Military Banking and Credit Union
If you or your child is active or retired military – you, and they, have a lot more banking options available to you both. These organizations have credit specific products made for children and young adults – in the military or not.
Here are three options:
USAA
USAA is a financial services group open to activity duty military and veterans, their children and their grandchildren (providing the parent or grandparent is or was a member). They offer the gamut of services most banks and credit unions consider staples, such as mortgages, car loans, checking and savings accounts. They also sell insurance. For young adults who are just beginning their financial lives, USAA has products for younger children, too, including Youth Savings and Youth Spending accounts that have no monthly fee. You can find details on USAA services like mortgages, car loans and other financial services.
Armed Forces Bank
While the Armed Forces Bank doesn’t have products made specifically for kids, they do have a product called the Recruit Checking Account, which comes with a checking account that does not have a minimum balance requirement, debit card, free online banking, free online bill pay, and free e-statements and e-alerts. They also offer business banking, IRAs, money market accounts, mortgages and loans. Their branches are associated with military bases in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Texas, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming – some branches are on base, and some are within local Wal-Marts. Find a complete list of Armed Forces Bank branches here.
Navy Federal Credit Union
The name of this credit union might say “Navy,” but membership is open to all active and retired military plus family members. You must be 18 to join, but parents can open a Visa Buxx card, which is a pre-paid debit card, for their kids through the credit union. For children in college, the Navy Federal Credit Union offer Campus Checking, which has no monthly service fee and ATM fee rebates. They also have the nRewards secured credit card if your child would like to start building credit safely. If you’re still in the planning stages, they also have a channel for college planning, including information on scholarships and 529 plans. You can find out more about the Navy Federal Credit Union.