Your credit card options can be limited when you're under age 21. Here's what you need to do to get a card.
If you’re looking to jump-start your kid’s credit history or track their spending, consider adding your child as an authorized user on your credit card. Becoming an authorized user has looser age requirements than if your kid opened their own card, since the minimum age to open a credit card as the primary account holder is 18. As an authorized user, your kid can benefit from your good history and start to establish their own credit and good financial habits in a relatively low-risk way (granted you responsibly manage credit). ...
Adding a child to your credit card as an authorized user can help them establish a credit history. ; Your credit history can boost theirs, and improve their odds of getting approved for credit later. ; Any charges they make are your responsibility; be sure to set clear guidelines and know the risks. ; Read Personal Finance Insider's guide to the best credit cards.
Our top picks ; Build credit, get cashback ; $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months ; Debit card alternative
You have to be at least 18 to get a credit card. That’s typically the age you’re allowed to enter into legal contracts like credit card agreements. ; But the full answer isn’t quite as simple as that. Read on to learn more about credit card age requirements. ; What you’ll learn:
Issuer, Minimum age requirements for authorized users, Reports activity for minors (under the age of 18) ; American Express, 13 years old, No ; Barclays, 11 years old, Yes ; Capital One, No minimum age requirement, Yes
What's the best age to get a credit card? Credit cards are an essential part of our day-to-day lives - find out if you should get one as soon as you can.
Understand how old you have to be to get a credit card, with insights on credit card age limits for teens and the best starter cards.
Opening a credit card is a great way to build credit and set yourself up for future success, but you need to meet age requirements to qualify.
State, Average credit card debt ; Alaska, $7,338 ; Connecticut, $6,825 ; New Jersey, $6,879