Best Student Checking Accounts Of 2025

The Connexus Credit Union Teen Checking account tops our list of the best student bank accounts for its lack of monthly fees and minimum deposit requirements, in addition to the competitive interest it pays. Balances up to $1,000 will earn an impressive 2.00% annual percentage yield (APY), while balances that exceed that amount will earn a still respectable 0.25% APY.

This account also grants access to more than 70,000 fee-free ATMs in the MoneyPass and Co-op networks.

Because this is a credit union, it requires membership to open a checking account. However, it’s easy for anyone to become a member with a one-time $5 donation to the Connexus Association.

Children between the ages of 10 and 17 are eligible to access this account. They must be the primary owner of the Teen Checking account, but a parent or legal guardian must complete the application and register as a joint owner.

If you overdraft this account by more than $10, you’ll have to pay a fee of $18 for a paid overdraft or $4 for a returned transaction.

When the child turns 18, the account will automatically convert to a Connexus Simply Free Checking account.

Offering access to 80,000+ fee-free ATMs with no monthly fee or minimum balance requirement, Alliant Credit Union’s Teen Checking account is a worthwhile banking option. The account pays a solid 0.25% APY on balances if you opt in to eStatements and receive at least one electronic deposit into the account each month.

Employed teens who use direct deposit also can take advantage of the Early Payday perk that lets them receive their paychecks up to two days early.

To open a Teen Checking account for your child, you must also join Alliant. Membership is open to anyone who becomes an Alliant Credit Union Foundation digital inclusion advocate. Alliant will even make a one-time $5 donation on your behalf.

Adults have access to the account to monitor their child’s activity. To avoid excess spending, there are certain daily limits in place:

• ATM withdrawals—$500
• Debit card PIN-based purchases—$500
• Debit card signature-based purchases—$5,000

When the teen turns 18, this account will automatically convert to a regular Alliant Checking account. At that point, they have the option to remove their parent or guardian as a joint owner.

The Virtual Wallet Student account from PNC Bank stands out because it combines checking and savings accounts. Designed for high school and college students, the account charges no monthly fee for up to six years for active students.

Like all of PNC’s Virtual Wallet products, this account is really three accounts in one:

• Spend: checking account
• Reserve: short-term savings (earns 0.02% APY)
• Growth: longer-term savings (earns 0.02%-0.03% APY)

With this account, you’ll also have access to 60,000 fee-free ATMs and 2,200+ PNC branches.

For students age 14 and older, the Virtual Wallet Student account can be opened online. If the child is younger than 14, you’ll have to meet with a banker at a PNC branch.

Unlike the other accounts on our list, this bank account is available to students over the age of 18. So, if you’re an 18+ high school or college student, you can open the account without a co-applicant.

Account holders are allowed up to six transfers out of their Growth account per month. If you exceed that amount, you’ll have to pay $3 per excess transaction. If you overdraft your account by more than $5, you’ll owe $36 each time PNC covers the payment.

PenAir’s LevelUp Spending account is available to children of any age, with debit card use reserved for kids age 8 and older. Though this account doesn’t earn interest on checking balances, the required savings account does earn 0.30% APY.

Membership at PenAir is open to anyone who joins the Friends of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. The credit union will cover the $1 needed to join.

To be a PenAir member, you’ll need to have a LevelUp Savings account and maintain $25 in that account. That account pays a below-average rate of 0.30% APY.

USAlliance Financial’s MyLife Checking for Teens allows teenagers to have some ownership of their money, while parents or guardians retain the ability to monitor their activity. The account has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.

To become an USAlliance member, you can join one of several associations including the New-York Historical Society and the Rye Arts Center.

Teens can make withdrawals up to $200 per day using their debit card. If you want your child to have the ability to withdraw cash but be restricted from making purchases with a debit card, you can opt for an ATM card, instead.

USAlliance charges $15 for non-sufficient funds.

Wells Fargo’s Clear Access Banking account isn’t a dedicated student account, but the starter account has certain features that make it teenager friendly. The account waives monthly fees for individuals aged 13 to 24 and also rejects transactions that would overdraft the account.

This account must be opened in a Wells Fargo branch if the child is 13 to 16. If you’re 17 years old, you don’t need an adult co-owner and can open the account online.

FourLeaf Federal Credit Union—formerly Bethpage Federal Credit Union—offers a student checking account for children and young adults ages 13 to 20. With no monthly fees or overdraft fees, and access to 30,000 free ATMs, it’s a solid option for students.

Anyone can become a member of FourLeaf Federal Credit Union by opening a savings account and funding it with $5.

No monthly fees, early direct deposit, ATM fee reimbursements and access to a large ATM network and shared branching make Student Choice Checking a viable option.

Consumers Credit Union doesn’t pay interest on this account, but you also won’t lose cash on maintenance or overdraft fees.

To qualify for ATM rebates, you must meet the following requirements:

• Enroll in eDocuments
• Make at least 12 debit card payments per month
• Receive $500 or more in direct deposits, mobile check deposits or ACH credits

To become a member of CCU, join the Consumers Cooperative Association by paying a $5 fee, which the credit union will reimburse.

If you’re 18 years or older, Varo Bank’s no-fee account could be a worthy banking option. Because Varo doesn’t support joint accounts, minors cannot share an account with a parent at the bank.

Varo’s singular checking account offers perks like early direct deposit, cash-back rewards, free cash deposits

As an online-only bank, Varo has no branches. Instead, it offers a checking account with virtually no fees for its services other than out-of-network ATM transactions, certain cash deposits and over-the-counter cash withdrawals.

Varo’s impressive banking app also allows users to easily track your cash flow.

The Chase High School Checking account is designed for 13- to 17-year-olds to open with their parent or legal guardian as a co-owner. The adult must have their own Chase account and link that account to High School Checking.

Once a minor with this account turns 18, it will be converted to a Chase Total Checking account. To change the account to a Chase College Checking account, you’ll have to meet with a Chase banker.