SECU Total Checking & Rewards For Teens

From summer jobs to starting a business, today’s teens are earning their own money – and they need tools to manage their finances responsibly.

Starting at age 13, teens can open a SECU Total™ Checking & Rewards account.

Get $100† when you open a SECU Total™ Checking & Rewards account

  • Offer valid thru 6/30 and available to both new and existing members without a checking account.
  • Must be between 13 and 18 year old and reside in MD or surrounding states (DC, DE, PA, VA, WV).
  • Must setup e-statements and activate debit card within 60 days of opening the account.
  • Teens 13-17 require a joint account owner over the age of 18. Accounts must be opened in-person at any of our financial centers or online through a virtual appointment.

SECU Total™ Checking & Rewards offers:

No Monthly Maintenance Fees

No Minimum Balance Requirements

Cash Back on Debit Card Purchases

A Visa Debit Card

Direct Deposit for Paychecks

Mobile Check Deposits

Online and Mobile Banking

Checking that Grows With You

As you start to earn more money, your financial needs will change. That’s why SECU offers one checking account that grows with you – there is no need to open a different checking account after you leave high school.

Learn more about budgeting, building savings, and other financial management topics here.

Getting Started

Opening a SECU Total™ Checking & Rewards account is easy. Teens 13-17 require a joint account owner over the age of 18. Accounts can be opened in any of our financial centers, including our virtual financial center.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum age to open a checking account?

Members 13-17 years old with the proper identification can open a checking account with a joint owner over 18. The teen checking account must be opened in a branch or through our Virtual Financial Center. Please note that members under the age of 18 are not able to open any SECU products online or through the mail.

Terms & Conditions

*APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APYs current as of 02/01/22. You must meet the criteria for each rewards level to receive the APYs and other rewards shown for that level. See current rates page. APY is calculated based on average daily balance and will be a blended rate. Rates and rewards subject to change at any time. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. Membership eligibility required. Only accounts in good standing are eligible to qualify for rewards.

Rewards level qualifications and benefits vary by level. At the beginning of each month, your account will reset to Bronze level until the monthly requirements are met. Your actual rewards level will be calculated on the last day of the month and can change monthly based on activity and balances.

You can view your current activity and rewards level, how to reach the next level and your rewards history at any time in online or mobile banking by clicking the “My Rewards” icon, or reviewing your monthly statement.

Level Qualifications

Balances: You can qualify for rewards levels in two different ways based on your balances with SECU. The higher of the two will determine your rewards level: 1) Combined Deposit/Loan Balances (“Qualifying Balances”). On the last day of each month, we add up the average daily balances of SECU accounts for which you are the primary or joint owner: deposit accounts (savings, checking, money market, CDs, IRAs) + loan accounts (mortgages, home equity, personal loans and credit cards) + any investment balances that you maintain with our investment program partner; OR 2) Checking Balance. We use the highest balance of any checking account for which you are the primary owner. E-statements & Direct Deposit: Levels Silver and above also require e-statements and full check Direct Deposit of $500 or more per month. Eligible Direct Deposits must be into one or more checking accounts for which you are the primary owner and include recurring payroll, social security and pensions.

Bronze: None, everyone starts here each month and levels up as requirements are met.

Silver: $10,000 in combined deposit and loan balances or $3,500 in one checking account + e-statements + full check Direct Deposit of $500 or more/month.

Gold: $50,000 in combined deposit and loan balances or $10,000 in one checking account + e-statements + full check Direct Deposit of $500 or more/month.

Platinum: $100,000 in combined deposit and loan balances or $25,000 in one checking account + e-statements + full check Direct Deposit of $500 or more/month.

Rewards Qualifications

Qualifying Platinum Members Earn Up to 2.00% APY: Requires members to be in the Platinum rewards level with e-statements and direct deposit of $500 or more into checking per month, as well as a balance of $75,000 or more in checking. Other rewards levels and balances will earn different APYs.

