Unless you're emancipated – that is, someone who isn't an adult by age but is legally recognized as living independently – you can't get a standard credit card in your own name until you're 18 years old.
Kids can't open their own credit card account until they turn 18, and will need to prove independent income until they're 21. But even before then, minors can benefit from becoming authorized users on a family member's credit account.
Age – You will need to be minimum 18 years of age to apply for a Credit Card. Even if you are an add-on Credit Card holder, the age limit needs to be met.
Adding a minor as an authorized user can help build the minor's credit. In some cases, card issuers report to the credit bureaus the payment histories of every individual who has a card in their name — cardmembers and authorized users alike.
You can't get your own credit card if you're under the age of 18. But you can become an authorized user (more on that below). Even after you turn 18, the Credit CARD Act of 2009 states you'll need to have either proof of independent income or a cosigner over the age of 21.
Note, however, that kids cannot open their own credit card account. Anyone under the age of 18 can only be added as an authorized user on an adult's credit card account, which doesn't come with the exact same privileges — or the liability.
Some credit card issuers may be willing to issue a new account to a minor who cosigns with a parent or other legal guardian. But otherwise, unless you are legally emancipated, you probably can't open a credit card at age 17 with a credit card issuer.
A child can typically get a debit card at 13 years old when a parent or legal guardian opens a teen checking joint account on their behalf. Teen checking accounts are typically available until the child turns 18.
Can a minor open a bank account? Yes, with an adult. If your child is age 14 through 17, you may open a joint Student Checking 1 or Safe Debit account together online. Visit a branch if you'd like to open a different account or if your child is younger.
# You should be 18 years and above. # In the case of minors, the parents or legal guardian of the minor can open the account on their behalf.
You need to fill out the form for opening the account, with the minor as the first account holder, and you as the joint holder. You also need to submit your photographs along with this form. Some banks ask for the minor's photograph as well. You need to submit the child's birth certificate as age proof.
You can add your daughter to your credit card account as an authorized user. If you have a good credit record, adding her to the account can help boost her credit score. But, if you have a bad credit history, it would reflect poorly on her too. Also, you will owe the amount that she charges.
There are two main ways in which a parent can max out credit cards in their child's name. In the first version, the parent uses their son's or daughter's Social Security Number to open up a bunch of accounts (not necessarily limited to credit cards) without consent and/or their child even knowing about it.
Use of a child's Social Security number for fraudulent purposes can go undetected for years, since parents may not check to see if their children have credit reports. It's only later, when the child is a young adult and may be attempting to rent an apartment or get a credit card, that the identity theft is discovered.
After turning 18, you can help your young adult set up an account with Credit Karma, including free credit monitoring. This way your child will be notified if anything important changes, like an unauthorized account, so your family can react quickly to any suspicious signs of fraud.
File a fraud report with the FTC online or by calling 877-438-4338. Create an Identity Theft Report at identitytheft.gov This is the government's one-stop resource for identity theft victims. Freeze your credit to stop any additional new credit accounts from being opened in your name.
Children 13 and older can check their credit the same way adults do. By visiting AnnualCreditReport.com – the only website federally authorized to provide credit reports from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion for free – your child can enter his or her personal information to receive a copy of each report.
Parents who use their child's information to open financial accounts can cause long-term credit damage.
The short answer is that 18 is the minimum age for financial products such as loans and credit cards. But anyone can potentially start building credit before 18 if they're an authorized user on an account.
According to credit bureau Experian, a good credit score is 700 or above.