I have searched high and low for a bank that offers checking accounts to minors without a parental cosigner with very unfruitful results. I am in strong doubt such things exist anymore. Neither of my parents can cosign on my account because of financial debt, totally destroyed credit and bankruptcies on both accounts. Because of owing money to a couple banks already, neither of them will (and I am not sure if they even could) cosign on an account with me without having an operational and debt free account of their own. I know the whole point of a cosigner is to prevent the overdrawing of money on the minor's part so the bank does not end up burnt. I do not have any other family members, or even friends for that matter that can or will sign for me. I suppose there is no point of going through this process when I will be eighteen in eight months, but I do not know of any other way to go about things, financially speaking. I have to pay a cell phone bill using a pay-as-you-go debit card (not sure what to call it), its very inconveniant. If what you say about this process being a very long one is right, I will pass it all up and wait it out. I make enough money to be able to spend on the emancipation, so I am not concerned with this. As far as my own place goes, I am planning on moving with the same boyfriend in Chicago, this time in an apartment he is signing the lease on (he is 19).