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finder.com’s rating: 4.6 / 5.0
★★★★★
The Golden 1 Credit Union Freedom Checking account is an account for students aged 16 or 17. This account provides essential banking services, including ATM access and online banking features. But your child will need to show a B average or higher to qualify.
$0 per month
Fee
$0
Minimum deposit to open
APY | N/A |
---|---|
Fee | $0 per month |
Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
ATMs | over 30,000 in-network ATMs |
ATM transaction fee | $0 |
Out-of-network ATM fee | $2 |
Overdraft fee | $30 |
Review by
Kimberly Ellis is a writer at Finder. She hails from New York City with a BA from Queens College and a New York State teaching certificate. After teaching in both public and private schools, Kimberly decided to take the world by storm and dive into the media industry — where she covers everything from home loans and investing to K–12 education and shopping. She’s also an aspiring polyglot, always in a book and forever on the hunt for the perfect classic red lipstick.
But your child won’t have access to Popmoney (a person-to-person payment service), online bill pay and external transfers until they turn 18 and the account converts to a Free Checking account. If you want an account that entices your child to continue earning good grades, consider debit cards for kids that allow you to set chores, allowance and bonus rewards.
Sign up for a Golden 1 Credit Union Freedom Checking account only by visiting a local branch.
All Californians are eligible for a Golden 1 Credit Union membership. To qualify for a Freedom Checking account, you’ll need to meet these eligibility requirements.
Once your kid turns 18, the account automatically converts to a Golden 1 Free Checking account.
Have the following information ready when you apply to join Golden 1 Credit Union for a minor:
If you don’t have either state-issued ID or a passport, you’ll need to bring two of the following:
Here’s a quick look at the perks of a Golden 1 Credit Union Freedom Checking account:
Consider the following factors before signing up for a Golden 1 Credit Union Freedom Checking account:
Compare other accounts for teens by monthly fee, minimum opening deposit and ATMs.
Deposit or withdraw your money at any Golden 1 Credit Union branch, ATM and CO-OP Shared Branch location.
Get in touch with a customer service rep by:
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
We analyze top debit cards for kids and rate them one to five stars based on factors that are most important to you. We rate kids’ checking accounts by these factors: Monthly fee, features, ATM access, customer support options, and availability. We also consider APY as a factor only for those that earn interest. We rate prepaid debit cards for kids by these factors: monthly fees, features, customer support options and account availability.
Read the full methodology of how we rate Kids’ debit card accounts.