Credit cards for minors under 18 are rare, but several paths exist to start building a credit history now
You cannot open a credit card in your own name until you turn 18. Banks and card issuers are required by federal law to verify that you are a legal adult before they issue credit. However, you have three realistic options to build credit before 18: becoming an authorized user on a parent's or guardian's card, opening a secured credit card once you turn 18 (which some banks let you do with a parent co-signing), or using a teen checking account with a debit card to establish banking history that may help later.
Key Takeaways
- You must be 18 to hold a credit card in your own name; federal law prohibits issuers from lending to minors.
- As an authorized user on a parent's card, you can use credit and build history without legal responsibility for the debt.
- A secured credit card, available at 18, requires a cash deposit and reports to credit bureaus just like a regular card.
- Teen checking accounts with debit cards do not build credit but create a banking relationship that may help you later.
- Your credit score at 18 depends on what you do now: authorized user status, payment history, and credit mix all matter.
Becoming an authorized user on a parent's card
This is the most direct way to build credit before 18. When a parent or guardian adds you as an authorized user, you receive a card with your name on it linked to their account. You can make purchases, but the parent remains legally responsible for all debt. The account history—payments, balance, age of the account—reports to the credit bureaus under your name, so it counts toward your credit score.
Not every card issuer reports authorized user activity to credit bureaus, so ask your parent's bank first. Major issuers like Chase, Bank of America, American Express, and Discover typically do report it. Some cards have no minimum age for authorized users; others require you to be at least 13 or 15. Call the card issuer's customer service line or log into the online account to add you. The parent will need your Social Security number and date of birth.
The benefit is when ready: if the parent pays on time and keeps the balance low, that positive history shows up on your credit report. The risk is that if the parent misses payments or carries high debt, that damage appears on your report too. You have no control over the account, so choose a parent with strong payment habits.
Opening a secured credit card at 18
A secured credit card is designed for people with no credit history or poor credit. You deposit cash into a savings account held by the bank—typically $200 to $2,500—and that deposit becomes your credit limit. You then use the card like any other, make monthly payments, and the bank reports your activity to credit bureaus. After 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, many issuers convert the card to a regular unsecured card and return your deposit.
Banks that offer secured cards to 18-year-olds include Capital One, Discover, and U.S. Bank. Some require a parent to co-sign; others do not. Check the issuer's website for age and income requirements. The deposit is not a fee—it sits in your account and you can withdraw it once the card is converted or closed. Interest rates on secured cards are higher than standard cards (often 18% to 24%), so carrying a balance is expensive. The goal is to charge small amounts and pay them off in full each month.
A secured card is most useful if you did not become an authorized user earlier. If you already have authorized user history on a strong account, you may not need a secured card at all—your credit score may be high enough to may have access to for a regular card at 18.
Using a teen checking account to build banking history
Many banks offer checking accounts designed for minors, often called teen accounts or student accounts. These come with a debit card, online access, and sometimes parental controls. A debit card does not build credit because you are spending money you already have, not borrowing. However, opening an account at 16 or 17 establishes a banking relationship with the institution.
When you turn 18 and explore for a credit card at the same bank, they can see your account history—how long you have banked there, whether you overdraft, how you manage your balance. This is not a credit score, but it is a signal to the bank that you are a responsible customer. Some banks prioritize credit card applications from existing customers, especially young ones with clean account histories.
Teen accounts are useful for learning to manage money and getting comfortable with online banking, but they should not be your only strategy for building credit. Pair a teen account with authorized user status on a parent's card for the strongest foundation at 18.
What happens to your credit score at 18
When you turn 18, you become a legal adult and can hold credit in your own name. Your credit score does not automatically appear on your 18th birthday; it is built from credit activity. If you were an authorized user for two years before 18, you likely have a score in the 650 to 750 range (depending on the parent's payment history). If you have no credit history at all, you have no score yet.
Credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—track your credit history and calculate your score based on payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), length of credit history (15%), credit mix (10%), and new credit inquiries (10%). As an authorized user, you build all of these except new credit inquiries. A secured card at 18 adds new credit inquiries and a new account, which temporarily lowers your score, but the on-time payments rebuild it quickly.
You can check your credit score for free at annualcreditreport.com (the official government site) or through your bank's app. Many banks and credit card issuers now show your score free in their online portals. Checking your own score does not hurt it.
Mistakes to avoid before 18
If you are an authorized user, do not ask the parent to let you make large purchases or carry a balance. The goal is to show that credit is used responsibly. High balances and missed payments damage both your credit and the parent's, and they may remove you from the account.
Do not explore for multiple credit cards in a short time once you turn 18. Each process creates a hard inquiry on your credit report, and multiple inquiries in a few months signal to lenders that you are desperate for credit. Space applications out by at least six months.
Do not ignore your credit report. You are may have access to to one free report per year from each bureau at annualcreditreport.com. Check for errors—wrong accounts, accounts you did not open, or incorrect payment history. Dispute errors in writing with the bureau; they have 30 days to investigate.
Alternatives if you cannot become an authorized user
If a parent is unavailable or has poor credit themselves, you have other options. Some credit unions offer youth accounts with credit-building features; ask your local credit union whether they report teen account activity to bureaus. A few online banks and fintech companies offer credit-building products for teens, though these are less common than they were five years ago.
At 18, a secured card is your most reliable path. You control the account, build your own history, and do not depend on anyone else's financial behavior. The deposit requirement is the only barrier, so start saving now if you know you will need one.
Another option is a credit-builder loan from a credit union or online lender. You borrow a small amount (usually $500 to $1,000), make monthly payments, and at the end you receive the money. The lender reports your payments to credit bureaus. These are available to some 18-year-olds, though age and income requirements vary. Ask your credit union or search for "credit-builder loan" to see what is available in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a credit card at 17 if my parent co-signs?
No. Federal law prohibits credit card issuers from lending to anyone under 18, even with a co-signer. A co-signer does not change your age or legal status. You must wait until your 18th birthday to open a card in your own name.
Will being an authorized user hurt my credit if the parent misses a payment?
Yes. Late payments on the account show up on your credit report just as they do on the parent's. If the parent pays 30 days late, both of your scores drop. This is why it is important to choose a parent with reliable payment habits.
How much should I spend on a secured card to build credit?
Spend small amounts and pay them off in full each month. A common strategy is to charge $20 to $50 per month—a gas purchase, a coffee, a small online order—and pay it off before the due date. This shows the bank you can manage credit without carrying debt. Do not max out the card; high balances hurt your score even if you pay on time.
Does a debit card build credit?
No. Debit cards draw from money you already have, so there is no credit extended and no credit history built. However, a teen checking account with a debit card establishes a banking relationship that may help you later when you explore for a credit card at the same bank.
What is the difference between a hard inquiry and a soft inquiry on my credit?
A hard inquiry happens when you explore for credit—a credit card, loan, or mortgage. It lowers your score slightly and stays on your report for two years. A soft inquiry happens when a bank checks your credit to send you an offer or when you check your own score. Soft inquiries do not affect your score and do not show to lenders.