Step Visa Card
By Alex Compton · Last verified
The card that lets a teenager turn 18 with two years of credit history already banked.
Welcome Bonus
Under review
Current claim suppressed
Spend Requirement
Under review
Annual Fee
Under review
Last recorded terms remain in the history below
Credit Score
None
required (teens 13 and up with a sponsoring parent)
Historical Offers Chart
Every public offer change we've tracked. Hover for details, timing your application is worth hundreds of dollars.
No numeric welcome bonus recorded
This product has no points- or cash-denominated offer to plot. Dated no-offer observations, non-points benefits, corrections, and primary-source links remain preserved in the table below.
| Observed | Offer | Requirement | What changed | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06 | $0 | No recorded spend | Earliest recordNo welcome offer | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
Primary-source verification log
Append-only evidence ledgerEvent-level primary-source attachments begin with the September 2026 verification system. Older records remain visible but are not retroactively presented as evidenced.
Source checked 2026-06-11 · spot an outdated offer? Report a correction above.
Last Recorded Earning Rates
These terms are historical context and are not presented as current.
- 1xAll purchasesUp to 10% back at select merchants; rewards tiers require qualifying direct deposit
Last Recorded Credits
No statement credits, this card wins on earn rates, not coupons.
Last Recorded Benefits
Confirm availability and enrollment requirements with the issuer.
- ✦No subscription fees, no interest, no overdraft fees, and no minimum deposit
- ✦Secured by the Step account balance, so teens cannot overspend
- ✦Smart Pay clears the balance automatically each month
- ✦At 18, Step can report up to two years of existing history to the bureaus
- ✦FDIC insured with parental controls and Visa Zero Liability
Why it earns its spot
- +Backdated history means an 18-year-old can start with a real score
- +Structurally impossible to miss a payment or pay interest
- +Free, with rewards that beat most teen debit products
Where it costs you
- −Requires a parent or guardian to sponsor the account
- −Credit history only reports once the user turns 18 and opts in
- −Best rewards tiers are gated behind direct deposit
The Compound Verdict
Nothing else in the teen category does what Step does: the card behaves like debit, but the payment history quietly accrues and posts to the bureaus when the user turns 18. A college freshman who started at 16 walks in with a meaningful score while classmates start from zero. For families planning ahead, this is the obvious move.
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