How old do you have to be to get the DFCU teen Visa Platinum card?

No, you can’t get a credit card at 15. You won’t be able to get one in your own name until you’re 18. And even then, you might need to start out with a secured card until you’ve built up your credit history. The law prohibits minors from getting credit cards and requires anyone under 21 to show that they have their own income when they apply for a card.… read full answer

But just because you can’t get your own credit card account doesn’t mean you have no options. Your best bet is becoming an authorized user on someone else’s card. Authorized users can charge purchases to the primary cardholder’s credit account, but they don’t have any legal responsibility for payment. And as long as the primary cardholder makes payments on time, the authorized user gets positive information on their credit report.

There are other ways to build credit without a credit card, like making rent payments, but they aren’t available to most 15-year-olds. And if you want a credit card because carrying cash all the time is a hassle, many banks allow teenagers to open checking accounts with debit cards. Debit cards draw on the money in your checking account, so you don’t have to borrow money to use them. Prepaid cards (reloadable) and gift cards (usable until balance runs out) are other good spending tools.

So instead of getting a credit card at 15, it’s probably best to focus on becoming an authorized user, getting a debit card or both.

You can’t get a credit card at 16, at least not your own account. The law prohibits issuers from offering credit cards to anyone under 18. And even then, you’ll need your own income to qualify. These restrictions prevent minors and young adults from taking on unmanageable amounts of debt due to inexperience or youthful impulsiveness.… read full answer

But you can get a credit card at 16 if a friend or family member makes you an authorized user on their account. You won’t be responsible for bill payments as an authorized user, but you will build credit as long as the primary cardholder pays on time. That’s not the only way to get access to credit in your teens, either.

Here are the alternatives to getting a credit card at 16:

• Become an authorized user: There’s no minimum age requirement for authorized users.
• Get a job and wait two years: You can get your own credit card account when you’re 18, as long as you have enough independent income for monthly bill payments. You should get a student credit card if you go to college, as they tend to have much better terms than other starter credit cards. A secured credit card is a good backup plan, too.
• Get a debit card: This won’t help you build credit, and you won’t be able to borrow money. But a debit card linked to your checking account will free you from having to carry cash all the time.

You can get a credit card at 16. You just can’t get an account in your own name. But if someone is willing to add you as an authorized user, you can start learning about, using and building credit. And in a couple years, you’ll be able to get your first card.