Credit card for me

[Lori31]

My bank has been sending me offers to add users to my credit card account. Now I know that physical credit cards are becoming less and less of a thing these days. I mean, you have the ability to tap with them now, and there is also the option to put it right on your phone and just tap with your phone. So names on credit cards are becoming less of a thing these days than they were in the past. Be that as it may, I think it would still be neat, and almost like some kind of validation, to have some kind of ID or piece of plastic with Lori's name on it.

[bridget thronton]

I think so too - but I have not done it yet

[NjJamie]

Some banks will not give you a card without a verifiable ID so I did the next best thing and just had my first initial and last name. One other option is to buy gift cards that work just the same, not exactly the same thing but maybe close enough.

[Connie D50]

I have a credit card when I go out it's in my wifes name. I know thats find of cheating :).

[Cheryl T]

I've had them for years now.
Some companies eventually wanted information about the "authorized user" like SS# and so I gave that one up. Others haven't and so they've been in my purse for about 15 years now and used when I shop.

[Stevann]

One of my banks only allowed REAL PEOPLE. But another allowed me to just use my 2 initials (which match my femme initials) plus my last name. My handwriting is so bad, that no one can read the first name anyway.

[VivianNewkirk]

I've added Vivian as an authorized user on all my cards. She's got her own accounts on various shopping sites, plus it's fun getting her packages delivered in her own name! On the other hand, she also gets junk mail as a result.

[Maid_Marion]

https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/preferred-name-on-credit-debit-card/
This 2024 article has good research on this topic.
Citi Mastercard is the first one that I know of to offer this option. I just checked and Target's Mastercard may allow it as well.
https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/vision/who-we-are/pride.html

[Ceera]

I filed an 'assumed business name' with my county as a 'performer', citing my female name, then opened a business bank account with a credit card bearing that name (as well as a business name that I also legally registered). Showed up at the bank en-femme, and they had no issues with setting me up! They had my legal male name on file, along with my SSN, but the only name on the credit card, debit card or checks was my female name.

Note, however, that businesses can still ask to see your ID (driver license) when paying with a card. But I never had any issues with that. If they questioned the difference in name, I said it was my name as a performer. No problems!

[Genifer Teal]

I've got 2 credit cards. The account number on the card is the same. If needed I could show the second card and my real id. It has never come up.

I recently got a costco membership which was slightly trickier. They allow a nick name. This was not offered up front. It only came up after a lengthy discussion.

You are right that this hardly matters any more. It's still fun.
It's also nice that it's so the same name and billing/ shipping info.

Let us know how it goes.

[Lori31]

I'm from Canada. I'm not sure if the laws are different up here than you Americans, but we'll see how it goes.

[Jillian Faith]

I've done both, one bank allowed me to add a card in Jill's name so I carry that when shopping. For the bank that required a verifiable ID I just had them change the account to my 1st initial and last name. Easy Peasy!

[Suzie Petersen]

I just ordered a credit card in my girl name. Bank of America allows you to get a card for a family member or other. In the application you fill out online, there is a field for Social Security number, but it is not a required field! Other than that, they ask for address and DOB. Just used my male info for that.

So, in 7-10 days, Suzie can pay with her own card when out! Yay!
I just hope she will be responsible with it! Oh dear!

[Crissy 107]

Hmmm, knowing Suzie she might not be responsible with it.
JK of course

[Lori31]

Well, it looks like in 2 to 4 weeks Lori will have her own credit card! Yay! No validation was necessary. It was just an Online submission form through my online banking. And they only required basic information like name, address, and birth date.

[Sherry Ann Evans]

A year or two ago, I got a Capital One card added as an authorized user under the name Sherry Ann Evans. It makes me so happy! I keep that card in 'her' purse/wallet for when I go out. I know virtually nobody looks at the name, but I love that it's something quasi-official under my preferred name. I also changed the preferred name for when I log in to manage the account.

[Fiona_44]

I've got a credit card in Fiona's name. Not a problem.

[alwayshave]

My credit card only has my first initial and last name. Since Jamie is just the feminine of my given name, it works.

[Suzie Petersen]

As an add on to my previous post, I received my Bank of America credit card yesterday.
It is identical to the card I have in my male name, same account number and security code, no field for a signature. Only difference is that this one has my girl name on it!

There was no activation needed, it is ready to go.
I believe any purchases made with this card will show up on the statement exactly like my male card, in other words if Suzie makes a purchase ... her "Brother" will not know she did it! Ha!
Of course, the vendor name might tip him off! Victoria's Secret ... yeah right!

