This offer is no longer available on our site: Expedia®+ Card from Citi

Updated November 30, 2020

This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.

Editorial Note: Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.

Written by: Rod Kelly

The Expedia®+ Card from Citi is no longer available. For other options, compare travel credit cards on Credit Karma.

Discount travel sites such as Expedia can offer great deals, but many of the best travel credit cards don’t reward you for booking trips on these sites. Enter the Expedia®+ Card from Citi.

If you regularly use Expedia to book your travel reservations, the Expedia®+ Card from Citi may be worth looking into.

It might not be the most flexible travel rewards card out there, but it does give you the chance to rack up Expedia+ points in a hurry. It also comes with complimentary Expedia+ silver status — not bad for a card with a $0 annual fee.

Ready to start planning your next vacation? Let’s dig deeper into the Expedia®+ Card from Citi to see how it can help you get there.

The rundown: Everything we like about Expedia®+ Card from Citi

If you tend to book your vacations through Expedia, there’s a lot to like about this card. Here’s what stands out to us.

Impressive sign-up bonus for a card with no annual fee

Since we’re talking about a travel rewards card, the sign-up bonus is something to pay close attention to. As with many other travel rewards cards, the Expedia®+ Card from Citi offers cardholders the chance to boost their rewards earnings right off the bat.

While the Expedia®+ Card from Citi doesn’t offer the best sign-up bonus we’ve ever seen, it’s impressive when you consider the card’s $0 annual fee. You can earn 15,000 Expedia+ bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases within 3 months of account opening.

So how much is an Expedia+ point worth, anyway? It may depend on whether you redeem your points for a hotel, flight, car rental or vacation package coupon. But just to give you an example, 15,000 Expedia+ bonus points are redeemable for $200 toward a stay at a +VIP Access^™ hotel. That translates to a value of about 1.3 cents per point.

Point values may also vary based on your member status. Since this card grants you Expedia+ silver status, you’ll get twice the value for your points when you redeem for a +VIP Access™ hotel.

Before rushing off to qualify for the sign-up bonus, make sure you can do so responsibly and without stretching your budget. Also, note that the introductory offer is not available for customers who have opened or closed an Expedia®+ Card from Citi account in the previous 24 months.

Boosted rewards on Expedia purchases

In addition to that nice sign-up bonus offer, the Expedia®+ Card from Citi gives you the chance to earn Expedia+ points on everyday purchases.

With this card, you’ll earn three Expedia+ bonus points for every $1 spent on eligible Expedia purchases — including flights, hotels, activities and travel packages. You’ll also earn one Expedia+ bonus point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Expedia+ silver status — and a (slightly) easier pathway to gold

Lots of people think of travel credit cards simply as a way to earn points or miles, but these cards often come with other useful benefits, too.

The Expedia®+ Card from Citi is no exception. With this card, you’ll get complimentary Expedia+ silver status for as long as you’re a card member. Expedia+ silver status comes with some enticing benefits, including …

• Twice the value for your points when you redeem for a +VIP Access™ hotel
• 10% bonus points accelerator on all eligible bookings
• 250 bonus points for +VIP Access™ hotel bookings
• Priority customer service
• Exclusive travel offers

Card members also get an easier pathway toward gold status, which comes with benefits that are even more exclusive. You’ll earn one Elite Qualifying Hotel Night toward Expedia+ gold status qualification for each increment of $2,500 in purchases made on your card between your January and December billing statements.

It takes 15 qualifying hotel room nights (or spending $10,000 on eligible bookings) in a calendar year to qualify for gold status, so you’ll still have a ways to go.

Heads up: What you should consider before applying for Expedia®+ Card from Citi

A key consideration for any rewards card is how you intend to use it.

That may sound obvious, but it’s especially important with the Expedia®+ Card from Citi. Here’s what to look out for before applying.

Relatively inflexible rewards

This card’s rewards are a lot less flexible than the travel rewards you’d get with a simple flat-rate travel card.

