Does Bank of America Report Authorized Users to Bureaus?

BoA does not report AU activity to Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion, so authorized users never show up as a separate tradeline on their credit files.

• AU balances, charges, and payments stay attached to the primary's account; the credit bureaus see only the primary's credit‑card history.
• Late or missed payments by the primary can still influence an AU's future credit applications because lenders sometimes consider the shared account's payment pattern.
• Adding an AU creates no new credit account for the AU; it merely grants access to the existing BoA card.
• Removing the AU or closing the primary account instantly cuts off any further reporting impact for the AU.

For the official BoA policy, see the Bank of America authorized user guide.

BoA rarely lists authorized users on any credit‑bureau report, so spotting an AU means confirming whether the issuer chose to report it at all.

How to check your BoA credit file

1. Request your free annual report from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion  -  use AnnualCreditReport.com to avoid fees.
2. Scan each page for a BoA revolving account; look for a line that says 'Authorized User' or a similar tag beside the account number.
3. Match the account number with the one shown in your online BoA dashboard; if the dashboard lists AUs but the bureau entry does not, BoA is not reporting that user.
4. Call BoA's credit‑reporting line for confirmation; a representative will state whether the AU is being sent to the bureaus (they typically answer 'no').

If none of the reports show the AU, assume BoA isn't reporting it, and move on to the next section about sharing history with your AU.

Bank of America shares the full account history with an AU when you add them as an authorized user; the bureau receives the same payment‑date, balance, and credit‑limit data it reports for the primary holder.

The AU's credit file therefore shows the account's positive on‑time payments and utilization ratio, but it also reflects any late payments the primary makes, giving the AU a realistic snapshot of the BoA account's impact on their score.

Adding a new AU to your BoA credit card grants them the ability to make purchases and view statements, but it does not automatically place the account on the AU's credit report. BoA treats authorized users as secondary cardholders; only joint account holders or co‑signers appear on both parties' credit files.

For example, a parent adds a 16‑year‑old as an AU; the teen receives a card, can charge up to the primary's limit, and sees monthly activity online, yet the child's credit score remains unchanged because BoA does not report the AU's activity. A spouse listed as a joint account holder will see the same borrowing reflected on both credit reports, influencing each score.

Rarely, an AU might be reported if the bank mistakenly categorizes them as a co‑signer, a scenario that can be corrected by contacting BoA customer service (Bank of America authorized‑user guide).

BoA late payments do not automatically ding an AU's credit score. The primary holder's delinquency stays on the primary file, not on the AU's report.

• BoA reports the account's payment history only to the primary holder's credit file; authorized users are typically excluded from bureau submissions.
• Because AUs lack a separate tradeline, a 30‑day‑late entry never appears on their credit reports as we explained above.
• Lenders may still consider the AU's association with a delinquent primary account when evaluating applications, which can indirectly influence approval odds.
• Some creditors manually pull the primary's full report and note the AU relationship, but this does not create a bureau‑recorded late‑payment mark for the AU.
• Regularly checking the AU's credit file confirms whether any unexpected entries have slipped in; BoA's authorized‑user FAQ outlines this reporting approach.

Late payments on your BoA account also damage any AU's credit score. BoA reports the primary account's payment history to the bureaus, and that same data appears on the AU's credit file.

• BoA sends a late‑payment record after the account is 30 days past due; some bureaus receive the update at 60 days.
• The AU's credit file shows the same delinquency because the account is listed under their name.
• A single 30‑day late can drop an AU's score 30‑50 points, especially if the AU has a thin file.
• If the primary cardholder later brings the account current, the negative mark remains for up to seven years.

Because the AU's score mirrors the primary's, monitor the primary account closely. If you anticipate a payment slip, consider removing the AU before the delinquency posts - see the next section on quickly removing BoA authorized users.

Removing an AU from a BoA account happens instantly through the online portal or a quick phone call.

1. Log into the BoA online banking dashboard.
   Navigate to 'Account Services,' select the account hosting the AU, and click 'Manage Authorized Users.'
2. Choose the AU you want to delete, then hit 'Remove.'
   Confirm the action when prompted; the system updates the user list in real time.
3. Call 800‑432‑1000 if you lack internet access.
   Verify identity with the representative, state the AU's name, and request removal; the rep processes it on the spot.
4. Ask for written confirmation via email or mail.
   Keep the notice for records; it proves the AU no longer appears on the account.
5. Monitor the next monthly statement.
   The removed AU disappears immediately, and any credit‑building benefit ends with the statement closing date.

Add a minor as a BoA AU through the online banking portal, entering their full name, date of birth and confirming they are under 18; BoA typically does not report AU activity, so the child gains no credit‑building benefit until opening an independent account.

Limit exposure by issuing a separate, low‑limit card that tracks only designated purchases, and review the primary account's statements each week; the primary remains fully responsible for any charge the AU makes.

Use BoA's Add an authorized user guide to verify the process and to learn how to remove the AU quickly if circumstances change.

Both BoA and Chase push authorized‑user activity to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion when the primary account stays current, letting AU(s) reap credit‑score gains.

BoA adds AU(s) to its monthly bureau feed once the holder's balance is up‑to‑date; closed or severely delinquent accounts drop off, and any negative marks on the primary line echo onto the AU's report.

Chase follows the same rulebook: a clean primary account triggers AU reporting, while a default or closed balance halts updates and may even wipe the AU's line from the file.

(See Bank of America authorized‑user reporting policy and Chase authorized‑user credit guidelines for full details.)

• Delete the AU from the BoA account - Use online banking, the mobile app, or a branch representative to remove the authorized user. Once removed, the AU's line typically disappears from all credit‑bureau reports after the next reporting cycle (30‑45 days), as we covered above.
• Close the primary BoA account - If the primary holder cannot delete the AU, closing the entire account forces all associated AU entries to vanish from credit files.
• Transfer the AU to a non‑reporting product - Move the authorized user to a BoA card that does not report secondary users (e.g., a 'no‑credit‑impact' secondary card) or to another issuer that offers that option. The AU's credit profile then stays untouched.
• Dispute any lingering AU entry - Should the AU remain after deletion or closure, file a dispute with each bureau, attaching the account‑removal confirmation. The bureaus must investigate and, if verified, erase the stale record.

(For BoA's authorized‑user policies, see the official BoA guide.)