Adding kid as authorized user

GrandBaker · ‎10-24-2023

Alright folks, GrandBaker Jr. is coming up on his 18th birthday so wife and I thought we'd get him started in the credit game as an authorized user. I'm looking for recommendations on any cards that you have had a good experience with in this regard. Additional goal is to give him a boost in terms of AAoC etc. I know AMEX used to allow back dating but that stopped a while ago. Do any other card companies do it?

sccredit · ‎10-24-2023

We added ours to Capital One at 16. They allowed us to set a limit and it worked out well.

JoeRockhead · ‎10-24-2023

Adding him to one of your oldest accounts will be a big help. Discover, Chase, USB have all shown my full account age on my son's reports.

Amex shows he's been a member and history since '23 (when I added him) but my wife's AU card shows her original date of '04 (when she got her first Amex) but the history only goes back to when I added her.

GatorCowboyLion · ‎10-24-2023

The following card issuers reportedly back-date authorized user accounts: Capital One, Chase, Bank of America, Synchrony, US Bank, Discover. I can speak from personal experience that Bank of America and (edit, just confirmed) Discover both do. The extent to which different credit bureaus consider it for various reports is a whole other conversation.

GrandBaker · ‎10-24-2023

@JoeRockhead wrote:
Adding him to one of your oldest accounts will be a big help. Discover, Chase, USB have all shown my full account age on my son's reports.

Amex shows he's been a member and history since '23 (when I added him) but my wife's AU card shows her original date of '04 (when she got her first Amex) but the history only goes back to when I added her.

Thanks! I do have a Citi card that's 5+ years older than him. Would make a good story

JoeRockhead · ‎10-24-2023

@GrandBaker wrote:
@JoeRockhead wrote:
Adding him to one of your oldest accounts will be a big help. Discover, Chase, USB have all shown my full account age on my son's reports.

Amex shows he's been a member and history since '23 (when I added him) but my wife's AU card shows her original date of '04 (when she got her first Amex) but the history only goes back to when I added her.
Thanks! I do have a Citi card that's 5+ years older than him. Would make a good story

That would be funny. You could try it... you know, for science

GatorCowboyLion · ‎10-24-2023

I found another old thread here on MF in which users claim that in addition to the ones we established, USAA and Citi do backdate. With this information, you must add him as a Citi AU and report back! I added my infant daughter as AU to my CCC, but since she's a minor, I cannot easily check her credit report. With this being a newer card, we didn't want to harm my DW's AAoA, but we did want her to be able to use that card. Also, we want to build our daughter's credit file. The process was seemless.

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Which-credit-cards-will-backdate-an-authorized-user/td...

The updated list of banks that do reportedly backdate:

Bank of America

Capital One
Chase
Citi
Discover
Synchrony
US Bank
USAA

ptatohed · ‎10-24-2023

I added my 13 year old earlier this year (when he was 12) to my citi DC.

Everyday 5% CB:
Chase prime Visa // citi CUSTOM CASH “A” // citi CUSTOM CASH “B” // citi CUSTOM CASH “C” // citi ThankYou (5% gas, lucrative spending offers) // mylowe’s Rewards // Target circle card

Rotating 5% CB:
Chase “OG” freedom Visa // DISCOVER it Cash Back // nusenda CU Platinum Cash Rewards

Everyday 4% CB:
US Bank Smartly (v1.0)

Everyday 3% / 2.2% CB:
AOD FCU Visa Signature (3%, sockdrawered) // upgrade Cash Rewards Elite (2.2%, sockdrawered)

Welcome Offer / credits only:
NFCU FLAGSHIP REWARDS (elevated Welcome Offer, annual prime credit, sockdrawered)

Hotel card:
Chase IHG ONE REWARDS PREMIER (elevated Welcome Offer, 1 free night/yr)

On my radar:
Langely FCU Signature Cash Back (5% CB monthly selectable cat) // Safe CU Cash Back+ (Quarterly rotating 5% CB cats plus bonus cats) // upgrade MyFive Cash Rewards (5% CB monthly selectable cat) // US Bank Kroger (and family) World Elite Master Card(s) (5% CB Mobile Wallet)

HHH71 · ‎10-25-2023

I added my kids first to Capital One quicksilver, then my discover. For my son in college that was enough to app on his own. While in college he got his own cap one quicksilver, then chase freedom unlimited, then Amex (clear one) forgot the name. He graduated with SL on his own cards of about $12k and a credit score of 776, I told him which cards to app for so he could then decide after that which ecosystem he liked.

PullingMeSoftly · ‎10-25-2023

@GrandBaker I would definitely add him to your oldest accounts, but also to the cards that he can use for spend that will help him learn how to earn rewards (and help you to get something back for any parental subsidies). An 18-year-old can eat like there's no tomorrow, so I'd give him a GO card, and possibly a DC or CFU for uncategorized, and maybe a Costco card if you're sending him to get stuff for the household.

Started DS with my Chase and Amex accounts, and then gave him an Alt. GO for all the dining I was covering in his college years, an Affinity FCU for Amazon purchases (lots of textbooks), and a Citi CC for gas. That led to his own secured Alt. GO, which graduated and USB 2x'd his credit line. He's moved on to his own applications now, but with an understanding of why/how credit products should be used, and how to build banking relationships.