Credit card with my name!!

[Sherry Ann Evans]

This is so great! TIL that Citi cards have a "preferred first name" option. I applied for one. Sure enough, you can log in, change your preferred first name, and get a card with that name!! I'm so excited. Very soon I will have a credit card that says I am Sherry!!! It will be fun when I go out dressed, to pay for stuff with "her" own card. Super happy here.

[Helen_Highwater]

I would love that. I tried to do that with a bank we use as our safety net account. If we go away we leave their card in the hotel safe so if we loose or have stolen our regular card we've something to fall back on for the rest of the holiday.

Unfortunately due to oney laundering rules your card needs to have your real name on it. That said I haven't checked out the situation for a while so I'll certainly look at Citi bank.

[Emily in the south]

Wow, that is so cool Sherry, I would love that. What a great discovery!
Thanks for sharing that.

Emily

[alwayshave]

Sherry Ann, That's great. Happy shopping!

[NjJamie]

I asked for a card with just my first initial and it's working for me, might work for many of us.

[Genifer Teal]

Here in the US you can have a secondary card holder. The primary card holder is the legal one and responsible for the account. The second one doesn't need to prove anything. I've had this for nearly 25 years.

[Sherry Ann Evans]

Genifer -- They didn't ask for ANY documentation? You can just call up and say "Hi I'm Joe Blow, I'd like a second card for Jane Blow," and they take your word for it?

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Sherry Ann :hugs:, That is just so Awesome, >Orchid**O:daydreaming:O**

[Sometimes Steffi]

Genifer -- They didn't ask for ANY documentation? You can just call up and say "Hi I'm Joe Blow, I'd like a second card for Jane Blow," and they take your word for it?

Yup.

When my wife and I married, we decided not to follow the pack. She kept her maiden name.

[Maria 60]

I would have never thought of doing that, that was great thinking

[Genifer Teal]

Correct. They were quick to remind me I was reasonable
Responsible for all purchases but that's pretty much it. I doubt I could use mickey mouse or something else familiar. That's about it. Card has the exact same number.

[Sherry Ann Evans]

I logged into two of my credit card accounts. They offer secondary-user cards, but it requires the secondary user's social security number. If I put in the correct answer, then their computer will realize that number is already in use for my primary card. So I don't understand how to do this.

[nancy58]

This is so cool to hear. First, though, I have to learn to write Nancy in cursive.

[Robyn n TN]

I have had a card in Robyn's name for a few years now and it didn't take anything except requesting it from my card provider. The interesting part is when Robyn gets pre-approved offers for her own card...lol

[GraceH]

I had a Macy's credit card in my femme name. I used my real SS#, and it worked fine. I closed the account, though, when I started getting promotional mails and realized that Macy's was selling credit card info to other companies.

[Cheryl T]

Some cards allow you to add a "authorized user" without any other details but the name of the user and they will issue a card in that name.
I've had cards in my femme name for year now. I had a Discover card, but then they asked for the users social security number so I dropped it. Citi doesn't do that.

[JohnH]

Since I don't use a feminine name I don't have to worry about having a credit card with a feminine name.

John

[Heather76]

I'm going to investigate a 2nd authorized user in Heather's name. Thanks for this thread.

[Sherry Ann Evans]

I kept getting an error message when I tried making the change on the card company's website. So I had no choice but to call them. The first person I talked to was clueless and didn't understand my request at all. I got mad and hung up. I called back and got someone else who was much more helpful. She changed my preferred first name in their system (with "she/her" pronouns!) and issued me a new card (should be here in 4-7 business days). She kept calling me Sir, because that's how the call started, so I nicely but firmly asked her to stop. She paused and said, "Oh, I'm sorry ma'am."

Wish I could change that name and pronouns * everywhere * but it's just going to be for this one credit card. When it arrives, Sherry can go shopping in her own name. :)

My wife pointed out that there may be some risk, for example, if a potential employer or whoever does a background check on me, will it come up with an "also known as" name? I don't know the answer. But this was too exciting of an opportunity to pass by.

Oddly, they gave me a much lower credit limit than my other cards. That's weird. LOL but it will prevent Sherry from going on any wild spending sprees.

[Genifer Teal]

It sounds like you may have done something different than I described above.
What I did was add a second user to the existing account I had.
It is a random name that doesn't actually exist.
They didn't care as long as i understood I was responsible for the charges.
What it sounds like you did was change your namr or you're preferred name. They may have issued you and entirely different card on a new account.
It's weird to have a different credit limit. It's not the same as whatever else you have with them. I don't think having a second authorized user on the account would in any way impact your credit history or whatever.

[Claire M]

I thought about trying to get a card in my girl name. I used to do strictly cash but now I just use my card with my male name on it and own it. If someone questions me, I flash them my male drivers license too. For the most part I will never see that person again and if they have an issue, they will get over it. There is no law prohibiting changing your hair style but there may be a legal question in some jurisdictions about using a credit card in someone else's name.

I do still use cash if I want to keep my purchases under the radar from the family CFO.

[Helena]

We are fortunate in the UK. Day to day nobody handles my card as we tap or at worst have to insert the card in the reader. Online or over the phone has never been a problem and I use a different name from that on my credit card (a throwback to early paranoia).

[Richelle423]

Sherry Ann I pretty sure your real name is on the credit card account. They just issued you a card with your fem name on it. Any back ground check will come up with your birth name on it. Unless you legally change your name.

[Sometimes Steffi]

I do still use cash if I want to keep my purchases under the radar from the family CFO.


