Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government
(855) 411-2372
Submit a Complaint

About us

We're the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a U.S. government agency that makes sure banks, lenders, and other financial companies treat you fairly.

Learn how the CFPB can help you

My children are under 21 years old, but they receive invitations to apply for credit cards. How is this possible?

Answer:

Card issuers may mail “invitations to apply” based on mailing lists purchased from a variety of sources, such as loyalty or rewards programs. 

However, credit reporting agencies are prohibited from knowingly including consumers under 21 years old on lists used to send firm offers of credit or insurance, unless the individual consented to the credit reporting agency to be included on such lists.

Was this page helpful to you?

Please do not share any personally identifiable information (PII), including, but not limited to: your name, address, phone number, email address, Social Security number, account information, or any other information of a sensitive nature.

The content on this page provides general consumer information. It is not legal advice or regulatory guidance. The CFPB updates this information periodically. This information may include links or references to third-party resources or content. We do not endorse the third-party or guarantee the accuracy of this third-party information. There may be other resources that also serve your needs.