Choosing a debit card as a teen

A debit card is a card that’s linked to your everyday transaction account. It lets you easily access your own money from the account at an ATM or when shopping. NAB offers two debit cards that are suitable for teenagers.

Debit cards for kids under 13

A NAB Debit Card is available to customers aged 8 to 13 years. This card allows you to withdraw money from your account at an ATM.  You can make purchases at shops using EFTPOS, but you can’t shop online or add the card to your digital wallet. 

You can apply for a NAB Debit Card by visiting a branch.

 NAB Visa Debit card

A NAB Visa Debit card is available to customers aged 14 years and older. With this card you can:

• withdraw from or deposit into your account at an ATM
• make purchases at shops
• shop online
• add the card to your digital wallet.

A debit card is a great way to learn how to manage your own money. You can use your debit card to access the money in your transaction account, such as your salary from an after-school job.

Here are our tips for using your first debit card smartly and safely.

1. Activate your card. Sign the back of your physical debit card. Use our help guide to activate your new card and set a PIN. Keep your PIN secret – don’t share it with anyone or write it down.
2. Keep your card details safe. Keep your card details secret – don’t share them with friends or show them on social media. Someone else could use this information to shop online, even if they don’t have the physical card. Learn about staying safe on social media and keeping your devices and apps safe.
3. Start banking online. Register for internet banking and download the NAB app to easily manage your card. Learn how to create strong passwords and keep them safe.
4. Add your card to a digital wallet. Learn how to add your debit card to Apple Pay, Google Pay and other digital wallets so you can pay with your phone. You need to be at least 13 to add a card to Apple Pay and 16 to add a card to Google Pay.
5. Track your spending. The Spending feature in the NAB app makes it easier to understand where your money is going.
6. Shop safely online. Look for a small lock symbol next to the URL which indicates a website is safe. Learn more about staying safe when you shop online.
7. Avoid overspending. Remember, you can only spend the money in your linked transaction account. If you try to spend more than your available balance the transaction might be declined. You can set up notifications in the NAB app or NAB Internet Banking to let you know when your account is overdrawn or your balance is getting low. 

Regularly checking your spending on the NAB app is a great way to keep track of your money and can help you notice early if something isn’t right.

If you see a suspicious transaction in your account, or if your card is lost or stolen:

• Block your card immediately in the NAB app or Internet Banking. Learn how to block your card on your iPhone or Android phone^TM. 
• Call us on 13 22 65.