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Pen Air Level Up Spending account review

A checking account whose credit union membership is not location-based. But it has a steep inactivity fee.

The Pen Air Level Up Spending account is geared toward children as young as eight years old. These young members can even use Online Banking to watch their money grow with them and get a debit card with parental controls. But you’ll want to watch out for its overdraft and inactivity fee.

Kimberly Ellis

Last Updated Jun 11, 2021

N/A

APY

Minimum deposit to open

APY	N/A
Minimum deposit to open	$0
ATMs	30,000 ATMs
ATM transaction fee	$0
Out-of-network ATM fee	$0
Overdraft fee	$29

Deposit methods	Ways to deposit
Cash	Cash by teller	Cash by ATM
Check	Check by teller	Check by ATM	Mobile/remote check deposit
Transfer	Bank transfer	Wire transfer	Direct deposit

Review by

Kimberly Ellis

kimberly.ellis@findercrew.com

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.

Expert review

Pen Air Level Up Spending account gives children and teens the chance to learn about money management from an early age. Its debit card has parental features like spend limits and text alerts. Plus, once your child is in high school, they can apply for a scholarship, as long as they meet the eligibility requirements.

But other than these benefits, it doesn’t stand out when compared to other checking accounts for kids. For instance, accounts like Alliant Credit Union Free Teen Checking also earn interest, and debit cards like Greenlight offer even more parental controls, including chores and allowance tracking.

How do I open a Pen Air Level Up Spending account?

Open an account in eight steps.

Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
From the provider site, tap the menu bar. Under Bank, select Youth.
Choose Open a Pen Air Level Up Spending Account.
Add your name and your child’s name.
Enter your ZIP code and check off your eligibility qualification.
Select your financial products, including the required Level Up Savings account and the optional Pen Air Level Up Spending account.
Enter the personal details of your child and the account holder.
Follow the prompts to fund the account.

Eligibility

Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements for a Pen Air Level Up Spending account:

A minor child between 8 and 18 years old
A Level Up Savings account, with a $25 minimum deposit
Qualify for Pen Air membership

Once your teen turns 18, the Pen Air Level Up Spending account will automatically transition into an adult Pen Air Federal Credit Union checking account.

Required information

You’ll need the following details to complete the Pen Air Federal Credit Union application:

Government-issued ID with your current address
Valid mailing address
Social Security number
Full name
Date of birth

Who qualifies for a Pen Air Federal Credit Union membership?

You’ll need to be a member ——or an immediate family member — of one of the following groups:

Active duty or retired military
Civil service employee
An employee of a Select Employer Group

What are the benefits of a Pen Air Federal Credit Union account?

You and your child will enjoy the following benefits of a Pen Air Federal Credit Union account:

No minimum balance. While you need a minimum of $25 to fund your required savings account, there’s no minimum deposit needed for your Pen Air Level Up Spending account.
Debit card with parental controls available. Members as young as eight years old can receive a debit card with parental safeguards, such as spend limits and text alerts.
Financial education and money management tools. Pen Air has an education program and videos for teens to help them take control of their money. Plus they can keep track of their spending and budget through online banking or the mobile app.
Scholarship opportunity. Your child may apply for the Pen Air Scholarship worth up to $10,000 if they are the primary owner of a Pen Air Federal Credit Union account in good standing and they’re a graduating high school senior planning to attend an accredited college or university.

What should I look out for?

Like most checking accounts for kids, a parent or guardian needs to be a joint account holder.

Inactivity fee. While most checking accounts have an inactivity fee, you’ll want to watch out for it if you don’t think your child will be very active. If either of your Level Up accounts is inactive for 12 months, you’ll get hit with a $15 monthly charge.
Overdraft fee. Overdrawing from your account may incur a $29 overdraft fee.
Online banking requirement. If your child is under 13 years old, you’ll need to add yourself as an authorized user for your child to access online banking.

Pen Air’s ATM network and fees

Access over 30,000 ATMs for free, including:

Pen Air Federal Credit Union branches
Surcharge-free ATMs
Deposit-taking ATMs
CO-OP shared branches

Pen Air doesn’t charge a fee for using an out-of-network ATM, but the ATM owner might.

Compare Pen Air Level Up Spending with other checking accounts

Compare other checking accounts for kids by fee, ATMs and minimum opening deposits.

Name	APY	Minimum deposit to open	ATMs	Out-of-network ATM fee
Copper Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★	0.00%	$0		$0	Copper is a digital checking account that teaches your teen healthy money habits through interactive quizzes and an intuitive mobile app.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Jassby Finder Rating: 4 / 5: ★★★★★	N/A	$0	No access to ATMs		Jassby is a virtual debit card for kids, complete with chores and allowance tracking.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Axos Bank First Checking Finder Rating: 5 / 5: ★★★★★	0.10%	$50			Made for teens ages 13 to 17, this account earns 0.1% APY and has no monthly fees.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Alliant Credit Union Free Teen Checking Finder Rating: 4.2 / 5: ★★★★★	0.25%	$0	80,000 ATMs for free	$0	No minimum or maximum balance and no monthly service fee.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Capital One MONEY Finder Rating: 4.8 / 5: ★★★★★	0.10%	$0	39,000+ Capital One and Allpoint ATMs nationwide		A teen checking account with zero fees.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Wells Fargo Teen Checking Finder Rating: 4 / 5: ★★★★★	N/A	$25		$2.50	Everyday checking made easy. Open with $25.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Chase College Checking Finder Rating: 3.2 / 5: ★★★★★	N/A	$0	16,000 Chase ATMs and more than 4,700 branches nationwide	$2.50	New Chase customers can get a $100 signup bonus when they complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of account opening. Plus no monthly service fee as long as you’re between 17-24 years and a student for up to 5 years.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
USAA Youth Spending Finder Rating: 4.2 / 5: ★★★★★	0.01%	$25	60,000+ USAA ATMs		Enjoy a checking account without the monthly service fees.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
North Loop International Student Account Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5: ★★★★★	N/A	$0	Get free access to 32,000 ATMs across the US	$0	No account fees. No account minimums. No ATM fees. No incoming wire fees	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
U.S. Bank Student Checking Finder Rating: 3.5 / 5: ★★★★★	N/A	$25	3,013 branches and 5,323 bilingual ATMs	$2.50	A checking account can be a safe, convenient place to stash the cash you need for bills and other expenses.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Chase High School Checking	N/A		16,000 ATMs and more than 4,700 branches.	$2.50	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

Compare up to 4 providers

How do I deposit or withdraw my money?

Here’s how you can access your funds in-person and digitally:

Deposits

Direct deposit
Mobile check deposit
ATMs, including Pen Air ATMs and specific deposit-taking ATMs
Transfer money from an external account

Withdrawals

Debit card purchases
Paper checks
Online bill pay
Pay a person online
ATMs all over the country

What other checking options does Pen Air offer?

Pen Air also offers two additional checking account options:

Pen Air checking account. A personal checking account with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.
Business checking account. A business checking solution with a team dedicated to your business needs, including account questions and loans.

How to contact Pen Air customer service?

Aside from stopping into a local branch for in-person assistance, your other customer service options include:

Calling 850-505-3200 to get support over the phone.
Connecting with a representative via live chat on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET.

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