What an authorized user is
An authorized user gets their own card on your account. They can make purchases, but you’re the one responsible for paying the bill. They don’t apply for the card themselves, and the bank usually doesn’t check their credit.
What it costs
Most cards add authorized users for free. Premium cards often charge for each extra card, and some offer two versions: one with the card’s full perks for a yearly fee, and one with fewer perks for less or nothing. Check the card’s terms before you add someone.
What they get
- Credits are usually shared. Most statement credits belong to the account, not to each card, so an extra card doesn’t double them. Purchases on the extra card can usually use the account’s credits.
- Some perks are per person. On some premium cards, authorized users get their own airport lounge access or hotel status. It depends on the card, and sometimes on which version of the extra card you pick.
- The rewards go to you. What they spend earns points or cash back on your account.
How it shows on their credit
Most banks report the account on the authorized user’s credit report too. That can help someone with little credit history, as long as the bill is paid on time and the balance stays low. It works the other way too: late payments or a high balance can hurt them.
For Chase’s 5/24 rule, an authorized user card usually counts as one of the user’s new accounts. See the Chase 5/24 rule, explained.
Removing an authorized user
You can remove one at any time, in the bank’s app or by calling. Their card stops working, and the bank stops reporting the account for them.
In Premium Finance (free), you can mark a card as one where you’re the authorized user, and choose whether it counts toward your 5/24 total.