If you prefer to book your travel through various websites and rewards programs, you might find the Expedia®+ Card from Citi too rigid for your liking. But if you currently book most or all of your travel through Expedia, then you should look into this card.

This is especially true if you’re booking hotels, as Expedia Rewards members get twice the value for their points when they redeem for a +VIP Access™ hotel. Cardholders with Expedia+ silver or gold status also get 250 bonus points for +VIP Access™ hotel bookings.

Use ’em or lose ’em

If you book reservations through a number of discount internet sites, this card may not be of great benefit to you, as your points expire unless you’ve earned or redeemed points in the previous 18 months.

Do the math: Ways to get the most out of Expedia®+ Card from Citi

Here are a couple of great ways to benefit from the Expedia®+ Card from Citi.

• Qualify for the sign-up bonus, which gets you started with 15,000 Expedia+ bonus points if you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening an account. As noted above, those points can be redeemed for $200 at a +VIP Access™ hotel. But don’t break the bank just to qualify for the bonus — make sure you can afford the $1,000 spend and, ideally, be able to pay off your balance on time and in full each month.
• Take advantage of your silver benefits. Both Expedia+ silver and gold status offer added bonus points and benefits, but you’ll only benefit if you actually use them. Study up on your benefits and make sure you don’t miss out on exclusive travel offers, priority customer service and much more.

Bottom line: Is Expedia®+ Card from Citi right for you?

If you use the online budget travel site Expedia and travel frequently, the Expedia®+ Card from Citi may be an appropriate option for you.

On the other hand, if you prefer to reserve airfare, hotels, rentals and other vacation amenities directly or through various online discount sites, then another travel rewards card may be a better match for your needs.

Either way, it’s exciting to know you have options when planning your next vacation!

You probably already know it’s a good idea to keep track of your credit scores. But do you know what your home insurance score is?

A home insurance score is different from a credit score, but still important to know since it can affect how much you pay in premiums on your homeowner’s insurance.

So what’s the difference between the two types of scores?

Credit scores are based on your ability to repay what you’ve borrowed, while a home insurance score predicts the chances you’ll file a homeowner’s insurance claim that will result in losses to the insurance company.

Even though credit scores and home insurance scores perform different functions, some factors of your personal credit history are also considered when calculating your home insurance scores. That’s because some studies have shown that a person’s financial history is generally a good indicator of how likely they are to file an insurance claim.

As with credit, to insurers, the higher your insurance scores, the lower the risk you pose to them. The good news: Lower risk and a higher insurance score usually result in lower premiums.

Let’s find out how home insurance companies determine your home insurance scores, what makes you a higher (or lower) risk to them, and how that ultimately affects the cost of your home insurance premiums.

• What factors make up a home insurance score?
• Why is credit history used to determine home insurance scores?
• How to find your home insurance score

What factors make up a home insurance score?

Each insurer has its own method for assigning you a home insurance score.
Regardless of who is determining a score for you though, the complexity of factors and calculations involved in generating a score makes it difficult to determine exactly what could raise or lower your home insurance scores.

Fortunately, we have enough information from studies and insurance company websites to have a good idea of what factors make up a home insurance score — including information from your credit reports and even certain information about your home and neighborhood.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the factors that can influence your home insurance scores. You may recognize some of these factors if you religiously follow your credit, and that’s because credit often plays a big role in calculating your home insurance scores.

