A minor under 18 cannot get their own credit card in the United States. Federal law sets 21 as the default minimum age to open a credit card account, and the only exceptions — proving independent income or bringing in a co-signer — still require the applicant to be at least 18. The workable path for someone younger is to be added as an authorized user on a parent’s or guardian’s card, which lets them use a card in their own name and start building a credit history without signing a credit agreement themselves.
Why the Law Blocks Minors From Opening a Card
The Credit CARD Act of 2009 prohibits card issuers from opening a credit card account for anyone under 21 unless the applicant either submits financial information showing they can independently cover the minimum payments, or provides a co-signer who is at least 21 and agrees to share liability.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1637 – Open End Consumer Credit Plans Both exceptions assume the applicant can legally enter a binding contract, which rules out anyone under 18.
The implementing regulation says the same thing in operational terms: an issuer must have proof the applicant can independently make minimum payments, or a signed guarantee from a qualifying co-signer.2eCFR. 12 CFR 1026.51 – Ability to Pay In practice, many major issuers do not accept co-signers at all, so proof of income is usually the only realistic route once the applicant turns 18.
Adding a Minor as an Authorized User
An authorized user gets a card issued in their own name and can make purchases on the account, but they never sign the credit agreement. The primary cardholder — the parent or guardian — stays fully responsible for the balance, including anything the authorized user charges.3Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Comment for 1026.12 – Special Credit Card Provisions
Because the minor is not a party to the contract, the issuer cannot pursue them for the debt. Whether an authorized user has any liability for their own charges is a state-law question, but as a practical matter card companies collect from the primary cardholder.3Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Comment for 1026.12 – Special Credit Card Provisions
Issuer Age Minimums for Authorized Users
Federal law does not set a minimum age for authorized users. Each issuer sets its own, and the rules vary widely:
- American Express: 13
- U.S. Bank: 13
- Discover: 15
- Wells Fargo: 18
- Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, and Citi: no publicly stated minimum
Issuers without a published minimum may still apply internal policies, so it is worth calling before you assume any age will work. Wells Fargo’s 18-year floor effectively closes the authorized-user route to minors on its cards.
How to Add a Minor to Your Account
The process is quick. You will need the minor’s full legal name as it appears on official documents, their date of birth, and their Social Security number, which federal rules require financial institutions to collect when adding someone to an account.
Most issuers let you add an authorized user through the online banking site or mobile app, usually under a menu labeled something like “Add Authorized User” or “Manage Card Members.” You can also call the number on the back of your card and have a representative do it. Once submitted, the issuer mails a new card in the minor’s name to your address on file, generally within one to two weeks. You activate it through the app or phone line before the minor can use it.
How This Builds the Minor’s Credit
The main long-term benefit is that the account history typically appears on the minor’s credit report. By the time they apply for their own card or loan, they already have a credit file with recorded activity instead of starting from nothing.
Three parts of the FICO calculation matter here:4myFICO. How Do Authorized User Accounts Impact the FICO Score
- Payment history, the largest single factor at roughly 35 percent. On-time payments by the primary cardholder show up on the authorized user’s report too.
- Credit utilization, about 30 percent. A low balance against a high credit limit helps; a maxed-out card hurts.
- Age of accounts, about 15 percent. If the parent’s card is old, the authorized user inherits that account age on their report, which can be a meaningful head start.
Not every scoring model weighs authorized user accounts identically, and some lenders discount them relative to accounts the borrower opened themselves. Even so, for a teenager with no other file, a partial benefit is still a real one.
Risks and Spending Controls
An authorized user arrangement is a shared credit relationship, so it can move both scores in either direction. A large balance run up by the authorized user raises the utilization the primary cardholder is judged on and can drag that score down. Keeping total utilization under 30 percent of the limit, and ideally under 20 percent, protects both parties.
Per-user spending controls are limited on most personal cards. American Express is the notable exception, allowing primary cardholders to set a specific dollar spending cap on each authorized user card across its consumer lineup, with limits starting as low as $200. Most other major issuers do not offer a per-user cap on personal cards, though some let you lock or unlock the authorized user’s card from the app. If spending control matters, check the issuer’s specific tools before adding the minor.
Because the primary cardholder is on the hook for every charge, it helps to agree on ground rules first: what kinds of purchases are allowed, a monthly budget, and a regular review of the statement together. That turns the card into a teaching tool rather than a surprise.
Removing an Authorized User
A primary cardholder can remove an authorized user at any time by calling the issuer or submitting the request online. The removal is generally processed right away, and the minor’s card stops working.
Think about the credit consequences before you do it. When someone is removed as an authorized user, the account and its history usually drop off their credit report. If it was their only account, or their oldest, removal can shorten their credit history sharply or wipe out their file. On a well-managed account, it often makes sense to leave the arrangement in place until the young person has their own credit established.4myFICO. How Do Authorized User Accounts Impact the FICO Score
The reverse also matters. If the primary account starts having problems — late payments, high balances, collections — removing the minor keeps that negative history from landing on their report.
When Your Child Turns 18
At 18, the door opens to applying for a card, but the CARD Act rules for applicants under 21 still apply. They will need to document independent income sufficient to cover minimum payments, or find an issuer that accepts a co-signer, which many do not.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1637 – Open End Consumer Credit Plans Part-time work usually counts.
A secured credit card, where a refundable deposit becomes the credit limit, is often a sensible first independent card. Approval thresholds are lower, and the authorized-user history means the applicant walks in with a score rather than an empty file. There is no rush to remove the authorized user status the moment they turn 18; many families keep it in place until the new account has enough standalone history.
Joint Accounts Are Not an Option
A joint credit card account is a different arrangement: both people sign the agreement, both are credit-checked, and both are equally liable for the full balance. A joint account holder cannot simply be removed the way an authorized user can; the account has to be closed or restructured.
This route is closed to minors. Signing a binding credit agreement requires legal capacity to contract, which someone under 18 does not have. And even for adults, most major issuers have stopped offering joint personal credit cards, so the option is increasingly rare in the market generally.5Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Can a Credit Card Company Consider My Age When Deciding to Lend Me a Card