Are you looking for a banking option that works for your whole family while helping your kids learn how to manage money?

Crew might be exactly what you need.

Crew is a high yield checking account and family banking app that helps parents and kids manage money together. It combines budgeting tools, debit cards for kids, and strong interest rates into one simple platform.

Our family has been using Crew since July 2024 and it has completely changed how we handle banking as a household.

In this Crew banking review, I will walk through how it works, the best features, what could be improved, and how our family actually uses it day to day.

If you are looking for a debit card and banking app that helps kids learn real money skills while still giving parents oversight, Crew has quickly become one of the most interesting options available.

Crew Quick Overview

Feature	Crew
Account Type	High Yield Checking
APY	2.95%
Monthly Fees	None
Minimum Balance	None
Kids Debit Cards	Yes
Individual Kid Logins	Yes
Cash Deposits	Yes
Mobile Check Deposit	Yes
Budgeting Tools	Unlimited Pockets
Best For	Families managing money together

Pros and Cons of Crew

Pros

• High yield checking earning 2.95% APY
• Debit cards available for kids
• Individual logins for children
• Unlimited budgeting pockets
• Allowance automation
• Cash deposits and mobile check deposit
• No monthly fees or minimum balances

Cons

• App-only banking with no desktop login
• APY slightly lower than some high-yield savings accounts
• No physical check writing

What Is Crew?

Crew is a financial technology company that offers a high yield checking account designed to help families organize their money, automate their budget, and earn interest on their deposits.

Crew combines checking, savings, and budgeting tools into one account. Every dollar in your account earns interest while you organize your money using customizable pockets.

Crew currently offers:

• High yield checking earning 2.95% APY
• No account minimums
• No monthly fees
• Unlimited budgeting pockets
• Debit cards for kids with their names on them
• Individual logins for children
• Real-time spending alerts
• Allowance automation
• Autopilot rules for budgeting and transfers
• AI financial assistant called Penny

Crew is not a bank. It is a financial technology app that partners with Bangor Savings Bank to provide banking services.

Bangor Savings Bank is FDIC insured, which means deposits held through Crew are protected up to federal insurance limits.

Crew is available on both iOS and Android devices.

Why Our Family Switched Completely to Crew

When we first opened our Crew account in July 2024, we were mostly interested in the family banking features.

At the time, our financial setup looked like this:

• Personal checking at PNC
• Emergency savings at Ally (you can read our full Ally Bank review here)
• Kids checking and savings at Ally

Crew initially attracted us because it offered something unique for families.

Kids could have their own debit cards, their own logins, and their own budgeting pockets.

Our kids loved the autonomy immediately.

Instead of asking us how much money they had, they can simply open the app and check their balances. From there they can track their spending in real time and begin learning what real financial responsibility looks like.

After a few months, we moved our kids’ accounts from Ally to Crew.

Then we moved our emergency fund.

Then Crew introduced high yield checking for all deposits, which meant every dollar in our account was earning interest.

At that point, it no longer made sense to keep money at PNC earning almost nothing.

Today our family is fully a Crew household.

We closed our PNC account and have mostly eliminated Ally as well.

We have now been Crew users for nearly two years and have used it as our primary family banking solution for over a year.

Best Crew Features

High Yield Checking

Crew offers a high yield checking account paying 2.95% APY on all deposits.

There are:

• No minimum balances
• No interest caps
• No direct deposit requirements

Even our kids earn the same interest rate on their money.

If you open an account using our link, you can receive an additional 0.5% APY boost for three months.

Debit Cards for Kids

Crew provides debit cards for every family member.

Our kids love having cards with their names printed on them, which makes the experience feel more grown up and empowering.

My daughter even added her Crew debit card to Apple Wallet so she can tap to pay when shopping with friends.

Individual Logins for Kids

Each child receives their own login.

This has been one of the biggest wins for our family.

Instead of asking us for balances or transaction details, our kids can simply open the app and see everything themselves.

That independence has helped them take much greater ownership of their money.

Pockets Budgeting System

Crew’s budgeting system uses pockets that act like digital envelopes.

You can create unlimited pockets for goals such as:

• Spending
• Giving
• Clothes
• Car fund
• Vacation
• Emergency savings

When using your debit card, you can choose which pocket is active. My son loves this feature. If he wants to buy his mom a birthday gift, he switches his active pocket to Giving before making the purchase.

Allowance Automation

Crew makes allowances incredibly simple. For example, we give our daughter $50 per month for clothing. Crew automatically deposits the money into her clothing pocket every month.

Instead of constantly managing purchases ourselves, she learns to manage her own budget.

Autopilot Rules

Crew includes automation tools called Autopilot.

You can create rules that automatically:

• Move money between pockets
• Block purchases from certain merchants
• Automate transfers
• Enforce budgeting limits

AI Assistant Named Penny

Crew also introduced an AI assistant named Penny.

