SURVEY: Parents Favor Issuing First Debit Card to Teens Before Age 16

Published April 15, 2026

Recent findings reveal that parents think teenagers should be given their initial debit card around the age of 15.5, based on a Talker Research survey involving 2,000 parents of adolescents aged 13 to 17.

According to the survey, parents believe that checking accounts should be introduced slightly later, at an average age of 15.8, whereas savings accounts are expected to come first at age 13.3. When it comes to credit cards, parents prefer to delay issuance until their teens reach about 17.5 years old.

Despite these parental expectations, a significant number of teenagers still do not have fundamental banking products: 25% do not possess a savings account, 33% do not have debit cards, and 47% are without checking accounts.

Only 29% of parents report feeling "very prepared" to instruct their children on digital banking skills.

Parents identify budgeting as the most challenging financial subject to teach, with 52% indicating difficulty, followed closely by saving at 48%.