The teenage years are an ideal time to introduce young people to hands-on financial experiences and help them develop smart money habits.
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Credit unions are a great place to teach your teens how to manage their money. Sunward offers the same products and services as banks, but because members are our first priority, we focus on service, financial education, better rates, and lower fees.
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
Your teen can become a Sunward member by opening a primary savings account in their own name with just $5. Although not required, joint owners can help oversee their funds and provide guidance.
Members 15 and younger earn dividends on any balance; starting at age 16, a $100 balance is required to earn dividends. For balances of at least $1,000, consider opening a term certificate to earn higher dividends. While access to cash in a certificate is limited, it is a useful tool for demonstrating how interest compounds.
SPENDING ACCOUNTS
Sunward's checking accounts have no minimum deposit requirement and no monthly fees. Teens 15 and younger may open a checking account with a parent or guardian as a joint owner. At ages 16 and 17, teens are not required to have a joint owner on their checking account, although a parent or guardian joint owner is necessary for them to receive a debit card.
ONLINE BANKING
Sunward teens can keep an eye on their money and set up savings goals and budgets in online banking. They can request account alerts sent by email or push notification when a deposit or withdrawal occurs, their balance drops below a predetermined amount, they’ve exceeded a budget category, and more. Viewing account balances, finding the nearest ATM, and depositing checks are all easy on the Sunward mobile app.
EXTRA CASH FOR TEENS
Sunward provides an annual essay contest to college-bound teens. Watch our website and the Dollars & Sense newsletter each spring for information about our annual contest.
GETTING TEENS STARTED WITH Sunward
To open a teen savings or checking account, apply online, call 505.293.0500 or 800.947.5328 or visit any branch. You will need to provide:
- The teen’s name, Social Security number, date of birth, and address. (Parent/Guardian verification may be required.)
- A photo ID for teens 16 and older (For teens under 16, a photo ID for the parent or guardian.)
- To establish a parent or guardian as a joint owner: name, social security number, date of birth, and address of the joint owner. (Verification may be required.)
To use Sunward’s online banking, enroll at gosunward.org or download the app.
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