Another data point. I looked at my American Express card to see if I could do the same there. While you can add an "Authorized User" on AMEX as well, there are a couple of things to know:
1) I have one of their high end cards because I travel a lot, so to add a user with the same benefits it will cost $175/yr. Not nearly the cost of the original card, but still significant and not worth it to me. Instead, you can get one of their free cards as the Authorized User and just not have some of the benefits of the other card.
2) While the online application for the Authorized User does not require you to enter a Social Security number for the added person, it is stated that you must provide the number within 90 days after receiving the card, or the card will be canceled! This makes me think AMEX will actually issue a card with a different number. It is possible this is not the case if you have one of their free cards to start with, but I don't know.
I have no idea if entering your male SSN would work, it might! Maybe I will try that later on.

Of course as others have said, nobody really checks the name on the card these days anyway, but it is a fun little novelty and another little bit validation.

[Maid_Marion]

I received a privacy notice reminding me that my Kohl's card now belongs to Capital One, a company that allows preferred names.
The 30% off coupons, including sales items, and getting a card with your preferred name may be a good reason for getting this store credit card that can't be used anywhere else.

My Target card is also a MasterCard. Last year I used it to get a "MasterCard discount" at the Traveler's, formerly the Greater Hartford Open, a golf tournament. They had plenty of unisex Port-a-Potties for general admission guests.

[TerriLynnCD]

As an add on to my previous post, I received my Bank of America credit card yesterday.
It is identical to the card I have in my male name, same account number and security code, no field for a signature. Only difference is that this one has my girl name on it!

There was no activation needed, it is ready to go.
I believe any purchases made with this card will show up on the statement exactly like my male card, in other words if Suzie makes a purchase ... her "Brother" will not know she did it! Ha!
Of course, the vendor name might tip him off! Victoria's Secret ... yeah right!

Another data point. I looked at my American Express card to see if I could do the same there. While you can add an "Authorized User" on AMEX as well, there are a couple of things to know:
1) I have one of their high end cards because I travel a lot, so to add a user with the same benefits it will cost $175/yr. Not nearly the cost of the original card, but still significant and not worth it to me. Instead, you can get one of their free cards as the Authorized User and just not have some of the benefits of the other card.
2) While the online application for the Authorized User does not require you to enter a Social Security number for the added person, it is stated that you must provide the number within 90 days after receiving the card, or the card will be canceled! This makes me think AMEX will actually issue a card with a different number. It is possible this is not the case if you have one of their free cards to start with, but I don't know.
I have no idea if entering your male SSN would work, it might! Maybe I will try that later on.

Of course as others have said, nobody really checks the name on the card these days anyway, but it is a fun little novelty and another little bit validation.

My experience with AMEX and authorized users is that the auth user DOES get their own card # (the last 5 #s are different) and the charges will be stated separately on the statement under their name.

I have a card in my girl name that I got last year from Citibank. Same as others, only needed basic info. Downside has been that "she" has been getting marketing mail from Progressive since then (thanks Citi for selling that). Something to be aware of if you are trying to keep the card/name out of sight of prying eyes.

[Suzie Petersen]

TerriLynn,
With AMEX, what did you do about the SSN? Just use the same as you male card? I'm not sure if that would trip a red flag for them perhaps.
Good point about the possibility for marketing mail! Will be interesting to see if I get some of that too. It would not be a problem here as my wife would not have an issue with it, but it could certainly be bad for some people.

[Deborah G]

What a great idea! I wondered about how much of a hassle it would be to get one. Thank you!

[Terrihoney]

I've had a CITI card with Terri's name for several years now. After many online clothing orders, I received junk mail to Terri, including card offers. Filling out an application, I got a phone call questioning the name and gender difference from my SSN. Explaining to the nice lady that that's the name I use when ordering clothing, I was approved.
It is satisfying to have a valid card when shopping, online or in person. I also have my own checking account. To the bank, the account is in my male name, the checks are printed with Terri's name and a pretty butterfly background.

Some groups I'm a member of, or donations, know me only as Terri. That feels good.

Hugs, Terri

[Lori31]

Lori's credit card finally arrived. Yay!

[JesseVF]

While an actual credit card is probably not in the works for me, I did realize a short while ago I could use Jesse as the name for my Dunkin Donuts app. It?s fun to walk into the store dressed as Jesse and pickup my order marked Jesse in bold large print. Also just logging in to be greeted ? Welcome Back Jesse!?

[Maid_Marion]

I changed my name with Panera Bread to Marion as I'd always "male fail" picking up my food.

[TerriLynnCD]

TerriLynn,
With AMEX, what did you do about the SSN? Just use the same as you male card? I'm not sure if that would trip a red flag for them perhaps.
Good point about the possibility for marketing mail! Will be interesting to see if I get some of that too. It would not be a problem here as my wife would not have an issue with it, but it could certainly be bad for some people.

I didn't apply for AMEX in my girl name. It's just my experience with AMEX and authorized users (wife).

[Jane G]

That's a cool idea. Never thought of it before.