Bilt Now Lets You Add Teens as Authorized Users, Including Full Spending Controls

Bilt just made its credit cards significantly more useful for many households.

Members can now add authorized users starting at age 13 with full customizable spending controls for each person, adjusted directly in the app.

This new feature is being rolled out in phases. Let’s take a look at the details to see if it makes sense for your family.

Bilt’s New Authorized User Features

Bilt just announced that members of its Close Friends group can now add authorized users, starting at age 13, to their accounts, complete with customized controls for each user. It’s all managed via the Bilt app. These new features will become available to all Bilt cardholders in the coming months.

This is welcome news for families looking for an easy way to add a teen (or partner or family member) to their Bilt account while also staying in control of spending limits, merchant categories, and more.

Each authorized user will get their own dedicated number, so if a card is lost, it won’t affect other users’ access. All points earned are credited to the primary user’s account, with the option to route points directly to authorized users who are 18 years or older.

Additionally, authorized users 18+ will have the option to instantly generate a virtual card to add to their digital wallet, whereas teens ages 13-17 will receive a physical card.

Spending controls are fully customizable; the primary cardholder can set monthly and per-transaction limits, as well as merchant category access — perfect for parents giving their children a bit of financial responsibility.

For authorized users 18+ who are making rent or other housing payments, they can make payments directly through the Bilt app, just as the primary cardholder does, and earn rewards.

And for those wondering about credit scores, credit building will be available later this year. Authorized users 18+ will soon be able to build credit through their Bilt credit card activity. For teens added at 13, Bilt says reporting will start at 18, “giving their credit journey a head start instead of a blank slate.”

How To Add an Authorized User

Bilt had already offered the authorized user feature on its cards, but not for 13-year-olds, and the process had been clunky compared to what users expected from a modern fintech company. This update aims to change that.

To add an authorized user, follow these steps:

• Open the Bilt app and go to card settings.
• Navigate to Authorized Users.
• Add a new authorized user and input their information.
• Set their monthly and per-transaction spending limits.
• Select which merchant categories their card can access.

If the authorized user is 18+, choose whether points earned route to their Bilt Rewards account or the primary cardholder’s.

Final Thoughts

Comprehensive authorized user support has been a gap for Bilt credit cards for a while, and this is being addressed with more controls and features than most cards on the market.

Members can now add authorized users as young as 13, which provides a great, customizable tool for families looking to give their kids some financial independence while also earning some valuable points.

If you are a member of Bilt’s Close Friends, check your accounts for this new feature. A broader rollout is coming to all Bilt cardholders in the coming months.