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Home >> Accounts >> ATM/Debit Cards
Debit Cards for Minors? Legal?
Are there age requirements for obtaining a debit card in Michigan? My son, who is 17, was issued a debit card without parental permission. He then misused it and accumulated approximately $350 in bank fees. The people at the bank claim they can issue a debit card to a ten year old without parental permission. Is this true?
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 In general, it appears that Michigan law permits a minor to establish a deposit account with a bank in the state. In some states, the laws providing for deposit accounts for minors include language that removes the legal inability of the minor to enter into a binding contract. There is no such language in the Michigan law, but it may be elsewhere in Michigan statutes. There is also nothing in the statute that suggests that parental permission is required for the opening of an account. As for the issuance of a debit card, we are not aware of any law or regulation in Michigan that limits the issuance of such cards to adults or requires parental permission. For a more complete answer, consult with a lawyer or legal aid office that is familiar with Michigan state laws and regulations, and with any legal precedents established in the state's courts.
In the meantime, you and your son should talk with a bank representative to see if the bank might waive some part of the fees piled up on his account. Your son's participation in those discussions is critical, so that he won't get the impression that you are going to solve his problem for him. Many banks will consider waivers for first-time errors.
Published on BankingQuestions.com 4/02/09
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