Apple expands its credit card with Apple Card Family

Apple Spring Forward 2021
(Image credit: Apple)

Apple introduced new features to its Apple Card credit card during the Apple Spring Forward 2021 Event with Apple Card Family.

Tim Cook introduced the expanded financial service by noting that when two people share an Apple Card, the credit scores of the two are not affected equally, meaning that one person's credit is more improved over time by using the card than the other person's. 

Apple is working to change this so that the credit benefit of the Apple Card – and presumably negative credit activity, as well – are distributed evenly among the responsible persons.

Apple is also introducing the ability of anyone in the family over the age of 13 to use Apple Card through Apple Card Family, which allows parents or guardians to set spending limits and controls on a minor's Apple Card use.

All in all, it's an improved system for managing family purchasing activity through the Apple ecosystem, while also being pretty weird considering that Apple is a tech company, not a financial services company, but here we are in 2021.

John Loeffler
Components Editor

John (He/Him) is the Components Editor here at TechRadar and he is also a programmer, gamer, activist, and Brooklyn College alum currently living in Brooklyn, NY.

Named by the CTA as a CES 2020 Media Trailblazer for his science and technology reporting, John specializes in all areas of computer science, including industry news, hardware reviews, PC gaming, as well as general science writing and the social impact of the tech industry.

You can find him online on Bluesky @johnloeffler.bsky.social