• Age of oldest account. Unlike average age of accounts, the age of your oldest account is that of the first credit account you opened that is still listed on your credit reports. It might be from your college days or early 20s.
• Credit card utilization. Utilization is the total amount of outstanding debt on your credit cards divided by your total credit card limits. In general, the higher the utilization, the greater the insurance risk.
• Derogatory marks. Derogatory marks cover a variety of negative information on your credit reports. You don’t want these on your credit reports, because an insurance company will likely view you as a higher risk to file a claim.
• Hard inquiries. Hard inquiries are generally made when you apply for a new line of credit, as well as occasionally for apartment rental applications. The more hard inquiries you have, the greater insurance risk you may represent to an insurer.
• Amount past due. If you always pay your credit cards off (or at least the minimum amount) in a timely fashion, you will not have a past due amount. That’s good. A past due amount may represent a higher insurance risk, especially if the total past due across all your credit is high.
• Status of your credit accounts. Your credit reports indicate if your accounts are paid on time with at least the minimum payment amount made. If your credit accounts are in good standing, this may have a positive impact on your homeowner’s insurance scores. If any accounts have been sent to collection, foreclosure or repossession, your scores may be impacted negatively.
• Total credit card limits. This is the total dollar amount of all the limits on all your credit cards. Higher total credit limits can be good. They may indicate a lower insurance risk.
• Your home and neighborhood. There are other factors about your home and neighborhood that insurers may consider when determining your score. These include the proximity of your home to a fire hydrant or fire station, the claims history in your neighborhood, whether you have an alarm system, and whether you’re located in an area that is prone to natural disasters. All these factors (and many more) may be considered when determining how low or high your insurance premiums will be.

Because home insurers incorporate factors from your credit history, you’ll often see your score referred to as a credit-based insurance score. According to FICO®, about 85% of home insurers use credit-based insurance scores in states that allow it.

Why is credit history used to determine home insurance scores?

Home insurance scores are designed to help insurers predict whether you’ll file a claim that will result in losses specifically in an insurance context, but insurers may view credit risk and insurance risk as being linked. By measuring the amount and degree of risky behavior a consumer engages in with credit, insurers try to predict how likely the consumer is to engage in risky behavior that could lead to a costly insurance claim.

The important thing to remember: Insurance companies want to see a history that reflects stable and responsible decision making. As long as your credit history reflects that, a healthy home insurance (and credit) score may follow — meaning potentially better insurance premium rates for you.

How can I improve my credit?

There’s no quick fix. Improving your credit health takes time, but the most important behaviors can be summed up like this: Pay your bills on time (and if possible, in full) and reduce the amount you owe. It also helps to check your credit reports regularly. Any errors, such as a collections account that hasn’t been removed from your reports after seven years, should be disputed with the credit bureau(s).

How to find your home insurance score

To find your home insurance scores, contact your current home insurer or its competitor. Remember, each insurance company uses its own modeling to determine your score. Your premiums could be lower for the companies that calculate a higher score for you.

Bottom line

If you’re worried about your home insurance scores, the good news is that maintaining your general credit health is a great place to start. As a Credit Karma reader and user, you’ve probably already been keeping an eye on your credit. Keep it up — responsible credit management can work to your benefit in more ways than one.

Credit scores can play an important role in your financial success. They may help determine whether you qualify for many of the best credit cards and loans. So, what if you’re looking to rebuild your credit or build it from scratch? Where do you even start? Your best bet may be a secured credit card. Or, maybe you want to try an unsecured credit card like Indigo® Mastercard®, which offers a great way to build up your credit if you don’t want to put up a cash deposit for a secured card.

Indigo® Mastercard®

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1. The rundown: Everything we like about Indigo® Mastercard®
2. Heads up: What you should consider before applying
3. The Bottom line: Is Indigo® Mastercard® right for you?

The rundown: Everything we like about Indigo® Mastercard®

This credit card can be a good fit for someone right out of college or high school who is trying to build a credit history from the ground up. Here’s what we like most about it:

An unsecured card for building credit

When your credit needs some work, you may have several options to consider. You could apply for a secured card, which requires you to make a cash deposit in exchange for a line of credit. Or, you may qualify for an unsecured card like Indigo® Mastercard®.

Prequalification without a hard inquiry

Having some blemishes or gaps in your credit history won’t automatically disqualify you from being able to receive the Indigo® Mastercard®. You can even prequalify without a hard inquiry on your credit reports. Just remember that prequalification is not a guarantee of approval and, if you do end up actually applying for the card, you’ll have a hard inquiry in your credit files.

