Chase First Banking
- Best for: Chase checking customers with kids ages 6 to 12 who want a first debit card with guardrails
- What Sets It Apart: Per-store and per-category spending caps; allowance and chore automation; money requests you approve or reject
- Cost: $0 monthly fee; no overdraft fees; $3-$5 non-Chase ATM; 3% foreign transactions; $15 rush card replacement
- Features: Visa debit card; $400 daily purchase and $100 daily ATM limits; savings goals; Account Alerts; fee-free at 14,000+ Chase ATMs
- Pros: Free; tight parental controls; FDIC-insured; Zero Liability Protection
- Cons: Requires a qualifying Chase checking account; no interest; no cash, check, or direct deposits; no peer-to-peer apps; ages out at 18
If you already have a Chase checking account and a kid between 6 and 12, open a Chase First Banking account. It costs nothing, gives your child a debit card you fully control, and turns allowance and chores into automatic money lessons in the Chase app.
Chase First Banking gives kids ages 6 to 17 a debit card of their own, inside an account you own and manage from the Chase Mobile app. Chase designed it for the 6-to-12 crowd, and it shows in the controls.
Key Features
- $0 monthly service fee and no overdraft fees (Chase declines purchases the balance can’t cover)
- Parent-set limits on where your kid can spend, how much, and how much they can pull from ATMs
- Automated recurring allowance transfers, plus chore assignments you pay out on completion
- Savings goals your kid creates and tracks in the Chase Mobile app
- $400 daily purchase limit and $100 daily ATM withdrawal limit
Pros
- Free to use, with fee-free withdrawals at more than 14,000 Chase ATMs
- “Place to spend” buckets cap spending by store or category, down to the dollar
- Money requests from your kid route to you to approve or reject
- Account Alerts notify you when they spend or request money
- Zero Liability Protection reimburses unauthorized card transactions reported promptly
Cons
- Closed to anyone without a qualifying Chase checking account
- Pays no interest, even on money parked in savings goals
- No cash or check deposits, no direct deposit, and no Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App
- $3 to $5 non-Chase ATM fees, a 3% foreign transaction adjustment, and $15 rush card replacement
- Teens age out fast, and Chase recommends switching them to their own account at 18
For Chase families with kids in the 6-to-12 sweet spot, First Banking is an easy yes that costs nothing and teaches real habits with guardrails. Teens who want direct deposit or peer-to-peer apps should step up to Chase High School Checking instead.
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