Think of it like doing all your child’s homework for them. Your child will fail when it’s time to take a test because they haven’t been doing the work themselves. The basic steps are to instill a solid financial foundation, teach how credit works, then help your kid get hands-on experience with a credit card of their own.
Start With Banking Basics
Establishing a good banking history can help your child build a strong financial foundation and begin building money management skills. Having a checking account with a debit card helps your child get used to digital spending. Once your teen has a checking account, help them learn how to spend wisely and avoid overdrafts or declined debit card charges. When you start talking about credit cards, be sure to teach your child how to use them to build credit. Credit cards can seem overwhelming to a teenager, because using one is a brand new experience. Be sure they know what to expect by describing how credit card transactions work, what a billing statement is, and why the payment due date is so important.
Model Good Financial Behavior
Children learn by watching the adults around them. Your financial habits, like setting a budget before shopping and avoiding impulse purchases, will play a major role in shaping your teen’s financial habits. This is especially true when it comes to credit and building their credit score.
Pay Bills on Time
Paying on time is one of the most important financial habits to demonstrate to your kids. You can avoid extra fees and build a good credit score by doing so. Show your child your system for tracking payment due dates and ensuring that your payments are made on time. Walk your teen through your system for paying bills and explain why it works for you.
Keep Balances Low
Maintaining low credit card balances is key for building a good credit score and avoiding too much debt. Show your teenager your billing statement or online account and discuss your approach to maintaining a low balance, including the timing of your credit card payments.
Go Over Different Types of Accounts
Credit cards are just one type of account that helps build credit scores. Lenders like to see that borrowers have experience with different types of accounts, such as installment loans, auto loans, and mortgages. Consider sharing with your teen your approach to opening new loans and how to determine the right time to apply.
Opening a Bank Account for a Teenager
Opening a bank account can be a challenge for those under the age of 18. Bank customers must sign an agreement to open an account, and contracts signed by minors are complicated. State laws and corporate policies vary, but banks are often reluctant to open accounts for anybody under age 18 unless there’s also an adult on the account. You can open a bank account with your teenager for that reason. You have many options when doing so, including a custodial account or an education account. Which one you choose will depend on the financial goals you and your teenager are trying to reach.
How Teens Can Build Their Credit
There are multiple options for teens who want to build credit, either on their own with a credit card or loan, or with your help.
Make Your Teen an Authorized User
As a parent or guardian, you can help jumpstart your teen’s credit history even before they’re 18 by adding them as an authorized user on one of your credit card accounts, or even a new account you start just for your teen. An authorized user can be added without a credit check and get the benefit of having the account included on their credit report.
Consider Student Loans
Teens who borrow money to go to college can start building their credit with student loans, even if the loans are deferred. Simply having a loan on their credit report helps your teen’s credit age and mix. Any payments made toward the loans will help build a positive payment history. That being said, nobody should take out student loans for the sole purpose of building credit.
Help Them Open a Student Credit Card
Teens under the age of 18 can get student loans and become authorized users on a credit card, but there are more credit-building options for those 18 and older. A student can get their own credit card if they have sufficient income to repay their debts, or they get a cosigner. Most major credit card issuers offer student credit cards. These cards function similarly to a regular credit card but they’re tailed to a student’s needs. They tend to be open to applicants who are new to credit, and the cards have lower credit limits. Student credit cards are also a good option because they many offer rewards and perks that students can benefit from, such as complimentary subscriptions for food delivery services, cash back on ride-share purchases, even statement credits for good grades.
Consider a Credit Builder Loan
With a credit builder loan, the actual loan amount is held in a savings account while your teen makes monthly payments toward the balance. Payments are reported to the credit bureaus, helping your teen build a good credit score. Once the loan is repaid, the savings account is unlocked and the full amount is accessible.
Open a Retail Card
A retail credit card is another solo credit card option that your teenager can explore to start building credit. These limited-purpose cards are known for approving applicants with little or no credit history. Credit limits are typically low, around $300 or $500, and retail credit cards do have high-interest rates. Your teen will be paying high finance charges if they don’t pay off the balance in full each month.
How Teens Can Monitor Their Credit Score
Your teen should be able to check their credit score for a snapshot of their credit health six months after they open their first credit card or loan. There are plenty of free services teens can use, including Credit Karma, Credit Sesame, or CreditWise by Capital One. Some free services may require that your teen be at least 18 years old to sign up for an account.Teens older than 18 may receive a FICO score each month with their billing statement if they have a credit card with select credit card issuers, including Bank of America, Discover, and Wells Fargo. They won’t have access to the free score if they’re only an authorized user or joint account holder with you. Teens older than age 13 can access copies of their credit reports online from AnnualCreditReport.com for a full view of their credit information. Requests for a minor’s credit report from the three major credit reporting agencies must be made by mail. They won’t receive their credit score because those aren’t generated until they’re 18 years old, but they can verify that the information on their credit report is accurate.