Reporting to the three major bureaus

A card like Indigo® Mastercard® is meant to help you at the start of your credit journey. To that end, your use of the card will be reported to all three major credit bureaus. Use it responsibly and you may be able to qualify for a more rewarding credit card in the future.

Heads up: What you should consider before applying

Unlike certain secured cards — like the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card  — Indigo® Mastercard® comes with an annual fee of $75 the first year; $99 thereafter, (the exact fee depends on your credit profile). Unfortunately, annual fees tend to be a fact of life if you have less-than-perfect credit and are shopping for an unsecured card.

Indigo® Mastercard® also has a relatively high purchase annual percentage rate of 35.9% and a late payment fee of up to $40. If you aren’t careful, this card could end up hurting rather than helping your financial bottom line.

 Bottom line: Is Indigo® Mastercard® right for you?

If you’re trying to establish credit for the first time or if you’re rebuilding your credit, Indigo® Mastercard® may be a great choice.

When Sallie Mae completed its transition to two separate companies back in 2014, several consumers noticed a change on their credit reports. The name of the new company responsible for servicing federal student loans, Navient, had taken the place of Sallie Mae.

This type of lender name change can be confusing, but is it really such a big deal? In some cases, it might be. Several Credit Karma members commented that the Sallie Mae name change seemed to coincide with a double-digit drop in their credit scores.

That type of drop can significantly impact a person’s ability to qualify for the best credit cards and interest rates, so it’s important to know why it may have happened — and if the name change had anything to do with it.

The truth is, the nuances of credit reporting are tricky. In Navient’s case, consumers’ credit reports and scores may have changed for a number of reasons. There may have been some mistakes that weren’t caught during the transition, or there may have been some other factors at play. It’s worth noting that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued Navient in January 2017 for “[creating] obstacles to repayment by providing bad information, processing payments incorrectly, and failing to act when borrowers complained.”

That’s a somewhat extraordinary case, and a lender name change generally shouldn’t have a huge impact on your credit scores if the details on your account stay the same. But it does illustrate the importance of checking your credit reports regularly and knowing when — and how — to report any errors that may accompany a lender name change.

What to look out for with a lender name change

When your lender changes its name, your accounts may be transferred to a new entity or appear on your reports with the lender’s new name. These types of corporate changes may or may not result in some adjustments to your credit reports.

Say, for example, that your mortgage servicer (the company you send your monthly mortgage payments to) changes.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as both your old and new servicers generally must send you a notice at least 15 days before the change. You’ll want to make sure you start sending payments to the new service, but you should also look out for any changes on your credit reports.

What to do when you see a lender name change

You don’t always need to take action if your lender changes its name. But if you notice any errors or issues on your credit reports that may be related to the name change, you’ll want to act.

The CFPB advises sending both your old and new servicers an information request or notice of error. In most cases you can either call or write a letter to your servicer, but a letter may provide you with more protections and better results.

We also recommend disputing any errors directly with the credit bureaus. You can use Credit Karma’s Direct Dispute™ tool to report an error on your TransUnion® credit report without leaving Credit Karma.

Bottom line

It’s important to regularly review your credit reports to make sure everything looks accurate. Credit Karma makes this easy with free credit monitoring that helps you stay on top of any significant changes to your TransUnion or Equifax credit reports.

If you’re looking over your reports and notice a lender name change, don’t panic. Review the account information carefully and ensure that it’s accurate. If everything looks good and you don’t notice any change in your credit scores, great! You can rest easy. But if you notice something that might be an error, do your due diligence and dispute the error as soon as possible.

These offers are no longer available on our site: Mastercard® Black Card™, Mastercard® Gold Card™

Updated October 10, 2024

This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.

Editorial Note: Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.

Written by: Rod Kelly

Pros

• Redemption rate of 2% for airfare and 1.5% for cash back
• $100 annual airline credit toward qualified purchases
• Flashy stainless-steel card

Cons

• Steep annual fee
• High fee for adding an authorized user
• To get the 2% redemption value for airfare, travel must be booked through the card’s affiliated agency

What you need to know about the Mastercard® Black Card™

Sure, it may not boast the same “wow” factor as its gold-plated sibling, the Mastercard® Gold Card™ , but the Mastercard® Black Card™ still qualifies as a status symbol. And if that’s what you’re looking for, it may be the right choice for you.

