How to add and remove authorized users on a Chase card

As a credit card account holder, there are several reasons to add an authorized user to your account. Maybe you want to earn rewards on purchases a family member makes, or perhaps you want to help your college student build some credit history without having them create a separate account.

Regardless of the reason, the decision to add an authorized user to your credit card account isn’t one you should take lightly. When you add an authorized user to your credit card, you are responsible for repaying every dollar in charges they rack up.

Here’s how to add a trusted family member, spouse or partner to your Chase credit card account

What is an authorized user?

An authorized user is someone you add to your credit card account. Once added, they will receive a credit card with their name on it, and they will be able to use it for purchases just like you use yours. However, all charges on your account will appear on the same credit card bill.

Although adding an authorized user to your credit card account carries some inherent risk, many people take this step with people they trust. 

After all, adding an authorized user to your credit card helps them build their credit history while simultaneously helping you rack up more points and miles through combined purchases on a rewards credit card. Not only that but combining all the household purchases in one account can also make it easier to track your family spending or stick to a monthly budget.

How to add an authorized user

The first step to adding an authorized user to your Chase credit card is to log in to your Chase account and select the credit card account you want to share with your authorized user.

Step 2: Select ‘Authorized users’

Step 3: Select ‘Get started’

Step 4: Complete to add an authorized user

You’ll need to provide the following information to add an authorized user to your Chase credit card account: 

• Your authorized user’s name
• Their date of birth
• Their address 

Once you fill out the Chase authorized user form, Chase will mail the authorized user’s physical credit card to the primary cardholder’s address.

How to remove an authorized user

While you can add an authorized user to your Chase credit card account online, you can’t remove an authorized user through your account management page. This means that if you want to take someone off your account as an authorized user, you’ll have to call Chase using the number on the back of your credit card instead.

Another option is sending Chase a secure message, which you can do on your accounts management page by clicking on the “Main Menu” icon and heading to your secure messages inbox. From there, you can write a new message that includes details on the authorized user account you want to close.

Which Chase cards allow you to add or remove authorized users?

Chase allows cardholders to add authorized users to their credit card accounts, although their business credit cards let you add employee cards instead. While adding an authorized user does not typically have a cost, some of the best travel and rewards credit cards from various issuers require an authorized user fee.

The following chart shows which of the most popular Chase credit cards let you add and remove authorized user cards to your account and how much you can expect to pay in fees for each person you add.

The bottom line

Adding an authorized user card to your Chase account is a big step, so make sure you know what you’re getting into. Getting a friend or relative their own card may seem generous and easy, but paying off the charges they rack up if they aren’t responsible won’t be much fun. Only add authorized users to your account if you trust them completely, and monitor their spending to ensure their new credit access doesn’t get out of hand.

FAQs

The following questions and answers can shed even more light on the ins-and-outs of adding an authorized user to your Chase credit card account.

• Does Chase charge a fee for adding authorized users?

  While most Chase credit cards don’t charge a fee for authorized users, the Chase Sapphire Reserve does. You’ll pay $75 per year for each Chase Sapphire Reserve authorized user you add to your account, but your authorized user will receive their own Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership. Further, their travel charges will qualify for important travel insurance protections like trip cancellation, interruption coverage and baggage delay insurance.

• Does Chase offer bonus points for adding an authorized user?

  Chase doesn’t usually offer bonus points when you add an authorized user to your account. However, you will earn the regular rewards rate for your card each time your authorized user makes a purchase on your account with their credit card.

• Can you add authorized users to Chase debit cards or checking accounts?

  You can’t add an authorized user to your Chase checking account or its connected debit card per se, but you can add another person to your account as a joint account holder. Since this action lets another person access all the money in your checking account with Chase, you should only take this step with people you trust.

• Can you place a spending limit on an authorized user?

  Chase does not let you set a specific limit on your Chase authorized user account via your online account management page. However, you can use your Chase account to lock and unlock your personal credit card account and any authorized user cards. This action effectively freezes all credit card spending until you unlock your card again.

Issuer-required disclosure statement
Information about the Chase Freedom Flex has been collected independently by Banrkate. Card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.