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Capital One MONEY review
A teen checking account with tools to promote financial responsibility.
This joint checking account is for teens starting to earn money on their own. With no fees, no minimums and a 0.25% APY on all balances, teens have the tools they need to start managing their money with the support of an adult. However, it doesn’t offer checks or bill pay.
$0
Monthly fee
0.25%
APY
$0
Minimum deposit to open
Details
| APY | 0.25% |
|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
| ATMs | 39,000+ Capital One and Allpoint ATMs nationwide |
| ATM transaction fee | $0 |
| ATM fee rebates | 15 |
What are the benefits of a checking account with Capital One?
This account offers FDIC-insured deposits, convenient customer service, a Mastercard debit card and the following benefits:
- No fees or minimum balances. There’s no charge to open or service the account, and you’ll earn interest on any balance.
- No overdraft charges. Transactions that overdraw the account will be declined.
- Convenient deposit methods. Transfer money from an existing Capital One account and deposit checks or cash in compatible Capital One ATMs. Your teen can also upload paychecks and other checks to the app.
- Solid interest rate. The bank rewards growing balances with a 0.25% APY. This applies to all balances.
- Top-rated app. Teens can check their balance, deposit checks, set up direct deposit, update account information and enable real-time text and email alerts via the app.
- Savings tools. Together, you can track spending habits, set savings goals and schedule transfers from your Capital One account to your teen’s Money account.
- Parental controls. As the primary account holder, you can access the joint account any time, and you’re the only one who can transfer money and set up the Automatic Savings Plan.
Capital One’s ATM network and fees
You can dip your Mastercard debit card into 39,000 Capital One and AllPoint ATMs nationwide for free. If you use an ATM overseas or outside of the network, you may be charged a fee, but the bank will reimburse you within five days for up to $15 per statement period.
AllPoint ATMs are tucked inside select Target, Walgreens, CVS and convenience stores across the country.
What should I look out for?
While the teen checking account has several positive points, it does have its drawbacks. These include:
- No BillPay or checks. The account doesn’t support bill pay service or come with check-writing privileges, which can make withdrawals inconvenient.
- No 24/7 support. Access live chat during business hours or call from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Outside of those hours, customer service support is limited.
- No sign-up bonus. Capital One regularly runs promos for its checking, savings and money market accounts, but there are currently no rewards for opening a Money account.
How much do I need to open an account?
Nothing. To make the Money account accessible for all teens, Capital One doesn’t require a minimum or maximum opening deposit.
Compare with other student checking accounts
How do I apply?
Open a Money account online or in person at a Capital One branch.
The online form takes approximately five minutes to fill out. These are the steps:
- Head to the Capital One website.
- Hover over the Checking & Savings tab and select Money Teen Checking.
- On the landing page, press Open Account.
- Log in if you have an existing Capital One account, credit card or loan. If you don’t, press No.
- Select the adult as the primary account holder. Enter the Personal, Contact, Citizenship and Employment details for both the adult and teen account holder.
- Review and agree to the Terms & Conditions.
- Click Now, Let’s Add Money.
- Follow the prompts to provide identifying documents and fund your initial deposit. Capital One will confirm those details and send you an account number.
Eligibility
The Money account has two joint owners.
The adult account holder must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a US citizen or resident
- Have an active Capital One deposit account
The teen account holder must be:
- Between 13 and 17 years old
- A US citizen or resident
Required information
To apply for an account, you’ll need the following information and documents:
- Physical address
- Contact details
- Employment information
- Social Security number
- Citizenship status
- Government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or state ID
As the primary account holder, it’s the adult’s responsibility to provide the bulk of these documents. The teen can fill out these fields the best they can.
What other checking options does Capital One offer?
For adults, the bank has the Capital One 360 Checking. The online-only account earns 0.2% on balances up to $49,999.99 and 0.75% on balances of $50,000 to $99,999.99. Get a generous 1% on those over $100,000.
It’s free to open and maintain the account, and you’ll pay nothing to withdraw your money from 39,000 Capital One and AllPoint ATMS across the US.
Does this bank offer business services?
Yes. Capital One has two customized business checking accounts:
- Spark Business Basic Checking. This account helps businesses to manage their cash flow with unlimited transactions and free overdraft protection. The bank will waive the $15 monthly service fee if your previous 30- or 90-day balance averages $2,000 or more.
- Spark Business Unlimited Checking. Along with unlimited transactions, this account offers fee-free cash deposits and five free domestic wires each month. The monthly service fee is $35, but Capital One will waive it if your prior 30- or 90-day balance averages $25,000 or more.
Bottom line
Incentivize teens to save with the 0.24% interest rate on all balances. With parental monitoring and online money management tools, the Capital One MONEY account appeals to both teens and parents.
However, you may be able to find higher yields elsewhere. Before you decide, learn about your student checking account options.