Penny can answer questions about spending, help navigate the app, and provide insights into financial activity.

Crew also delivers monthly spending summaries for both parents and kids.

How We Use Crew as a Family

Every family will use Crew differently.

In our household, our kids manage their own debit cards and pockets. They have pockets for:

• Spending
• Giving
• Saving
• Long-term goals like a future car

We also receive real time alerts whenever they make purchases. This gives us visibility without constantly managing their accounts.

One unexpected benefit is that our kids have become much more responsible with money.

Crew has helped us teach financial independence in a way that feels natural. If you are looking for more ideas, check out our guide to financial literacy for kids:
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/financial-literacy-for-kids/

Crew replaced multiple bank accounts for our family and made it much easier to teach our kids how to manage money.

Areas of Improvement for Crew

Crew has improved significantly since we joined. Two major limitations have already been solved:

• Mobile check deposit is now available
• Cash deposits can be made at locations like CVS

Both features work very well. That said, there are still a few areas for improvement. No financial tool is perfect.

Pocket Purchase Settlement

One small issue we have experienced involves delayed charges from some merchants like Amazon. Sometimes purchases do not settle immediately.

In one case, my son bought something using his Spending pocket, then switched to his Giving pocket later that day. When the Amazon charge finally processed, it pulled from the Giving pocket instead.

This is not a major issue but something to be aware of when switching pockets frequently.

Desktop Login

Crew is currently app only.

While the mobile experience works well, I would love to see a desktop login option for managing finances on a laptop.

APY Competition

Crew offers 2.95% APY, which is strong for a checking account.

However, some high yield savings accounts from competitors like Ally or CIT Bank occasionally offer slightly higher rates.

Writing Physical Checks

There are still occasional situations where someone requests a physical check, such as plumbers or electricians.

Crew currently does not offer check writing.

Crew vs Other Family Banking Options

Crew is not the only option for families.

Greenlight

Greenlight focuses heavily on parental controls and chores but charges a monthly fee.

Read our full Greenlight review here:
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/greenlight-review/

Step

Step is popular for teens and credit building, but it is not designed as a full family banking platform like Crew.

Who Crew Is Best For

Crew is a great fit for:

• Families teaching kids how to manage money
• Parents who want visibility into kids spending
• Households that prefer debit based budgeting
• People who want high yield checking without multiple accounts

Crew may not be the best fit for:

• People who prefer desktop banking
• Customers who frequently write physical checks
• Users who prefer traditional bank branches

Related Resources for Families

If you are exploring ways to help your kids manage money, these guides may help:

• How to create a family budget:
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/how-to-create-a-family-budget/

• Teaching financial literacy for kids:
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/financial-literacy-for-kids/

• Comparing online banks like Ally:
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/ally-bank-review/

Why I Trust Crew With My Family’s Money

Switching banks is not something most people take lightly. It took time for our family to move everything over to Crew.

We started slowly. At first we opened Crew accounts mainly for the kids because we liked the idea of debit cards, pockets, and financial education tools. Once we saw how well it worked, we moved their savings accounts from Ally.

Then we moved our emergency fund.

Eventually, when Crew introduced high yield checking, it made sense to move our primary checking account from PNC as well.

Today, Crew handles nearly all of our family banking. We have gone from juggling multiple accounts at different banks to managing everything in one place.

That simplicity has made our financial life easier while helping our kids become more confident with money.

For us, Crew is not just a tool we tested. It is the bank our family actually uses every day.

How to Open a Crew Account in About 3 Minutes

Opening a Crew account is simple and can be done entirely through the app.

Step 1: Open the Crew sign-up page

If you use our link, you will receive a 0.5% APY boost for your first three months.

Step 2: Download the Crew app and create your account.

Step 3: Connect your funding source or set up direct deposit.

Step 4: Create pockets, order debit cards, and set up allowances.

Within a few minutes, your family banking system can be fully up and running.

Final Thoughts on Our Crew Review

★★★★½

Our family has tested many financial tools over the years.

Crew has become our favorite banking solution because it combines high yield checking, family banking tools, and financial education in one platform.

It has helped our kids develop independence while making our family finances easier to manage.

Crew is not perfect. Desktop banking and check writing would be nice additions.

But with high yield checking, mobile check deposit, cash deposits, and powerful budgeting tools, Crew has become one of the most complete family banking solutions available today.

If you want to try Crew, you can receive a 0.5% APY bonus for three months using our link below.

👉 https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/crew

Disclosure: I am an affiliate and investor in Crew because I believe in their mission. I recommend tools that my family uses, and I also highlight other tools that may be helpful for families with different preferences.

Are you looking for a banking option that fits everyone in your family? Would you like to boost your financial literacy skills together? Then you have to check out our Crew review to learn more about a fintech company that is shaking up the family finance space. 

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