Make smart moves
A bright financial future starts today. SmartStart accounts help kids and teens practice responsible saving and spending.
These interest-earning and non-interest-earning accounts come with educational tools that will help pave the way to long-term success.
Teens 13 or older do not require a parent or guardian to open an account.
SmartStart market savings accounts are interest-bearing and feature:
- No opening balance requirement
- No hidden fees
- No maintenance fees
- No minimum balance
- StearnsConnect online and mobile banking - free with account
Interest Rates
- 1.00% APY* if balance is $99,999.99 or less. A balance of $0.01 is needed to earn the APY
- 2.02% APY* if balance is $100,000 to $499,999.99
- 3.20% APY* if balance is $500,000 or more
SmartStart checking accounts are interest-bearing, deliver cash rewards on debit card spending, plus they feature:
- No opening balance requirement
- No hidden fees
- No maintenance fees
- No minimum balance
- StearnsConnect online and mobile banking - free with account
- Nationwide fee-free ATM network
Interest Rates:
- 0.20% APY* if balance is $14,999.99 or less. A balance of .01 is needed to earn the APY.
- 0.40% APY* if balance is $15,000.00 or more
Cash Rewards:
- 0.10% cash rewards on EVERY debit card purchase, deposited to the account monthly**
* APY is annual percentage yield. Rates are accurate as of 03/04/2024 and subject to change at any time, including after account opening. Fees may reduce earnings.
** Earn up to $150 per month. Pending and preauthorized debit card transactions do not earn cash rewards until the final transaction posts to the account. Cash rewards rate effective 03/04/2024.
If earning interest doesn't align with your values or beliefs, a SmartStart Simple checking account is the perfect tool to take care of your money.
Special Features
- Non-interest bearing
- Cash rewards on debit card spending
- No opening balance requirement
- No hidden fees
- No maintenance fees
- No minimum balance
- StearnsConnect online and mobile banking - free with account
- Nationwide fee-free ATM network
Cash Rewards:
- 0.10% cash rewards on EVERY debit card purchase, deposited to the account monthly*
*Earn up to $150 per month. Pending and preauthorized debit card transactions do not earn cash rewards until the final transaction posts to the account. Cash rewards rate effective 03/04/2024.
Save for the long haul
Certificates of Deposit (a.k.a. CDs) typically offer a higher interest rate than a savings account, which means placing money in them and leaving it there for a while helps you even more.
Added benefit alert: With SmartStart CDs, kids and teens have the option to continually add money to the account over time.
It's all on the app
Banking happens everywhere with the StearnsConnect app. Whether you're at home, in between classes, or hanging out with friends, take care of finances right from your phone, securely.
- Deposit checks from your phone
- Connect ApplePay and Google Pay
- Check your account balance
- Set alerts for account activity
Learn as you go
Money management takes time. SmartStart serves up the skills you may not have yet, right in your StearnsConnect app.
Have fun learning how to create a budget, spend responsibly, protect yourself from fraud, build your credit and more.
