How to open a bank account
What it is:
Where your wages go. You need one before your first paid job.
How to do it:
Most major banks have free accounts for under-18s (no fees, no minimum balance). Look for "youth" or "student" account.
Under 14: you'll usually need a parent or guardian with you.
14 and over: you can usually open an account in your own name, but you'll need 100 points of ID (school ID, Medicare card, passport, etc.).
Compare before choosing. Look at fees (should be zero for student accounts), how easy it is to access (ATM near you, mobile app), and any signup bonuses.
Tip: Once you have it, set up a separate savings account too — even if it just has $5 in it. It's easier to save into an account that exists than to open one later.
