You cannot get a credit card in your own name at 16 in the United States

Federal law requires you to be at least 18 years old to sign a binding contract, and a credit card agreement is a contract. No major credit card issuer — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover — will issue a card to anyone under 18, regardless of income or credit history. This applies whether you explore online, by phone, or in person at a bank branch.

If you want to build credit before 18, you have three realistic paths: becoming an authorized user on someone else's card, opening a secured credit card (which some issuers offer to minors with a parent or guardian), or waiting until you turn 18 and explore on your own. Each works differently and carries different costs and benefits.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be 18 to hold a credit card in your own name; no issuer will make an exception based on income or circumstances.
  • As an authorized user on a parent's or guardian's card, you can use credit and build a payment history without signing anything yourself.
  • A secured credit card requires a cash deposit but lets you build credit in your own name if the issuer accepts minors with a parent's co-signature.
  • At 18, you can explore for a standard credit card, but issuers will check your income and may require a co-signer if you have no job or very low income.
  • Building credit early — even as an authorized user — gives you better interest rates and approval odds when you explore for loans or cards later.

Becoming an authorized user on a parent's or guardian's card

This is the most common way a 16-year-old uses credit. A parent or guardian adds you to their existing credit card account, and the card issuer sends you a card with your name on it. You can use it to make purchases, but the parent remains legally responsible for all charges. The parent's payment history on that account — whether they pay on time, how much they use of the credit limit, how long the account has been open — gets reported to your credit report.

The benefit is real: if the parent pays on time and keeps balances low, you build a positive credit history without doing anything. When you explore for your own card at 18, you will have a credit score and a record of responsible use, which makes approval more likely and interest rates lower.

The risk is equally real. If the parent misses payments, maxes out the card, or closes the account, that damage shows up on your credit report too. You have no control over the account and no legal recourse if the parent's behavior hurts your credit. Before you agree to this, ask the parent to show you their payment history and current balance. If they carry high balances or have missed payments in the past, this route will hurt you more than help.

Secured credit cards for minors

Some banks and credit unions offer secured credit cards to people under 18 if a parent or guardian co-signs. A secured card requires you to deposit cash into a savings account held by the bank — typically $200 to $2,500 — and that deposit becomes your credit limit. You use the card like any other card, and your on-time payments build your credit history in your own name.

The main cost is the deposit itself, which you cannot touch while the account is open. You also pay an annual fee (usually $25 to $50) and often a higher interest rate than a standard card. If you miss a payment, the bank can take money from your deposit to cover it. After 12 to 24 months of on-time payments, many issuers will convert the account to a standard card and return your deposit.

Not all banks offer this to minors. Capital One, Discover, and some credit unions do, but you will need to call or visit in person to find out whether a specific bank accepts minors and what their co-signer requirements are. The parent or guardian does not may provide the debt — they straightforward authorize the account — so this is a true way to build credit in your own name.

What happens when you turn 18

At 18, you can explore for a credit card without a parent's permission or co-signature. The issuer will ask for proof of income (a job, a scholarship, student loans, or regular money from family all count) and will check your credit report. If you have been an authorized user or held a secured card, you will have a credit score, which improves your odds of approval and the interest rate you receive.

If you have no credit history at all, approval is harder. Many issuers require a minimum income of $500 to $1,000 per month and may deny you outright. Others will approve you but with a high interest rate (20% or higher) or a low credit limit ($300 to $500). Some will require a co-signer — usually a parent — even though you are legally an adult.

If you are denied, do not explore to multiple cards in quick succession. Each process creates a hard inquiry on your credit report, and multiple inquiries in a short time signal to issuers that you are desperate for credit, which lowers your approval odds further. Wait three to six months, build your income or credit history, and try again with one issuer known for approving thin-file applicants, such as Discover or Capital One.

Building credit as a minor without a credit card

If neither authorized user status nor a secured card is available to you, you can still start building credit before 18. Becoming an authorized user on a utility bill (electric, water, internet) or a phone plan — where the account holder's name appears on the bill — creates a record that some credit bureaus track, though not all. Ask the account holder whether the company reports to credit bureaus before you rely on this.

A credit-builder loan from a credit union works differently: you borrow a small amount (usually $500 to $1,000), the credit union holds the money in a savings account, and you make monthly payments to yourself. After the loan is paid off, you get the money back. The payments build your credit history and cost you only a small amount of interest. Many credit unions allow minors to open these with a parent's co-signature.

Why building credit early matters

Your credit score affects more than credit cards. When you explore for a car loan, a mortgage, or even an apartment lease, the lender or landlord checks your credit. A score built over years of on-time payments gets you lower interest rates on loans (which saves thousands of dollars over time) and faster approval. A score built starting at 18 takes longer to reach the same level, which means you pay more for the same loan.

Starting at 16 or 17 as an authorized user or with a secured card gives you a two- to three-year head start. By the time you explore for a car loan at 20 or 21, you will have a solid history instead of no history, and that difference is worth hundreds or thousands of dollars in interest savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a credit card at 16 if I have a job?

No. Income does not change the age requirement. Federal law requires you to be 18 to sign a credit card agreement. Having a job makes you a better candidate when you turn 18, but it does not open the door before then.

What if I open a credit card account with a fake ID or someone else's name?

That is identity fraud, which is a federal crime. Do not do this. The consequences include criminal charges, fines, and a permanent criminal record that will follow you into adulthood and make it harder to get jobs, housing, and loans.

Does being an authorized user hurt the parent's credit?

No. Adding you as an authorized user does not change the parent's credit score or their ability to borrow. It only affects your credit report. The parent remains fully responsible for all charges, whether you make them or not.

If I am an authorized user, can the parent remove me without my permission?

Yes. A parent can remove you from the account at any time, for any reason. Once you are removed, the account stops appearing on your credit report. If you were relying on it to build credit, losing it can lower your score temporarily.

What credit score do I need to get approved for a card at 18?

There is no fixed minimum. Some issuers approve people with scores as low as 600; others require 650 or higher. If you have no credit history, you have no score at all, which makes approval harder. Starting as an authorized user or with a secured card at 16 or 17 ensures you have a score by 18.