Step
Step Step Visa Card & Money Account
The free teen card that builds credit history before 18
Insurance: Deposits held at Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC, insured to $250,000; up to $1M coverage for eligible Step Black members
Plan Options
Step (free)
$0
- ▸Secured Visa card with no fees, no interest, no credit check
- ▸1% unlimited cashback on purchases
- ▸Credit reporting to all three bureaus
Step Black
$4.99, waived with $500+ monthly direct deposit
3% savings reward
- ▸3% savings reward on balances
- ▸Up to 10% cashback at rotating Step Black partner merchants
- ▸FDIC coverage expanded up to $1M for eligible members
Features
- ▸Secured Visa charge card: teens can only spend what's in the account, so no overdrafts or debt
- ▸Reports payment history to TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax; up to 2 years of credit history before age 18
- ▸1% cashback on all purchases even on the free tier
- ▸Parent sponsors the account for minors and can monitor activity and send money instantly
- ▸Direct deposit with early payday access
- ▸Savings goals, plus stock and crypto investing for eligible users
- ▸$10,000 maximum account balance; $250 daily ATM withdrawal limit
Pros
- +Genuinely free: no monthly fee, no minimums, and cashback most kid cards don't pay
- +The only mainstream teen account that builds real credit history before 18
- +Average reported score lift of 57 points in a year for users in their 20s
- +Step Black is effectively free for any teen with a part-time job on direct deposit
Cons
- −Parental controls are lighter than Greenlight's: no per-category spend limits
- −3% savings reward requires Black and is a reward rate Step can change anytime
- −Partner bank Evolve Bank & Trust has a rocky recent history (Synapse fallout, 2024 data breach)
- −Acquired by MrBeast's Beast Industries in February 2026; product direction under new ownership is unproven
Our Take
Step's pitch is unique: a free card that quietly builds your teen's credit file years before they could get a credit card, and that alone justifies the account. The 1% cashback and fee-free structure make it the best value in teen banking, with Step Black a no-brainer for teens with direct deposit income. Two caveats keep the score down: parental controls trail Greenlight, and the 2026 MrBeast acquisition adds real uncertainty about where the product goes next. Open it for the credit history, watch how the new owners behave.
Best for: Teens 13+ who want a free card that builds credit history before 18
Open at Step →Last verified 2026-06-11
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