Interest: See current rates page for balances required to earn interest for each level. Your interest will be calculated as a blended APY. For example: If you are in the Platinum level and have a balance of $50,000, you will receive 0.10% on the first $3,499.99, 0.15% on the portion of your balance between $3,500 and $19,999.99 and 0.20% on the portion of your balance between $20,000 and $50,000. This would result in a blended APY of 0.18%, if you maintain the $50,000 for the entire month.

**Debit Cash Back: requires 12 or more debit purchases per month, including Point of Sale and monthly subscription payments using your debit card (i.e. bill pay and gym memberships, etc.). Gold: 1% of your first $1,000 in purchases per month (max of $10/month); Platinum: 2% of your first $1,000 in purchases per month (max of $20/month). The cash back will post to your checking account on the last day of the month and will appear as “Debit Card Cash Back – Interest Adjustment” on your statement. Debit cash back is considered interest and will generate a 1099.

Higher Interest on 12 Month CDs: Gold and Platinum offer additional interest on 12 Month CDs. See current rates page. Gold and Platinum CDs are based on your highest reward level in the last 3 months and need to be opened at a branch, via mail, or through a virtual appointment. Previously opened CDs are not eligible. We may impose a penalty for early withdrawal on CDs.

***Mortgage Closing Costs Rebates: Based on qualifying for the higher of Gold or Platinum in the month of your mortgage closing date through the following 2 months. For example, a mortgage closing on June 14 would have the rest of June, July and August to qualify. Purchases and refinanced mortgages with a closing date of July 1st, 2021 or later qualify+. Primary owner of the mortgage must be the primary owner on a SECU Total™️ Checking & Rewards account to receive the rebate. Will be deposited in the share savings account for the primary owner of the mortgage within 90 days of the closing date. Rebate may be subject to IRS tax reporting. Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) products do not qualify for the rebate.

+ For members with existing checking accounts that are not converted into our new SECU Total™️ Checking until October 1st, 2021 and obtain a mortgage closed on August 1st, 2021 or later, the rebate will be based on qualifying for the higher of Gold or Platinum in at least one month within 30-60 days from the mortgage closing date.

***Bonus Credit Card Rewards: Platinum offers bonus credit card rewards when you make at least 12 credit card purchases per month with a SECU Visa® credit card. All eligible cards will receive 1,000 bonus points per month. Bonus rewards will appear in your UChoose Rewards account in the following month.

Free checks: each account (at any level) can order 1 free box of SECU style checks per calendar year.

$100 Offer

† $100 offer valid from 4/15/24 – 6/30/24 for Teens who are between the ages of 13 – 18 years old and are new to SECU or do not already have a checking account. Must open a new SECU TotalTM Checking & Rewards account and meet the following criteria.

New SECU Members: 1) Join SECU and open a checking account during the promo period; 2) Within 60 days of opening checking: Set up e-statements and get and activate a SECU debit card.
Existing SECU Members that do not already have a checking account: 1) Open a checking account during the promo period; 2) Within 60 days of opening checking: Set up e-statements and get and activate a SECU debit card. Members under the age of 18 will need a joint owner that is 18 or older to open a checking account. Members or former members that had a checking account on or after 4/1/2022 are not eligible for this offer.

Offer is only available to Teens age 13 – 18 that are Maryland residents or residents of surrounding states (DC, DE, PA, VA, WV). Residents of other states or ages not listed are not eligible. Teen checking accounts can only be opened in a branch or through our Virtual Financial Center, not online. Debit card can be ordered at time of checking account opening, or afterwards through online banking. SECU will credit one cash bonus of $100 to the primary owner of the new SECU checking account within 60 days of meeting the requirements. Membership and accounts must be in good standing to receive the bonus. Promotional period and offer are subject to change at any time without notice. The promotional bonus is limited to one per member. If you received a bonus for a SECU checking promo in the last 24 months, you are not eligible for this offer. Advertised bonus cannot be combined with any other offer. Membership eligibility required. Bonuses are considered miscellaneous income and may be reported as income to the IRS on Form 1099-MISC. SECU’s determination of offer eligibility is final. Federally insured by NCUA.

Refer A Friend and Earn $50

If you love being a SECU member tell a friend! If they join, we’ll give you both a $50 bonus.