Whether it’s a smart choice is a different matter — especially given all the other luxury travel rewards cards competing with it. But if you’ve got your eye on the Mastercard® Black Card™, you could still end up with some great travel benefits. Let’s take a look.

Rewards

The Mastercard® Black Card™ offers a points-based rewards program. You’ll earn one point for every $1 spent on purchases. You can redeem your points at a rate of 2% for airfare (through myluxurycard.com or calling customer service) and at 1.5% for cash back.

Given the different redemption rates, we recommend redeeming your points for airfare to get the maximum value. The difference can be significant: 50,000 points add up to $1,000 in airfare but only $750 in cash back.

Travel benefits

Mastercard® Black Card™ members receive an annual airline credit of up to $100 toward qualified purchases, including lounge access and baggage fees.

Members also receive a $120 statement credit to cover the cost of the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.

Luxury perks

Mastercard® Black Card™ cardholders benefit from Luxury Card Concierge, which operates much like a hotel concierge service. In fact, consultants are available to help whether you’re at home or traveling to any number of global destinations. Whether you’re trying to get tickets to a show or picking your next travel destination, they’ve got you covered.

Other luxury perks include access to VIP airport lounges with Priority Pass Select, room upgrades at participating hotels, and access to a luxury magazine.

What else you should know about the Mastercard® Black Card™

If you aren’t frightened by the annual fee, then you probably won’t be fazed by anything else this card throws at you. With that said, you’ll want to ask yourself whether the benefits you expect to receive are really worth that high annual fee. Here are a few things to consider.

• High cost for adding an authorized user: This card has an annual fee of $495; $195 for each additional user. If you add just one user, that’s still far below the annual fee you’ll pay for the Mastercard® Gold Card™ ($995; $295 for each additional user), but it’s nothing to scoff at.
• This isn’t a charge card: You’ll also want to note that the Mastercard® Black Card™ is not a charge card. You can carry a balance with this card, but be careful not to rack up too much in interest charges.
• No sign-up bonus: Another key feature missing from this card is a sign-up bonus of any kind. Many travel credit cards offer significant sign-up bonuses, so that definitely feels like a missed opportunity here.

Understanding your points and redemption

How can you get the most out of the Mastercard® Black Card™? Travel. That’s how.

With double points when redeemed for airfare, it’s not too difficult to reach the value of a ticket that exceeds the annual fee for this card.

Spend $25,000 annually on your card, and you’re looking at a $500 value when you redeem your points for airfare. That alone surpasses the annual fee. Factor in all the other benefits you get with this card, and you should come out comfortably ahead.

Just be sure to actually use those benefits. The $120 Global Entry application fee and $100 annual airline credit are worth nothing if they’re not used.

Who this card is good for

There’s no doubt about it: The high annual fee makes the Mastercard® Black Card™ undesirable for many people. But for a person who travels a lot, the pros can easily outweigh the cons.

Whether you get this card or a different luxury travel card will depend on a number of questions you’ll have to ask yourself. How much does the lack of a sign-up bonus hurt this card’s appeal? Can you spend enough (within your budget, of course) to make the annual fee worth it? Do you want to impress your friends or business associates with a sleek, exclusive-looking card?

If so, then the Mastercard® Black Card™ might just be the luxury card for you.

Not sure this is the black card for you? Consider these alternatives.

• Platinum Card® from American Express: This card is good for frequent travelers who fly and take Uber rides.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: This card is good for people who eat out a lot and want to maximize their travel rewards.
• Mastercard® Gold Card™: This card is good for people who really want to impress the crowd — expenses be damned.

These offers are no longer available on our site: Mastercard® Black Card™, Mastercard® Gold Card™, Chase Freedom Flex℠

If you found a dollar bill on the sidewalk, you’d most likely drop to a knee and scoop it up in a hurry.

