1. Checking Accounts
  2. Youth Checking

Youth Checking

Start young to grow financially strong.

Open an account
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Building Confidence, One Step at a Time

While budgeting and personal finance aren’t common lessons in school, our Youth Checking account is designed as a tool to help young people build those habits early.

Why Open a Youth Checking Account?

This account is available for members under the age of 18.

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Grow Smart Habits

Track spending, set goals, and develop financial independence.

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Build Financial Confidence

Track savings and learn the responsibilities of a debit card, with the option for parental guidance.

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A Head Start For The Future

Teens can have access to debit cards and online banking services with this account.

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Available for Young Members

Independent teens, as young as 13, can open this account on their own.

For those members between the ages of 13-17, you can open this account without a parent or legal guardian. If you are 12 years of age or younger, you will need a parent or legal guardian as a joint owner to open the account on your behalf.

A Debit Card from Day One

Unlike many other institutions that make young account holders wait until 16 for a debit card, Seattle Credit Union provides a Visa® debit card, upon request, at account opening for those over 13 years of age.

Our Visa® debit card allows you to:

  • Withdraw cash as needed.
  • Make purchases anywhere Visa is accepted.
  • Provides access to our in-branch ITMs with virtual tellers.
  • Allows you to see and learn about your spending habits in digital banking with Credit Sense.

 

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Your Checking Account Will Include:

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No Monthly Service Fee

Say farewell to monthly checking account service fees.

Digital Online Banking

Digital Banking Made Easy

Online and mobile banking, mobile deposits, Credit Sense & more. Let’s Talk Tech!

Debit Card

Free Visa Debit Card

Need a debit card fast? We can print on the spot—tap-to-pay included! Learn More

Money Transfer

Easy Access to Your Accounts

30,000+ ATM network, 24/7 digital access, 7 locations, and a mobile branch.

Youth Checking Rates

See all rates.

Youth Checking

Balance Range

APY*

Interest is compounded and credited monthly. Account limited to those under 18 years of age.
*APY – Annual Percentage Yield.
**Blended APY range calculated on an assumed sample deposit of $10,000.00 for Youth Checking account.

Balance Range

$0.00 – $500.00

APY*

0.05%

Balance Range

$500.01 or greater**

APY*

0.05%

Let’s Start Your Financial Journey

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Give Us a Call
1-800-334-2489

Youth Checking Account FAQ

It depends. For those between 13-17 years of age, you can open an account without a parent or legal guardian. However, if you are 12 years old or younger, a parent or legal guardian must complete the application process for you.

You can open a checking account online or in-person at any of our convenient locations. Open your account online 24/7, visit one of our locations during business hours, or use our appointment scheduler to plan ahead.

These are the documents you’ll want to have handy:

  • Government-issued ID, such as a Driver’s License, Passport, State or Military ID
  • Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
  • Eligibility of Membership, if not confirmed with your government-issued ID
    • You are eligible if:
      • You live, work, worship or attend school in the State of Washington.
      • You are an immediate family member of a current Seattle Credit Union member.
      • You work for one of our community partners.

We will also request:

  • Residential address
  • Email address
  • Date of birth

For the fastest online account opening experience, please use a standard internet connection, not a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

To open a checking or other account with us, you’ll first need to establish membership by opening a savings account with a minimum deposit of $5. This step officially makes you a member of the credit union.

To confirm your eligibility for membership, please ensure you meet one of the following criteria:

  • You live, work, worship, or attend school in the State of Washington
  • You are an immediate family member of a current Seattle Credit Union member
  • You work for one of our community partners

All new accounts go through a financial history review, and online applications include a digital identity screening. For the fastest online account opening, avoid using a VPN.

To set up direct deposit, log in to Online Banking using either a browser or mobile app. From the “Accounts” menu drop down, select “Direct Deposit.” Here you can digitally set up direct deposit through your current payroll provider.

If your employer requires a paper form, here’s a link to a printable version:

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Youth Savings

A Youth Savings Account helps young explorers build strong financial habits while enjoying the adventure of growing their money. While we recommend a parent or guardian be on all youth accounts, we do allow those over 13 with proper documentation to have independent accounts.
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Free Checking

Tired of jumping through hoops just to avoid fees on your checking account? If you’re facing monthly service charges or high minimum balance requirements, it might be time to switch to Free Checking.
Learn more
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