Learn Money Management. Get Cashback.
Your Teen’s First Checking Account
From allowances to first jobs, your child’s lessons in personal finances aren’t slowing down. Help them take the next step toward “adulting” with Rewards Checking from SouthEast Bank: an easy-to-use account that offers cashback for debit card purchases over $10.00(1).
Built-in Debit Card Controls
Safe Spending, With Limits
You want your child to learn how to responsibly manage their money—while keeping a line of sight into how it’s going. Debit Card Controls can help, providing parents or guardians with tools to hit pause or play on debit card usage. It’s easy to set or change limits on spending by location, merchant, type, or amount, all through our online banking platform or mobile app.
Why Rewards Checking Makes a Great First Account for Kids
Low Minimum Deposit to Open
Rewards Checking requires only a $50 minimum deposit to open
No Minimum Monthly Balance
Keep the money management training wheels on with no minimum monthly balance requirement.
No Monthly Fees
Skip monthly fees and extra snail mail by opting into eStatements and keeping your account active.(1)
Earn Cashback on Everyday Purchases
Get $0.10 for every debit card purchase over $10.00, good on everything from after school snacks to online gaming upgrades(1)
Online & Mobile Banking
Track spending and budgeting, transfer funds, and more all while you’re on-the-go (third-party rates may apply)
Get Paid Faster with Accelerate
Rewards Checking accounts are automatically eligible to receive direct deposits early, up to three days(2)
No Fees at 55,000+ ATMs
Enjoy access to not just SouthEast Bank ATM locations but also AllPoint Network ATMs worldwide
SouthEast Verifi Fraud Monitoring
Built-in 24/7 fraud monitoring and text alerts… just in case (third-party rates may apply)
Instant-Issue Debit Cards
A Kid-Friendly Account, Easy to Open and Enjoy
When you and your teen are ready, we’ll help you skip the speedbumps of opening their first account. Our friendly branch team can help you get started when you drop in or make an appointment, just bring yourselves and appropriate identification (for minors without state-issued IDs, this can include a birth certificate and social security card).
Best of all, your child will get an instant-issue debit card upon account opening, a feature available at all SouthEast Bank locations.
Accelerate by SouthEast Bank
Receive ACH Deposits up to 3 Days Early(2)
The satisfaction from a first job is even sweeter when the paycheck arrives. So it’s a good thing that, with Rewards Checking, you could receive your ACH deposit up to three days sooner. Best of all, there’s no need to register or enroll. This service comes standard with your teen’s Rewards Checking account.
Round Up Savings
Pair Rewards Checking with a Digital Piggy Bank
Help your teen stretch every dollar even further by pairing their new checking account with a savings account from SouthEast Bank and enrolling in Round Up Savings. With this feature, we’ll round up their debit card purchases of $1 or more to the nearest dollar and transfer the difference to their designated savings account(3). They see their savings balance grow, while getting an introduction to the value of savings for future goals.
First Checking Account FAQs
Yes, SouthEast Bank offers checking accounts for you to open jointly with children under the age of 18. Together, simply visit a SouthEast Bank branch (or make an appointment at your convenience) and provide qualifying forms of identification to get started.
If you wish to add a member of your family as a beneficiary on an eligible account, you can do so anytime without requirement of the beneficiary being present. A member of our branch team or Client Care Team can assist you with making this update to your account.
SouthEast Bank does not set age restrictions for joint account opening, and we are happy to provide tools and resources for learning responsible money management, however we encourage you to consider your child’s readiness for the responsibility of operating an account before taking this step.
Your child’s Rewards Checking account will remain open when they turn 18, and the terms, features, and functionality of the account will not change solely due to age.
Yes! With SouthEast Bank’s online banking tools, like Debit Card Controls, it’s simple to limit spending by location, merchant type, or amount for debit cards associated with your account.
Learn more about these and other features by visiting our Debit Card Controls page.
No, there is no limit to the cashback you can earn per month when making qualifying debit card purchases of $10.00 or more, so long as the account is enrolled in eStatements.
Cashback rewards are credited to the account on the 1st business day of each month for each debit card purchase of $10.00 or more that posts and settles during the statement cycle.
Additional Resources for Teens & Families
Don’t Let Your Kids Fall Behind on Financial Literacy
The do’s and don’ts of managing money are played out in our everyday lives, not to mention our news channels and social feeds. That’s why,…
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3 Things to Teach Your High School Student Before College
Many high school students need help understanding and practicing basic financial literacy skills. You can help prepare your child for college by teaching them these fundamentals.
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How Much Should You Contribute to Your College Student’s Monthly Allowance?
When you’re preparing to send your child to school, you may be thinking about the cost of college, your student’s living arrangements and whether they need a meal plan. But what about other monthly expenses?
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Investing in Students Across Our Region
SouthEast Bank’s Commitment to Education
As a local bank, we understand the importance of being a good neighbor. That’s why we’re dedicated to empowering students and supporting families across the communities we serve. Our particular focus on education, wellness, and workforce development channels our support to the up-and-coming leaders of our communities by fostering foundational skills and opening doors to opportunity. Under that mission, our donations have added up to more than $25 million to support primary, secondary, and post-secondary education in Middle and East Tennessee in the last decade.