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The Daily Insight Hub

Are 12 year olds allowed to have credit cards?

Author

Rachel Davis

Updated on January 31, 2026

Legally, no one can get a credit card on their own unless they’re at least 18 years old. However, a minor can be an authorized user on someone else’s account.

Is it illegal for a kid to have a credit card?

Strictly speaking, parents cannot open a credit card account for their minor children. Only a person age 18 and over can enter into a legally binding contract, which includes applying for a credit card as the primary account holder.

Can I build my child’s credit?

You can begin building your child’s credit whenever you want to by making him or her an authorized user on your credit card. Usually, you have to be at least 18 and have an income to take on a credit card or loan, which are the conventional ways that people start building credit.

What bank card can a 13 year old have?

For example, Greenlight and FamZoo offer cards for all ages, whereas the minimum age for gohenry is age six, and American Express isn’t available for kids under 18. Before signing up for a debit card for teens, ask the company if there are any minimum age requirements.

At what age can I start building my child’s credit?

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If you’re interested in building your child’s credit before they turn 18, you can explore adding them as an authorized user to one or more of your credit cards. There is no legal minimum age for adding a child as an authorized user, however you should check your credit card issuer’s policies.

Can you have a bank account at 15?

At most banks, you can open a teen checking account when your child is 13. One parent is usually required to be a joint owner until your child turns 18. As a joint owner, you’ll have the ability to monitor and access this account if you wish.

Can a 12 year old open a credit card?

Debit card for 12 year old 1 Kids credit card. By law children below the age of 18 cannot open a credit card account on their own. 2 Can a 13 year old have a debit card. The real hurdle for engaging with financial services providers is set far above the age of 12. 3 Child bank account with debit card. 4 Alternative kids debit cards. …

How old do you have to be to have a credit card?

Some tweens and young teens, about one in six, now has a credit card. The 2019 Parents, Kids and Money Survey by T. Rowe Price shows that 17 percent of kids 8-14 years old have a credit card, up from just 4 percent in 2012. Almost as many of these kids (19 percent) have a checking account.

Which is the best debit card for a 12 year old?

For tech-savvy adults, Greenlight offers a terrific way to manage kids’ finances while obtaining a debit card that your kids can pay with. The product is appropriate for young children (e.g. aged 12) because it’s not a checking account or credit card: Greenlight is in effect a prepaid debit card with a fancy app.

Is it OK for a child to have a credit card?

Parents must be willing to teach their children the value of money before they allow their child to have a credit card, personal finance experts tell NBC News BETTER. “Knowledge about the credit card, that’s simple.