Why parents are speeding up money milestones for teens

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

PARENTS SAY TEENS SHOULD START USING MONEY TOOLS EARLIER THAN EVER.

A NEW SURVEY OF 2,000 PARENTS OF TEENS FINDS THE AVERAGE MOM OR DAD THINKS KIDS SHOULD GET THEIR FIRST DEBIT CARD AROUND AGE 15 – AND A CHECKING ACCOUNT RIGHT AROUND THE SAME TIME.

BUT MANY TEENS AREN’T THERE YET. A THIRD DON’T HAVE A DEBIT CARD, AND NEARLY HALF DON’T HAVE A CHECKING ACCOUNT.

THE STUDY, CONDUCTED BY TALKER RESEARCH ON BEHALF OF HUNTINGTON BANK, ALSO FOUND PARENTS FEEL THEY’RE PLAYING CATCH-UP, WITH 63 PERCENT SAYING THEY FEEL BEHIND IN PREPARING THEIR KIDS FINANCIALLY.

AND IT’S NOT EASY. MORE THAN HALF SAY TEACHING BUDGETING IS THE HARDEST LESSON, FOLLOWED BY SAVING AND UNDERSTANDING CREDIT.

SO WHAT ABOUT YOU? WHEN DO YOU THINK TEENS SHOULD START LEARNING HOW TO MANAGE MONEY? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 parents of teens ages 13 to 17 who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by Huntington Bank and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Feb. 3 and Feb. 10, 2026. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.