But when it comes to redeeming cash back earned on your rewards credit card, it’s not quite so simple.

As their name implies, cash back credit cards offer cash back on purchases that you make with the card. The typical rate is around 1%, though some cash back cards offer a higher percentage for purchases like gas and groceries or preset quarterly categories.

Knowing the best time to redeem cash back can help you maximize the amount you receive. At the very least, it can help you avoid letting your hard-earned cash back expire with nothing to show for it.

When’s the best time to redeem cash back?

Simply put, there’s no “best time” to redeem cash back. You may wish to redeem small amounts of cash back on a rolling basis — assuming there’s no minimum amount required for redemption — or you may base your decision on a specific purchase you want to make with your rewards.

A key to redemption, if there is one, is to make sure that you do so before any reward expires (if they expire at all). For example, your cash rewards balance earned from your Citi Double Cash® Card will expire if you haven’t earned cash back from purchases or payments for 12 months.

Just as important as when to redeem is what to redeem for. Some cash back cards, like Chase Freedom Flex℠, track cash back rewards as points. These points can be redeemed for various types of rewards, which may include cash back, gift cards or merchandise.

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Redemption rates vary and don’t always offer the same value for each reward option. But when you use points to redeem for cash back, they’re often worth 1 cent.

One other notable item is a possible bonus when you redeem for certain things, such as the gift card bonus when you redeem your Cashback Bonus® with your Discover it® Cash Back card.

When you redeem your Cashback Bonus® rewards for featured gift cards (starting at $20), at least another $5 is added to each gift card.

Just be sure to read the terms and conditions of your rewards programs carefully and understand the various redemption rates before redeeming.

Is there a minimum cash back redemption?

Several cash back credit cards have minimum redemption amounts, which means you can only redeem your rewards once you’ve earned a certain designated amount.

The Citi Double Cash® Card, for example, requires your balance to total $25 or more before you can redeem your cash rewards.

Can I lose my cash back rewards?

If you return an item you purchased, rewards may be deducted from your account. It’s also possible to have a negative rewards account balance — for example, you can have a negative rewards balance with Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card after your balance is decreased when you return a purchase.

Some other ways you can lose access to rewards, whether temporarily or permanently, include …

• Closing your credit card before claiming or using the rewards
• Allowing the rewards to expire
• Breaking the rules of the rewards program
• Missing a credit card payment
• The card issuer changing the rewards offer

Generally, it’s a good idea to keep track of your rewards and redeem them shortly after you’ve reached the minimum redemption threshold. That way, you won’t forget about them. Some card issuers may enable email or text alerts to help you remember when your rewards are about to expire.

How can I redeem cash back?

Depending on the credit card issuer, you may be able to redeem cash back via check or direct deposit into your checking or savings account. You may also have the option to apply the cash back to your credit card statement as a statement credit.

With the Citi Double Cash® Card, for example, you can …

• Request a check
• Redeem for a statement credit to your card account
• Redeem for a credit to your linked Citi® savings or checking account
• Redeem for a credit to a checking account from which you’ve paid a Citi® credit card bill at least twice

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Bottom line

While there’s usually no one best time to redeem cash back for everyone, you’ll want to be aware of the specific restrictions of your card’s rewards program. Take time to review the terms and conditions so you don’t risk letting your rewards expire or otherwise disappear.

Remember: Rewards programs are designed to retain loyal customers by adding an incentive to continue using the credit card. As long as you pay off your balance in full and on time each month and avoid interest charges, a cash back card can be a lucrative addition to your wallet.

These offers are no longer available on our site: Mastercard® Black Card™, Mastercard® Gold Card™, Chase Freedom Flex℠

Let’s face it: With so many options on the market, finding the right credit card for yourself can be a tricky enough proposition.

Do you go with a card that offers points, cash back or some other type of benefit? The answer isn’t always easy, and it only gets more complicated when you add another account holder to the mix.

