Can a child be a credit card authorized user?

Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Most credit card issuers allow children under 18 years to be added as authorized users on a credit card and some don’t have any age restrictions whatsoever. Adding your kids as authorized users on your credit cards may seem counterintuitive to the concept of financial independence.

Can a parent add a child to a credit card account?

As a parent, there are lots of things you can do to help your child establish and build credit. Adding them as an authorized user on your credit card account is one. Keep in mind that’s as long as you both use the account responsibly and your card issuer reports the card activity of authorized users to the credit bureaus.

What is the minimum age a child can use a credit card?

There is no legal minimum age for adding a child as an authorized user, however you should check your credit card issuer's policies. Chase, for example, does not report the authorized user credit history of minors to the Credit Reporting Agencies. Other financial products like credit-builder loans have a minimum age of 18.