Yes, you can add your child to your bank account, but the bank sets the rules and your child's age matters
Most banks allow you to add a minor child to your account as a joint owner or authorized user, but the specifics depend on the bank's policies and your child's age. Some banks require your child to be at least 13 or 16 to be a joint owner; others have no minimum age if you're the primary account holder. The difference between these two roles—joint owner versus authorized user—changes what your child can do with the account and what happens to the money if something happens to you.
Before you call your bank, understand what you're trying to accomplish. Do you want your child to be able to withdraw money and make deposits? Do you want them to build credit history? Are you setting up an account they'll inherit? The answer to each question points toward a different account structure, and not all banks offer all options.
Key Takeaways
- Most banks let you add a child as a joint owner or authorized user, but age requirements and available options vary by bank.
- A joint owner has equal legal rights to the money and the account; an authorized user can access funds but does not own them.
- Adding a child as a joint owner may affect your taxes, their financial aid, or their credit if the account goes negative.
- You will need to visit a branch in person with your child and a form of ID for them, even if they are very young.
- If your child is under 13, ask whether your bank offers custodial accounts or UTMA/UGMA accounts instead of a standard joint account.
Joint owner versus authorized user: what each one means
A joint owner is a legal co-owner of the account. Both you and your child have equal rights to all the money in it. Your child can deposit, withdraw, and spend without your permission. If you die, the money passes to your child automatically—it does not go through your will. If the account goes into overdraft, your child's credit can be affected just as yours can.
An authorized user can access the account and make transactions, but they do not own it. You remain the sole owner. You can set limits on what they can do—some banks let you restrict daily withdrawal amounts or block certain types of transactions. If you die, the money does not automatically go to your child; it becomes part of your estate. An authorized user's credit is usually not affected by the account's activity.
For young children, authorized user is often the safer choice because you keep full control. For teenagers saving for college or learning to manage money, joint ownership teaches responsibility but carries more risk. Ask your bank which option it offers for your child's age.
Age requirements and what banks actually allow
Banks do not have a single standard. Chase allows children of any age to be added as joint owners if a parent is present, but requires the child to be at least 13 to be an authorized user on a debit card. Bank of America requires the child to be at least 13 for either role. Wells Fargo allows joint accounts for children under 13 but calls them "custodial accounts" and has different rules for access and spending.
Some banks offer UTMA accounts (Uniform Transfers to Minors Act) or UGMA accounts (Uniform Gifts to Minors Act) for younger children. These are custodial accounts where you manage the money until your child reaches the age of majority (usually 18 or 21, depending on your state). The money belongs to your child legally, but you control it. These accounts have tax advantages for small amounts of money but can affect financial aid calculations.
Call your bank's customer service line or visit a branch and ask: "What options do you have for a parent to add a child under [your child's age]?" Write down the name of each option and what your child can and cannot do with each one. This takes five minutes and prevents you from showing up to open an account only to find out your bank does not offer what you want.
What you need to bring to the bank
You will need to visit a branch in person. Online account changes do not work for adding a minor. Bring your ID, your child's ID (a birth certificate works if they do not have a state ID or passport), and your child themselves. Some banks require both parents' signatures if both are on the account; ask when you call.
If your child is very young and does not have an ID, bring the birth certificate and ask the bank what else it accepts. Most banks will take a birth certificate plus a utility bill or other document showing your address. The bank needs proof that your child is who you say they are and that you have the right to make decisions about their account.
Bring any existing account numbers if you want to add your child to an account you already have. If you are opening a new account, bring information about how you want to fund it—a check, a transfer from another account, or a deposit of cash.
Tax and financial aid consequences of joint ownership
If you add your child as a joint owner, the money in that account is considered their asset for tax purposes. If the account earns interest or dividends above a certain threshold (this varies by year), your child may owe taxes on that income. You cannot claim it as your own income.
For financial aid, money in a child's name counts more heavily against aid than money in a parent's name. If your child is planning to go to college and you are saving for it, a joint account in their name can reduce the amount of aid they receive. A custodial UTMA or UGMA account has the same effect. If you want to save for college without affecting aid, keep the money in your own name only—but then it becomes part of your estate if you die, and your child has no legal claim to it.
Talk to a tax professional or financial advisor if you are saving a large amount of money for your child's future. The structure you choose now can save or cost you money later.
What happens if your child overspends or the account goes negative
If your child is a joint owner and spends more than is in the account, the account goes into overdraft. The bank charges overdraft fees. Both you and your child are responsible for paying those fees back. If the account stays negative, it can damage both of your credit scores.
If your child is an authorized user, you are responsible for overdraft fees, not them. This is one reason authorized user status is safer for younger children—they cannot accidentally (or deliberately) tank your credit.
Some banks let you set up overdraft protection, which automatically transfers money from another account if the balance gets too low. This prevents the negative balance but costs money if transfers happen frequently. Ask your bank whether this is available and what it costs.
Removing your child from the account later
If your child is an authorized user, you can remove them by calling the bank or visiting a branch. It usually takes a few days. If your child is a joint owner, removal is more complicated. You cannot unilaterally remove a joint owner—both of you have to agree, or you have to close the account and open a new one in your name only. If your child is an adult and refuses to cooperate, you may need a lawyer.
This is another reason to think carefully about joint ownership before you set it up. If your child is young and you want to keep control, authorized user is simpler to manage as they get older.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will adding my child to my account help them build credit?
No. Bank accounts do not report to credit bureaus, so being a joint owner or authorized user does not build credit history. A credit card in your child's name (with you as the primary account holder) does build credit, but that is different from a bank account.
What if I want to add my child but I'm not married to their other parent?
You can add your child to your account without the other parent's permission. However, if both parents are on the account, both have equal legal rights to the money. If only you are on it, the other parent has no claim. The bank will ask for ID from you and your child; it will not ask about custody or parental rights unless there is a court order restricting access.
Can I add my child to my account if they live with someone else?
Yes. Your child does not have to live with you to be on your account. You will still need to bring them to the bank in person, or in some cases the bank may allow you to add them remotely if they are already a customer. Call your bank to ask what it allows.
What if my child is 18 or older?
At 18, your child is a legal adult. You can add them to your account, but they have the same rights as any other adult joint owner. You cannot remove them without their permission. If you want to give them access to money without giving them ownership, a power of attorney is clearer than a joint account.
Do I need to tell my child's other parent if I add them to my account?
The bank does not require you to. However, if there is a custody agreement or court order that says both parents must agree to financial decisions, you may be violating that order. Check your custody paperwork or ask a family law attorney before you add your child to an account.