How to add an authorized user to a Bank of America credit card

If you have a Bank of America credit card, you can add friends or family to your account as an authorized user. They will get their own credit card and will be able to spend on the bill.

Adding someone as an authorized user to your credit card provides several benefits. You can help a friend or family member with a low credit score improve their credit score, and if you share finances with a partner, you can easily get all your expenses in one place.

But there are also some disadvantages associated with adding someone as an authorized user. Once you have added them to your account and granted them the right to use a credit card, you are solely responsible for their charges.

If you’re considering adding someone as an authorized user to your Bank of America card, we can help. Keep reading to find out how to add an authorized user, the possible costs of adding someone to your account, and whether it makes sense to add an authorized user.

How to add an authorized user to your Bank of America account

Bank of America makes it easy to add an authorized user to your credit card account. You can add someone over the phone by calling customer service, but it’s even easier to do it online. You just need an authorized user name, date of birth, social security number, and phone number.

Here’s how to add an authorized user to your Bank of America account online:

1. Sign in to your online Bank of America account
2. On the page that displays your accounts, select the credit card you want to add an authorized user to.
3. Click on the “Information and Services” option.
4. Find the menu called “Services” and click “Add Authorized User”.
5. Enter the personal information of an authorized user
6. Click Submit

Once you add an authorized user, you will receive a Bank of America credit card with their name, which will be mailed to your address. Just activate the card and give it to your authorized user, and then he will be able to spend money on it.

It’s also worth noting that since the authorized user’s card will be mailed to your address, you don’t have to give it to them.

Often people add an authorized user to improve their credit score. But if they spend on the bill, you are responsible for paying for those purchases. Instead, you can add them to an account to benefit from their credit score but prevent them from spending money on the card.

Is there a fee to add an authorized user to your Bank of America credit card account?

You can add an authorized user to your Bank of America credit card account for free, which means you won’t be charged any fees. The other good news is that if you have an annual credit card, it only applies to the account and not to each individual user.

Should I add an authorized user to a Bank of America card?

Bank of America makes it easy to add an authorized user to your credit card, but it’s worth asking yourself if that’s a good idea. Being an authorized user has its pros and cons, and it can also have serious implications for your financial health.

Someone can add their partner as an authorized user to their card to make it easier to keep track of their spending together, especially if they share finances. Similarly, a parent can add their teenage children or adults to the card to use for regular expenses or in an emergency.

But the reason many people add an authorized user to their account is to improve the other person’s credit score.

When you add someone as an authorized user to your credit card, they get credit for your entire payment history, including the time before they were logged into the account. Their credit will also be affected by the account’s credit usage, which is the percentage of use of available credit.

The better (and longer) the payment history and the lower the credit usage, the better the impact on the authorized user’s credit score. For this reason, people often add a loved one who may be struggling with bad credit.

But the benefits of an authorized user’s credit score only help the authorized user—they don’t help you as the account holder. And having an authorized user not only won’t help you much, it can actually hurt you in the end.

When someone else is an authorized user of your account, they often have a credit card and the ability to spend on that account. But regardless of who is listed as an authorized user, it is you, as the account holder, who is responsible for paying the full balance. If an authorized user accumulates a large balance that you cannot repay, you may see your credit history and financial health ruined.

Ultimately, you must weigh the pros and cons of having an authorized user on your account. Make sure you only add people you trust, and if you’re worried about the impact of adding an authorized user on your finances, either don’t add them or make sure they don’t have credit card access.

bottom line

Adding an authorized user has many benefits, including making it easier to manage your family budget and helping your loved one improve their credit score. However, there are also some disadvantages and potential dangers to be aware of.

The good news is that if you are a Bank of America credit card customer, this issuer makes it easy and free to add authorized users to your account without any additional fees.

Dan Rafter has covered personal finance for over 15 years in publications ranging from The Washington Post and Chicago Tribune to Wise Bread, HSH.com and MoneyRates.com. His work has also been published online by Motley Fool, Fox Business, Huffington Post, Christian Science Monitor and Time.