You cannot open a credit card in your own name at 17 in the United States
Credit card issuers require you to be at least 18 years old to sign a contract. At 17, you lack the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement, which is what a credit card account is. No major issuer — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, or the banks that issue cards under their brands — will open an account solely in your name before your 18th birthday.
This is not a policy choice by individual banks. It is rooted in contract law: minors cannot be held to the terms of a credit agreement. A bank that issued a card to a 17-year-old could not legally enforce payment if you refused to pay the bill, which is why they do not take the risk.
There are, however, two real paths forward if you want to build credit before 18 or need a card now: becoming an authorized user on someone else's account, or opening a secured card once you turn 18.
Key Takeaways
- You must be 18 to open a credit card in your own name; this is a legal requirement, not a bank policy you can work around.
- You can become an authorized user on a parent's or guardian's card right now, and that account activity may appear on your credit report.
- A secured credit card — which requires a cash deposit — becomes available the moment you turn 18 and is the fastest way to build your own credit history.
- Some banks offer student cards at 18 with no credit history required, but you still cannot open one until your birthday.
Becoming an Authorized User Before 18
An authorized user is someone who can use a credit card account but does not own it. The account holder — usually a parent or guardian — remains legally responsible for all charges and payments. You get a card with your name on it and can make purchases, but the account stays in the primary cardholder's name.
The advantage is when ready: you can start using credit now. The secondary advantage, depending on the card issuer, is that the account may report to the credit bureaus under your name. If it does, on-time payments and low balances help build your credit score before you turn 18. Not all issuers report authorized user activity, so ask the card issuer directly whether they do before you ask a parent to add you.
The risk is that you have no control over the account. If the primary cardholder misses a payment, carries a high balance, or closes the account, that history appears on your credit report too. You are building credit based on someone else's financial behavior. Choose a parent or guardian with a strong payment history and a willingness to keep the balance low.
Opening a Secured Card at 18
The moment you turn 18, you can open a secured credit card. A secured card requires you to deposit cash into a savings account held by the bank — typically between $200 and $2,500 — and that deposit becomes your credit limit. You use the card like any other, pay the bill each month, and the bank reports your activity to the credit bureaus.
Secured cards exist specifically for people with no credit history or poor credit. Banks issue them because the deposit covers their risk: if you do not pay, they keep the money. After 6 to 18 months of on-time payments and responsible use, many issuers will convert your secured card to a regular unsecured card and return your deposit.
The cost is real: you lose the use of your deposit for as long as you hold the card, and most secured cards charge an annual fee ($25 to $95 is typical). But the payoff is also real. A secured card is the clearest path to building a credit score from zero, and it is available to you the day you turn 18 without needing anyone else's permission or financial history.
What Happens When You Turn 18
On your 18th birthday, you become legally an adult and can sign contracts. At that point, you can walk into a bank or explore online for a credit card. You do not need a parent's permission, a co-signer, or a deposit — though a deposit is required for a secured card.
If you have been an authorized user on a parent's card and that account reported to the credit bureaus, you will have a credit history. That history may help you get approved for a regular card with better terms than a secured card. If you have no credit history, a secured card is your most reliable option.
Some banks offer student credit cards at 18 with no credit history required and no deposit. These typically come with lower credit limits ($500 to $1,000) and higher interest rates than cards for people with established credit, but they are another path if you want to avoid a secured card's deposit and annual fee.
Why Banks Will Not Bend This Rule
You might wonder whether a parent could co-sign for you at 17, the way they can co-sign for a car loan or student loan. Credit card issuers do not allow co-signers. The reason is structural: a credit card is a revolving line of credit, not a fixed loan. The bank cannot predict how much you will borrow or when you will pay it back, so they cannot calculate the co-signer's actual risk. A co-signer on a car loan knows the loan amount and term; a co-signer on a credit card does not.
This is also why some issuers require you to be 21 even if you are legally an adult. The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD Act) of 2009 allows banks to set their own age minimums above 18, and some do. Chase, for example, requires applicants to be at least 18 but has additional requirements for applicants under 21. Always check the issuer's website for their specific age policy.
Building Credit Before 18: Your Real Options
If you want to build credit before your 18th birthday, becoming an authorized user is your only option. Ask a parent or guardian to add you to their account, preferably one with a long history of on-time payments and a low balance. The account will appear on your credit report, and your credit score will begin to form.
If no one in your household can add you, or if they prefer not to, you will need to wait until 18. That is not a setback. A secured card opened at 18 will build your credit just as effectively; you will straightforward start a few months later. By 20 or 21, the difference will be invisible.
The goal at your age is not to have perfect credit — it is to demonstrate that you can borrow money and pay it back on time. Whether you do that as an authorized user at 17 or as the primary cardholder on a secured card at 18, the outcome is the same: a credit history that lenders will recognize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a credit card if I turn 18 next month?
No, not until your 18th birthday. You must be 18 on the day you explore. Some online applications will let you enter your birthdate and then reject you if you are not yet 18. If you are close, wait until your birthday and explore then.
What if I lie about my age on the process?
Do not do this. Credit card applications require you to provide your Social Security number, and the issuer will verify your age against government records. Lying on a credit process is fraud. You will be denied, and the false process will be recorded.
Do I need a job to open a credit card at 18?
No, but having income helps. Banks want to know you can pay the bill. If you have a job, include it on the process. If you do not, some issuers will still approve you for a secured card because the deposit covers their risk. A student card may also be available if you are enrolled in school.
Will being an authorized user hurt my credit if the account holder misses a payment?
Yes. Missed payments, high balances, and closed accounts all appear on your credit report if you are an authorized user and the issuer reports that account to the bureaus. Choose someone with strong payment habits, and ask them to keep your balance low.
Can I remove myself as an authorized user if the account goes bad?
You cannot remove yourself, but the primary cardholder can. If the account is being mismanaged, talk to the account holder and ask them to remove you. Once you are removed, new activity will not appear on your report, but the account history that already reported will stay on your credit file for seven years.