Your child will need to be at least 8 years old to get a debit account, but this changes from bank to bank.
Beware of accounts charging monthly fees.
You could also get a prepaid debit card so you have greater control over how much money your child has access to.
What is a kids debit card?
Kids debit cards are offered by some banks as an optional extra when establishing a kids, youth or teen transaction account. As with regular debit cards, these cards can be linked directly to a transaction account and used in place of cash to make purchases in stores, or to withdraw money from ATMs.
These debit cards are usually linked to a transaction account; either the standard transaction account offered by the bank or a dedicated youth transaction account. Most banks waive the monthly account keeping fees for customers under the age of 18 or even 21.
Age requirements for a kids debit card
Each bank will have different age limits for their debit cards. Some will offer a debit card to kids as young as 8, for example the NAB Debit card.
However, most banks have a minimum age requirement of at least 12-14 to access a debit card in the child's name.
Some kids ebit cards also come with restrictions, for example you may not be able to use the card to shop online or certain retailers may be blocked all together (such as alcohol and gambling).
Big Four bank kids debit card options
Bank
Account
Age for debit card
Card limits
NAB
NAB Debit Card
8-13
Can't sop online. Must apply in branch.
Commonwealth Bank
Smart Access Account for Youth
9-14
Set parental controls.
Westpac
Choice Youth Account
8-13
Set parental controls.
ANZ
Everyday Youth Account
12+
Must apply in branch with parent.
What is a kids prepaid card?
Instead of a bank account and attached debit card, there's also the option of giving your child a prepaid card. This could be a good option for younger kids in particular, who don't need a bank account in their name just yet. A prepaid card still allows them to make purchases in stores and withdraw from ATMs, however they can only access the money that's been pre-loaded onto the card for them to spend.
The following kids prepaid cards are a great way to give your children access to money while they learn how to properly manage digital money via the interactive mobile apps.
Spriggy is a mobile app with a linked prepaid card which helps Australian parents and their kids to manage their money together and track their progress in a fun, interactive app.
30-day free trial available
Customised prepaid debit card
Safe and convenient
3.5% surcharge for international purchases
Membership fee charged as annual lump sum payment
Rewards program
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase Rate
Welcome offer
Interest-free period
Up to days on purchases
Balance transfer
N/A
Bonus points
N/A
Rewards points per $ spent
N/A
Foreign currency conversion fee
How to compare kids debit cards
Don't accept an account that charges fees.
Most major banks offer fee-free services for kids cards until they turn 18. The most common fee you're likely to encounter is from using other-brand ATMs, or foreign transaction fees if shopping online with an overseas brand.
Look at the bank's other accounts.
Your child wants a debit card to access their money, but they might also want a high interest savings account so they can start earning free money on whatever cash they can squirrel away. It's worth looking for a bank that offers both.
Is shopping online part of the deal?
Consider whether being able to shop online is a benefit or a downside – depending on your child, it could be either! You might want to opt for a kids debit card that can restrict or block online spending if needed.
Check the reviews on their mobile banking app.
Kids are digital natives so a great mobile banking app is essential. It helps them to keep an eye on spending and see where their money is going. Some mobile banking apps offer savings goal trackers, which can be helpful for kids learning how to manage their money.
"When my 12-year-old daughter got her first debit card, we didn't realise until afterwards that she wasn't able to get a digital version on her phone. She didn't want to take her card to school and risk it getting lost or stolen, but without a digital card on her phone, she couldn't shop at the tuckshop – which doesn't accept cash.
We ended up moving to a different bank that did allow kids under 14 to add their card to a digital wallet. It's worth considering a range of situations when you're comparing cards, as it's not always as straightforward as you think!"
Spending controls. Parents can set limits within their mobile banking app, to restrict how much their child can spend. These could be daly limits, or even limits on the cost of a single transaction.
Card lock. Parents can lock the debit card via the mobile banking app or Internet banking, if the card gets lost or you want to temporarily disable it.
Choose how your child can spend. Sometimes parents can choose if the card can be used at ATMs or for in-store purchases.
Spending tracking tools. Many mobile banking apps offer spending tracking tools and features to help your child learn how to manage their money.
Debit card versus savings account
A Finder survey found that while only 9% of Australian kids under the age of 12 had a debit card, 57% had a savings account.
Control. Keep track of your child's spending online and cap the daily limit as you see fit.
Security. You can monitor your child's spending in the mobile banking app, and quickly alert the bank if you notice any suspicious transactions.
Safety. Because you can quickly and easily lock the debit card if it's misplaced, debit cards are often safer than carrying cash.
Good practice. Using a debit card will teach your child how money works digitally.
Independence. Having their own debit card will give your child a sense of independence and automony.
Cons
Age limits apply. The majority of debit cards can't be used by people under 14 years of age.
Less choice. Not every bank offers kids debit cards or kids bank accounts.
Must go in branch. Most banks require you to open a kids debit card in branch, not online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your child typically needs to be 14 years old to get their own Visa Debit card, and 16 to get their own Debit Mastercard. However, some banks offer debit card access for children as young as 8 or 9 years old. Some banks also offer their own type of debit cards. These work in a similar way to standard debit cards but have a few more restrictions when using the card outside of Australia.
This is completely up to you and your individual experience. You might consider giving your child a debit card when:
They start going out for social activities without you present, for example, going to the movies with friends.
When they start high school, or if they have a long distance to travel to and from school on the bus or train. A debit card will be handy if there are delays or the bus breaks down, for example.
They start wanting or needing to buy things when you're not with them.
Yes, there are banks that offer debit cards to kids under the age of 12. For example, NAB, Westpac and CommBank all offer debit cards for kids under 12.
A lot of banks offer kids debit cards with no monthly account keeping fees. These are free to open.
Spriggy isn't a bank, however it is backed by NAB. Spriggy offers prepaid cards for kids, noty debit cards.
Alison is an editor at Finder and a personal finance journalist with over 10 years of experience, having contributed to major financial institutions and publications such as Westpac, Money Magazine, and Yahoo Finance. She is frequently quoted in media outlets like SmartCompany and SBS, offering expert insights on superannuation and money management. Alison holds a Bachelor of Communications in Public Relations and Journalism from the University of Newcastle, and has earned three ASIC RG146 certifications in superannuation, securities and managed investments and general financial advice, ensuring her expertise is fully aligned with ASIC standards.
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is there any free kids prepaid debit card for 12 year old
Several banks offer fee-free debit cards – you can see the fees listed in the table on this guide.