With summer approaching and school ending, many teens will start their summer jobs or graduate. These milestones are a great opportunity to develop smart money habits and begin building credit.

First Commerce helps families build strong financial foundations together. As parents partner with their teens to establish good habits, First Commerce can be their trusted partner in this effort.

Start Smart – As summer paychecks arrive, FCCU’s free SmartStart checking gives teens (age 13 – 17) practical budget experience through their instant-issue debit card and digital banking. With no fees, four free non-FCCU ATM withdrawals monthly, and digital wallet options, it’s designed for young users. Paired with an EvenUp Savings account, they begin to understand the power of saving and compounding interest. With EvenUp, each debit purchase is rounded to the next dollar, transferring the difference to savings where it earns an interest rate that is higher than the national average of a traditional savings account.

Give ’em Credit – Parents often ask how they can help their children build credit safely. Young adults 18+ have two credit card options: a lower-limit account joint with a parent, grandparent, or other adult with established credit; or a share secured credit card, which is a credit card backed by a cash deposit from the member. First-time car buyers can benefit from an auto loan joint with another adult, which builds credit while providing practical lessons about principal versus interest, which can be tracked in digital banking.

Teachable Moments – Beyond products, First Commerce offers SmartMoney online financial literacy courses and SavvyMoney in digital banking, providing free credit scores, reports, and insights for their journey toward major purchases like homeownership.

By helping the next generation establish financial wellness through guided experiences, families create a foundation for independence and success.