Credit Card Authorized Users Minimum Age Requirements
Credit card authorized users can be a valuable asset for your points and miles-earning strategy, but they can also help you manage your family's credit history. You can add your children to one of your credit cards as an authorized users, allowing them to start building credit early. While some banks allow you to add anyone as an authorized user, others have rules regarding how old an authorized user must be. That is why I have compiled the credit card authorized users minimum age requirements for every major bank.
What Is An Authorized User?
An authorized user is someone you add to your credit card account who is authorized to make purchases on your behalf. They receive their own credit card with their name on it that they can use as they wish. You can add almost anyone to your credit card account as an authorized user as long as they are of age — they don't need to be related to you or a member of your household. However, as the primary cardholder, you are responsible for paying the balance on the card, so an authorized user should be someone you trust.
Purchases made by an authorized user are no different than purchases made by the primary cardholder. That means any spending by an authorized user will earn points for the primary cardholder — and can contribute to any minimum spend requirements to earn a welcome bonus offer. Some banks even have authorized user bonus offers.
Have more questions? Check out our full guide to credit card authorized users.
Credit Card Authorized User Minimum Age Limits: Bank by Bank
The minimum age for authorized users varies by bank. Here are the age restrictions for each major credit card issuer.
American Express
American Express imposes a minimum age requirement of 13 years old for authorized users. But Amex does not report authorized user credit history of minors, so they won't start reporting until the authorized user turns 18. So adding a minor as an authorized user to your Amex card is unlikely to help them build credit.
Bank of America
Bank of America does not have a minimum age requirement for authorized users.
Barclays
Barclays has a minimum age requirement of 13 years old for authorized users.
Capital One
Capital One does not have a minimum age requirement for authorized users.
Chase
Chase does not have any age restrictions for credit card authorized users. However, like Amex, Chase only reports authorized user credit history for those 18 years of age and older. So adding a minor as an authorized user to your Chase card is unlikely to help them build credit.
Citi
Citi does not a have an minimum age requirement for authorized users.
Discover
Discover requires all credit card authorized users to be at least 15 years old.
U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank has a minimum age requirement of 13 years old for authorized users.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo does not have a minimum age requirement. Like Amex and Chase, Wells Fargo only reports authorized user credit history if the authorized user is at least 18 years old. So again, adding a child as an authorized user to your Wells Fargo credit card is unlikely to help them build credit.
Credit Card Authorized Users Minimum Age: ToP Thoughts
Many people add their children to their credit card accounts as authorized users to help them build credit before they're eligible to open their own credit card. But whether or not you can add a minor to your account depends on the minimum age requirements of your bank. Hopefully, this guide clears up any questions!
