a Mastercard or Visa—so I can actually shop online on sites like eBay and stuff. I am 15 years old, and I'm looking for something low-risk and straightforward. I know I'm young, but from what I've seen, it should still be possible to open an account, though I really need some guidance... If anyone could offer some advice or suggestions without making things overly complicated, I would appreciate it. THANKS!

If you're looking for something low-risk, go grab a prepaid card from JPMorgan Chase. You just walk into the branch and buy one. The minimum amount is $33, and you can go up to 1100. They work perfectly fine for online shopping. The only catch is you can't top them up; once the money's gone, you just have to go out and buy a new one.

Hi everyone! ^^
I’ve been reading through all your comments, but I’m still feeling a little lost. I’m pretty new to the world of online shopping, and since I'm looking to pick up some clothes on eBay, I was hoping you could help me clear up a few things 😁
1.) I’ll be turning 16 this September. Does that mean I can open a checking account if I have my parents there to help me out?
2.) Which type of card would be the smartest choice for me to get? My goal is to use PayPal to shop on eBay, and I want to make sure I can pay in both USD and Euros without running into any major headaches or extra fees.
3.) There’s only a local bank here in my hometown, but I spend most of my school week in a larger city, so would it be possible to go there to set up my card instead?
Thanks so much in advance for the help! ><

Check out the Online Shopping subforum and look through the threads regarding PayPal and eBay. You might find what you're looking for if you do a little digging 😉
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Hey, I’m turning 17 in a month and I want to open a bank account. I need a debit card that works at ATMs, connects to PayPal, and won't let me go into a negative balance.
I have my ID ready. Is it possible to head down to a local Chase branch with my parents to set up the card, but still have the freedom to deposit money, withdraw cash, and shop online on my own?
Sorry if I’ve asked this a dozen times already, but honestly, most of the info I find online is either super confusing or just plain outdated.