Student credit card?

[Jajone]

A while back there was a thread about suggestions for student/college credit cards. Search isn't bringing it up now. We would like to get my daughter a card just to start building credit and have it for an emergency. Where do I start to look?

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

I personally got a Discover card and really liked it (still have it in my mid twenties- just converted to a regular cc now). It's a good one because of the rotating 5% cash back categories, since it teaches kids to pay attention to the categories they spend in my maximize cash back.

If you want something more basic just to build credit, my DH got his first through Capital One, and if you happen to have State Farm car insurance, I believe he used to have a student card through them as well.

 

[kymom99]

I got a card through 5/3 in my name with son as a signer. They say it will be reported on his credit report.

 

[tvguy]

Wells Fargo offers them. They offer a whole "package" of student services, Credit Card, Checking Account and Savings account all bundled. No charge for any of them.
My kids got them as Seniors in High school, they are almost 27 and 31 now and still have the Credit Cards as they have become regular accounts.

Funny thing is, for adults Credit Unions tend to offer better terms than banks, but for teens and college students, it just seemed the old fashioned banks were more willing to help.

 

[dreiwhit]

I used to get offers in all the textbooks I bought when I was in college. Plus, the college had flyers up on every bulletin board.

I never wanted to get one, but my Dad saw the offer one time when it fell out of a book and I hadn't thrown it away, and made me apply for one. He told me to put a tank of gas, or a lunch on it once a month and pay it off in full. He said it would build up my credit. It sure did, and I recommend it to everyone.

FWIW, my wife always paid cash or check for everything when she was in college and since she lived at home when she went to college, had no bills. Because of that, she had no credit when we were first married and had to get a secured card from her bank just to build up credit.

 

[SC Minnie]

DD got a credit card from our credit union. She had to be 18 and have a job which she did. The card was in her name only. It was only a $500 limit which was fine-- she only needed it for gas a such while away at college. We were OK with the low limit, it let her get used to a card without the risk of running it up to bad.

 

[LoriKutchey]

My daughter had the Citi card called Thank you preferred for college students and when she graduated they switched it to regular card

 

[runwad]

My kids have this https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/student/it-card.html

 

[vanjust14]

Another vote for student DiscoverIt card.

 

[robinb]

I got my College DD a Disney Visa card in her name on our account. We were told that my DD would have the payments reported on her credit report. She uses it for books and other things that we have agreeded to pay for.

 

[tvguy]

Another vote for student DiscoverIt card.

Just remember that acceptance of The Discovery Card is spotty outside the U.S. That was an issue for DD because she was going to school in the U.K. for a year and traveling throughout Europe.

 

[Psychodisney]

My kids were all able to get a card in their own name from their university credit union. We also added them as an authorized user on our card.

 

[elgerber]

My daughter had the Citi card called Thank you preferred for college students and when she graduated they switched it to regular card

My son started with this card as well, he is now 25 and his switched over a few years ago. I am not sure if they still offer the college card or not.
My dd, who is now 22, got the Capital One Journey card after freshman year, they have since upgraded her to the Quicksilver.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

If.............you have good credit
If............the child is trustworthy
Then...........you can also have them as an authorized user on the parents account.

We did this years ago and our DD now has an extensive and strong credit history...........and a top tier credit score.
She also has a few cc's she applied for that catered to students. She was encouraged to declare any scholarship money as part of her annual income.

I think she has a Discover card and a Quicksliver card.

We googled first credit card or credit card for college students and applied for them. She even got a bonus or two!

 

[Albort]

Almost all banks have secured cards... this is where you put in a deposit with the bank, then they give u a card with that amount of credit. If you do well, they refund you after x # of months.

Discover is a good card but they arent always accepted everywhere.
another person suggests the citi preferred student version, good card too! mastercard over discover card.

 

[NinaBella]

A while back there was a thread about suggestions for student/college credit cards. Search isn't bringing it up now. We would like to get my daughter a card just to start building credit and have it for an emergency. Where do I start to look?

I got my kids Youth Banking with USAA (checking and savings) around age 10. Later they got USAA Secured Credit Cards, which is a good credit building card with a lower limit for those starting out.

 

[NinaBella]

Almost all banks have secured cards... this is where you put in a deposit with the bank, then they give u a card with that amount of credit. If you do well, they refund you after x # of months.

Discover is a good card but they arent always accepted everywhere.
another person suggests the citi preferred student version, good card too! mastercard over discover card.

nevermind.