What age can my child get a debit card?

Your child typically needs to be 14 years old to get their own Visa Debit card, and 16 to get their own Debit Mastercard. However, some banks offer debit card access for children as young as 8 or 9 years old. Some banks also offer their own type of debit cards. These work in a similar way to standard debit cards but have a few more restrictions when using the card outside of Australia.

When should I give my child a debit card?

This is completely up to you and your individual experience. You might consider giving your child a debit card when: They start going out for social activities without you present, for example, going to the movies with friends. When they start high school, or if they have a long distance to travel to and from school on the bus or train. A debit card will be handy if there are delays or the bus breaks down, for example. They start wanting or needing to buy things when you're not with them.

Can a 12 year old have a debit card in Australia?

Yes, there are banks that offer debit cards to kids under the age of 12. For example, NAB, Westpac and CommBank all offer debit cards for kids under 12.