On Tuesday, a group of teenagers in the care of the state Department of Children and Families walked into Liberty Bank in Middletown to open their first bank accounts.

The accounts are part of a new program created by the bank for 14- to 17-year-olds in DCF care, which can be opened and accessed without the cosign of a parent or guardian. The move fills a gap for such youth, who often face difficulty accessing banking services.

During a workshop that morning, several youth were instructed on how the accounts work, shown best practices to protect against fraud, and advised by college-age interns at the bank on how to use money wisely.

The accounts have some restrictions — an ATM limit of $200 and no checks, for example. But they have perks, too: There are no overdraft fees and the program provides a $10 rebate for ATM fees.

Liberty Bank CEO David Glidden spoke to the group enrolling on Tuesday. He told them of his path from prison guard to bank CEO and was asked by one of the youth — Ari Ragston, 16 — if he wouldn’t mind explaining in more detail how he made it from there to here.

Glidden explained that he realized the job of correctional officer wasn’t right for him, then moved to pharmaceutical sales. Later, as he continued to look around for the right fit, he found an opportunity to work at a bank. Finding your career might mean trying a few things on for size, he told them.

“Learn what makes you tick,” he said. “Do you really like people? Should you be more in sales? Do you want to be in a back office? Do you like technology? It doesn’t matter your entry point. Get going. Save. Keep learning,” he said. “Just always be in a position where you keep learning.”

The interaction was an illustration of a what DCF leadership has known for sometime: Youth in their care want more control over their financial lives and more direction on how to succeed.

Lawmakers and Gov. Ned Lamont want all Connecticut youth to become more competent with their personal finances, and they passed a bill in 2023 to that end, which made it mandatory for high school seniors to complete a financial literacy course before graduation. Some of the youth in the room on Tuesday will graduate with the first high school class to meet that requirement.

But the Tuesday event did more than offer lessons on managing money. It was also an effort to close a gap that has, up to now, prevented DCF youth from accessing the same accounts as their peers.

“This is one of the many components that we want to instill in children in our care and custody,” DCF spokesperson Peter Yazbak said. “For older youth, we are preparing them and giving them every tool we can to be successful and thrive once they’re out in the world.”

Liberty Bank first connected with DCF’s Youth Advisory Board when its staff led a financial literacy workshop in 2023. At that time, members of the bank heard youth ask DCF employees how they might open a bank account without an adult cosigner. Liberty Bank responded by creating the new accounts.

Shaneka Hernandez, a child services consultant with DCF, said that the accounts were an example of agency youth leadership creating “great things and space for you all,” and encouraged them to get involved with the Youth Advisory Board.

Elizabeth Hazelwood, a program supervisor at DCF, said that in an increasingly cashless world, young people without bank accounts and debit cards are often forced to turn to card alternatives that charge high fees.

Ivan Delgado Santiago, 16, said he ran into trouble with a mobile payment app, called Cash App. He was looking forward to opening his account to be able to deposit paychecks from his new job.

Watching Santiago and others get a bank tour on Tuesday, Hazelwood said the experience will also make youth more confident that they can navigate such an institution.

“Just getting used to and not being intimidated walking into a bank,” she said. “If you have a question and you know who to call. You’re developing trust with local banking branch people.”

So far, 40 teens have registered for the program, which was launched six months ago.

Ragston sat in the bank lobby on Tuesday waiting to open her account. She said she felt comfortable in the bank and ready for the milestone of having her own account and learning about managing her finances.

“I’m just going to explore and learn. I’m not gonna use it to do whatever — I’m gonna use it for the right purpose,” Ragston said. In life, she’d had come to find, you learn as you go, and “today was one of the days I learned as I’m going.”