53C-6-4. Minors.

(a) A bank may issue and operate a deposit account in the name of a minor or in the name of two or more individuals, one or more of whom are minors, and receive payments, pay withdrawals, accept a pledge of the account, issue automated teller machine (ATM) and debit cards, contract for overdraft protection, and act in any other manner with respect to the account on the order of the minor with like effect as if the minor were of full age and legal capacity. Any payment to or at the direction of a minor is a discharge of the bank to the extent thereof. The account shall be held for the exclusive right and benefit of the minor and any joint owners, free from the control of all other persons except creditors. A minor who obtains a deposit account from a bank under this subsection, whether individually or together with others, is bound by the terms of the deposit account agreement to the same extent as if the minor were of full age and legal capacity.

(b) Any bank may lease a safe deposit box to a minor or to two or more individuals, one or more of whom are minors. With respect to any such lease, a bank may deal with the minor in all regards as if the minor were of full age and legal capacity. A minor entering a lease agreement with a bank under this subsection, whether individually or together with others, is bound by the terms of the safe deposit box agreement to the same extent as if the minor were of full age and legal capacity.

(c) If a minor with a deposit account, other than a joint account with right of survivorship or a Payable on Death account, dies, a parent or legal guardian of the minor may access and withdraw the funds on deposit, and the bank is discharged to the extent of any withdrawal. If a minor with a safe deposit box dies, the provisions of G.S. 28A-15-13 shall control the opening, inventory, and release of contents of the safe deposit box.

(d) This section shall not affect the law governing transactions with minors in cases outside the scope of this section, including transactions that constitute an extension of credit to the minor.