Chase First Banking is a checking account for teenagers, not a full bank account for adults
Chase First Banking is a checking account designed for minors aged 13 to 17. It functions like a regular checking account—you get a debit card, online access, and the ability to deposit and withdraw money—but it comes with parental controls and monitoring built in. A parent or guardian must open and manage the account alongside the teenager.
If you are an adult looking for a standard Chase checking account, First Banking is not what you need. If you are a parent considering this for a teenager, it works as a checking account but with restrictions and oversight that a regular adult account does not have.
Key Takeaways
- Chase First Banking is a checking account for ages 13–17 that requires a parent or guardian to co-own and manage it.
- The account includes a debit card, online banking, and the ability to set spending limits and receive alerts on every transaction.
- There is no monthly maintenance fee, but the parent's Chase checking account must remain open to keep the First Banking account active.
- When the teenager turns 18, the account converts to a standard Chase checking account and parental controls are removed.
How Chase First Banking works as a checking account
First Banking operates like any checking account: money goes in, money comes out, and the teenager can see their balance online or on a mobile app. The account comes with a debit card that works at ATMs and stores. Deposits can be made through mobile check deposit, direct deposit, or in-branch transfers from the parent's account.
The key difference is the parental layer. The parent receives alerts for every transaction—purchases, ATM withdrawals, transfers—and can set daily spending limits on the debit card. The parent can also freeze the card instantly through the app if needed. This makes it a checking account with training wheels, designed to teach money management while keeping the parent informed.
What you can and cannot do with First Banking
The teenager can use the debit card to make purchases online and in stores, withdraw cash at Chase ATMs, and set up direct deposit for a job. They can also transfer money between their own accounts if they have more than one.
What they cannot do: write checks (the account does not come with a checkbook), set up bill pay, or make transfers to external accounts without parental permission. The account is designed to be simple and controlled, not a full-featured checking account. If the teenager needs to pay a bill or send money to someone outside the family, the parent must initiate it.
Fees and the parent account requirement
Chase First Banking has no monthly maintenance fee. However, there is one critical requirement: the parent's own Chase checking account must stay open. If the parent closes their checking account, Chase will close the First Banking account as well. This is not a separate product—it is a linked feature of the parent's account.
The parent's account may have its own monthly fee depending on which Chase checking product they use. Some Chase checking accounts waive the fee if you maintain a minimum balance or set up direct deposit. Check the terms of the parent's account to understand what fees apply.
What happens when the teenager turns 18
On the teenager's 18th birthday, Chase automatically converts First Banking to a standard Chase checking account. The parental controls disappear, the teenager becomes the sole owner, and they gain full access to features like bill pay and external transfers. The debit card remains active, and the account number stays the same.
At this point, the parent is no longer linked to the account and cannot see transactions or set limits. If the teenager wants to keep the account, they can. If they want to switch to a different bank or a different Chase product, they can do that too.
How First Banking compares to a regular Chase checking account
A standard Chase checking account has no age restriction and comes with full features: bill pay, external transfers, check writing, and no parental oversight. First Banking is simpler and more restricted, which is the point—it is meant for learning, not for independent banking.
If you are an adult or a teenager over 18 without parental involvement, you would open a regular Chase checking account instead. Chase offers several checking products for adults, including Chase Total Checking and Chase Premier Plus Checking, each with different fee structures and minimum balance requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a teenager open First Banking without a parent?
No. A parent or legal guardian must open the account and remain the co-owner. The teenager cannot open it alone, and the parent cannot simply give permission and step back. The parent's involvement is permanent until the teenager turns 18.
What happens if the parent's Chase account is closed?
Chase will close the First Banking account as well. The teenager's money will not be lost—it will be returned to them—but the account itself will shut down. This is why the parent's account must stay active for First Banking to continue.
Can the teenager use First Banking to build credit?
No. A checking account does not build credit history. Credit is built through credit cards, loans, or other credit products that report to credit bureaus. First Banking is a debit account, so it has no impact on credit score.
Is there a limit to how much money can be in First Banking?
Chase does not publish a specific limit for account balances. However, deposits over $10,000 in a single transaction trigger federal reporting requirements. For a teenager's checking account, this is rarely a practical concern, but it is worth knowing if large deposits are planned.
Can the teenager have a First Banking account and a regular checking account at the same time?
Yes. A teenager can have First Banking through their parent and also open their own account at another bank. However, they cannot have two First Banking accounts or two regular Chase checking accounts in their own name until they turn 18.