LOL. I always use cash so it doesn't show up on a credit card statement. My wife is the CFO, but I never thought about using the term "CFO" for her. I learned something today.

[Sherry Ann Evans]

It sounds like some people are confused. I didn't add a user to my account. Citi specifically has a "preferred name" option. I opened a regular account under my legal name, and then as soon as I got that card, I contacted them and enabled the preferred name option. So they're sending me a new card that says Sherry on it :) and they'll address me as that name, and as she/her, in all future correspondence.

I'm fortunate that I don't have to worry about hiding anything from my significant other -- she's supportive!

[rachael j.]

I don't have any credit cards but I did get one of my debit cards changed to my fem name last year. I bank with Chase, and the branch clerks know me by sight (and because of a small problem I had several months ago). I went in and asked to have just my first two initials and last name on my card, but I found out you can use a nickname instead. I chose my fem name and they changed the card and the name on my account. They already have my legal name and social security number, so it's just a preferred name. It's so nice to be addressed by my preferred name whenever I go in! You might just try going in and talking with someone about the possibility.

[Genifer Teal]

That's interesting. Maybe it's a new policy to require ss for a secondary account user.

[Kate Jennings]

I was able to get a Citi card in my femme name simply by adding that name as an authorized user...As Genifer Teal says, Citi really doesn't care as long as you acknowledge all charges are your responsibility.You can't do this with some card companies...For instance AmEx requires the authorized user's Social Security number, but in my experience Citi, and a number of others, doesn't.

BTW, the likely reason the new card has a lower limit? Given rising interest rates, most credit card companies are offering smaller credit lines to new users.

[Karren H]

That is pretty cool! We have Citi cards so guess that is available. But I can not remember the last time someone actually took my card and looked at it. Mostly tap it on the reader and go. Do not even need to sign anymore.

[Sherry Ann Evans]

I guess I could've done the authorized user thing after all. That would have been much simpler! LOL so now I have this Citi account that I didn't need. Oh well. More credit to spend on clothes and stuff. :heehee: It's also true that nobody is looking at the name on the card, but I have the extra fun of logging in to pay the bill and saying where it says, "Hello Sherry." It's the only part of her life that is even remotely official. That little bit feels nice. Silly me even gets a cheap thrill when I get spam addressed to Sherry in the email account that I use for her. It makes her - me - feel more real.

[Emily in the south]

To be clear, ir sounds like you had your bank cancel your original card and issue you a new one with Sherry Ann's name. Myself, I can see the advantage of having two cards on the same account. Keeping the original, and adding another.
Will check with my bank and see if Emily can have her own card.

Emily

[NatalieMN]

I did the same with Citi for both cards. I got Natalie added as an authorized user and should have them in a couple weeks.

Sorry for the double post. This site doesn't like editing posts on mobile and just deleted my previous post. So I had to make a new one.

[Sherry Ann Evans]

I don't understand. Every time I tried adding an authorized user, on any and all cards, it asked for their SSN and then said that number is already in use (by me in drab).

- - - Updated - - -

No, this is an entirely new account. I never had a Citi account until now.

[Genifer Teal]

I think you first need to establish a city account with your mail self. once you get that card going.
You can then ask to add a secondary user.
The secondary user is on the same account so there is no second social security number.
It seemed Citibank is very good with Acceptance. If it came down to it just tell them what's going on. I bet they would be OK with it.
I would explain it by saying sometimes I don't look like the person on my card and i'd rather have the name that matches how I feel. In a corporate situation it's hard for them to say no. generally speaking I think they want to be helpful that way.

[char GG]

Interesting thread, however, I have not had anyone ask to see any of my credit cards for years. The female name on a card would be for your own happiness.

[NatalieMN]

Char, for me, what made me want to do this (beyond just removing as much of my male self from my female presentation) was going to the bar and giving a card to start a tab. I gave a card and then realized that when settling the tab, it would have my male name. I can obviously say my last name to get the tab, but I like the idea of being able to say it is under Natalie.

I admit it is a relatively rare occurrence but still adds to the experience of being Natalie.

[Terrihoney]

After many on-line purchases for clothing and such, Terri stated getting junk mail in that name. Remember the thrill as a child getting your own mail? This is much better! And, of course, CC applications. Finally filling one out, I got a call from a nice lady, questioning why the SS didn't match the name given. I explained that was the name I use when ordering clothing. A brief pause, the lady said, I'll approve that card". Terri has her own bank account as well. The account is under my male name according to the bank, the checks are printed with Terri's name and a pretty butterfly background.

I have no one else at home to see incoming mail. Shopping and paying bills helps confirm the existence of my female persona.

[Genifer Teal]

Getting mail-in a different name by pia problem for some people. hadn't considered that. it's definitely a thing.

[Sherry Ann Evans]

Update ... It took a while but I finally got a card in the mail today that says Sherry Ann Evans on it! Citi was only willing to change my first name, and I didn't like how it sounds with my legal surname. I had a Capital One card that I never use, so I called them and explained the situation. They understood. :) I know nobody's really checking when I buy stuff, but it just feels so nice to have something legal-ish in my wallet with the right name. Happy day! :)

[Genifer Teal]

Congratulations on another feather in your cap!

[Britney Summers]

I don't have any cards in my full girl name, I can sign my full girl name better then my male name. However, when I used my credit card at a Little Ceasers, they knew my name some how without me saying it. Not sure if the information is shown like that every where, but that is a heads up for traveling to places where you might run across a problem.