That’s right. Some credit card issuers may give you the option of opening a joint credit card account. This isn’t always the case, as most issuers prefer to issue cards to primary account holders, who can then add a certain number of authorized users to the account if they wish — more on that in a second.

So, why open a joint credit card account in the first place? Some partners or spouses find that it simplifies their financial lives. After all, partners oftentimes share other financial accounts, such as checking and savings. For a lot of people, a joint credit card account completes the picture.

With that said, a joint account isn’t for everyone. It’s important to determine exactly how it differs from adding an authorized user, and you’ll need to consider which option may be the best for your situation.

Authorized user vs. joint account holder: What’s the difference?

Typically, the person who opens a credit card account is the only one authorized to use it. This person is generally known as the primary cardholder, and they are legally responsible to pay off all debts on the account.

Let’s look at two other types of credit card users and see how they differ.

Authorized user

Being an authorized user means you can use someone else’s credit card in your name. In a literal sense, you are “authorized” to make purchases with the card. Oftentimes, an authorized user may be a spouse or a dependent in high school or college.

Heads up: Authorized users usually don’t have all the privileges of the primary cardholder. You probably won’t be able to make changes to the account, like requesting a credit limit increase or adding more authorized users.

The important thing to remember is that only the primary cardholder is liable for paying the debt. Also, the primary cardholder can remove the authorized user from the account — usually, it’s as simple as calling the credit card issuer using the number on the back of your card.

How many authorized users can I add on a single card account?

It depends. Different issuers and cards may have different restrictions, so it’s important to read the terms and conditions for your card before adding an authorized user. Some cards also charge a fee per authorized user, so watch out for that.

Will sharing a credit card with my teen affect my credit?

Whether you co-sign a credit card with your teen or add them as an authorized user, how your teen uses the card can affect your credit as well.

If your teen is added as an authorized user, they can use your credit card account but ultimately is not responsible for paying the bill.

Joint account holder

Partners who have a joint credit card account are equally responsible for paying off the balance. For this reason, it’s important to trust the person you open a joint account with. Joint accounts are most commonly used by spouses who share their finances and don’t mind having the same credit limit.

Pros and cons of a joint credit card account

One of the biggest benefits of applying for a joint credit card is that it can allow someone with a spotty borrowing history or lower credit scores to get better terms. This is because the credit of both applicants is taken into consideration.

Another advantage is that all of the account holders’ combined purchases appear on a single statement, which can simplify finances for couples. Additionally, both cardholders can take full advantage of all the features of the card, whether they’d like to redeem points for rewards, dispute charges or transfer balances.

Of course, a joint credit card account can also come with unintended negative consequences. If one person goes on a spending spree, both cardholders — including the more frugal person — are still responsible for the debt payment. This can become an especially sticky issue if there’s a life-changing event in the relationship, such as a separation, divorce or death.

In general, it’s best to have a frank conversation about finances before agreeing to open a joint credit card account. Questions you should ask your partner before opening a joint credit card may include …

• Are you prepared to take on the responsibility of a joint financial commitment?
• Would adding one of us as an authorized user accomplish the same goals?
• Have we agreed to follow general guidelines when using the card?

Can a card issuer ask about my spouse or former spouse?

Typically, no. That information’s generally off-limits if you’re applying for your own credit card, not a joint account, based on your own income.

Bottom line

By doing your homework and asking questions, you can find the right card for your situation. It may be an individual card, an authorized user card or a joint card.

One key point to always keep in mind is to pay off the card’s balance in full each month if you can. Interest can add up quickly over time, and that’s no fun even if you have somebody else to split the charges with.

*Approval Odds are not a guarantee of approval. Credit Karma determines Approval Odds by comparing your credit profile to other Credit Karma members who were approved for the card shown, or whether you meet certain criteria determined by the lender. Of course, there’s no such thing as a sure thing, but knowing your Approval Odds may help you narrow down your choices. For example, you may not be approved because you don’t meet the lender’s “ability to pay standard” after they verify your income and employment; or, you already have the maximum number of accounts with that specific lender.