No, a minor cannot get a credit card in their own name. Federal law sets 21 as the default minimum age to open a credit card account, and the narrow exceptions that let 18-to-20-year-olds qualify both require the applicant to be old enough to sign a binding contract. For anyone under 18, the practical route to using a credit card, and to building a credit history before adulthood, is being added as an authorized user on a parent’s or guardian’s existing account.
Why the Law Closes the Door Under 18
The Credit CARD Act of 2009 bars 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 has a co-signer at least 21 years old who agrees to share liability.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1637 – Open End Consumer Credit Plans Both exceptions assume the applicant can enter a legally binding contract, so they only reach people who are at least 18. A minor under 18 has no independent path.
Even for 18-to-20-year-olds, the co-signer route is often theoretical. Many major issuers do not accept co-signers at all, which leaves proof of independent income as the only realistic option in that age bracket.2eCFR. 12 CFR 1026.51 – Ability to Pay
The Authorized User Route
Adding a minor as an authorized user is how most families get a card into a teenager’s hands. The minor receives a physical card in their own name and can make purchases, but they are not a party to the credit agreement. The primary cardholder, meaning the parent or guardian, stays fully responsible for paying the balance, including anything the minor charges.3Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Comment for 1026.12 – Special Credit Card Provisions
Because the authorized user never signs a credit contract, the issuer cannot pursue the minor if the account goes unpaid. Any contractual liability the minor has for their own charges would be a question of state law, but in practice card issuers treat the primary cardholder as solely responsible.
Age Minimums at Major Issuers
Federal law does not set a minimum age for authorized users. Each issuer sets its own policy, and the minimums 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
Wells Fargo’s 18-year threshold effectively rules out the authorized-user route for minors on its cards. For issuers without a published minimum, call before you start the process, since internal policies may still apply.
How to Add a Minor as an Authorized User
The process usually takes only a few minutes. You will need the minor’s full legal name as it appears on official documents, their date of birth so the issuer can confirm its age minimum, and their Social Security number. Federal rules require financial institutions to collect identifying information, including a taxpayer identification number, when adding a person to a financial account.
Most issuers let you make the request through online banking or their mobile app, 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. The issuer will mail a new card in the minor’s name to your address on file, usually within one to two weeks, and you will need to activate it before the minor can use it.
How This Builds the Minor’s Credit
One of the biggest reasons to add a minor as an authorized user is that the account typically shows up on the minor’s credit report. By the time they apply for their own card or loan, they have a credit file with real history instead of starting from scratch.4myFICO. How Do Authorized User Accounts Impact the FICO Score
The account can shape the minor’s profile in three main ways. Payment history is the single largest factor in a FICO score, about 35 percent, so a parent’s consistent on-time payments carry over as positive history. Credit utilization, the ratio of balance to limit, is roughly 30 percent of the score; a low-balance, high-limit account helps, and a maxed-out account hurts. Length of credit history makes up about 15 percent, and if the parent’s card has been open for years, the minor inherits that age on their report.
Not every scoring model weighs authorized user accounts the same way, and some lenders discount them compared with accounts the borrower opened independently. For a teenager with no other history, though, even a reduced benefit is meaningful.
Risks and Controls for the Parent
Because the arrangement is shared, it cuts both ways. If the minor runs up a large balance, the higher utilization appears on the primary cardholder’s report too and can pull the parent’s score down. Keeping utilization below 30 percent of the credit limit, and ideally below 20 percent, protects both scores.
Spending controls on personal credit cards are limited. American Express is the clearest exception: on its consumer cards, the primary cardholder can set a specific dollar spending limit on each authorized user card, with limits starting as low as $200. Most other major issuers do not offer per-user spending caps on personal cards, though some let you lock or unlock the authorized user’s card from the app. If controlling spending is a priority, check your issuer’s tools before adding the minor.
Because the parent is on the hook for every charge, setting ground rules in advance matters. Agreeing on what kinds of purchases are allowed, a monthly budget, and a habit of reviewing statements together turns the card into a workable teaching tool while limiting the downside.
Removing an Authorized User
The primary cardholder can remove an authorized user at any time, by phone or online. The removal is usually immediate, and the minor’s card stops working.
The credit side of removal is worth thinking through first. When an authorized user comes off an account, that account and its history generally disappear from their credit report. If it was the minor’s only account, or their oldest, removal can shorten their credit history sharply or wipe out their credit file entirely.4myFICO. How Do Authorized User Accounts Impact the FICO Score If the account has been well-managed and the minor has no credit of their own yet, leaving the arrangement in place preserves the benefit.
The reverse is also true. If the primary account develops problems, such as late payments, high balances, or collections, removing the minor shields them from inheriting that negative history.
What Happens at 18
Turning 18 opens the door to applying for an independent card, but the CARD Act rules for applicants under 21 still apply. The young adult will need to show independent income sufficient to cover at least the 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 A part-time job usually meets the income test.
A secured credit card, where a refundable deposit sets the credit limit, is often a good first independent card. These are built for people establishing credit and tend to have lower approval thresholds. The history already on the young adult’s report from authorized user status gives them a real score to apply with instead of an empty file.
There is no rush to remove the authorized user status when a child turns 18. Many families leave it in place while the young adult builds independent credit and only remove it once the new account has enough history to stand on its own.
A Note on Joint Accounts
Joint credit card accounts are a different arrangement from authorized user status. Both parties sign the credit agreement, both go through credit checks, and both are equally liable for the full balance regardless of who charged what. They are not an option for minors, since a joint account requires signing a binding credit agreement and a minor lacks legal capacity to do so. Even for adults, most major issuers have moved away from offering joint credit card accounts on personal cards.5Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Can a Credit Card Company Consider My Age When Deciding to Lend Me a Card