Opinion: Gen Z is Ready for Their Credit Card Glow Up

Keeping up with the kids isn’t always easy.

When I asked my daughter what the latest word for “cool” is she replied, “glowed up.” So when I read the headline to this column to her she laughed, and laughed, and said yes, before dashing off to yoga.

Assuming she wasn’t pulling my leg, I’m going with it because — as it turns out — credit cards are hip to the segment of the U.S. population between the ages of 13 and 28. 

The statistics that bear this out are striking. A 2025 report from the banking research firm Rivel Banking Research, shows that 68% of people who have recently opened a new card are Gen Zers; the highest percentage out of all generations.

Additionally, of those who already have a credit card, this group occupies the largest percent who say they’re in the market for another account.

Here’s why plastic is all the rage. 

Out of the blue, I got a text message from one of my daughter’s friends. “I’m trying to apply for a credit card, but I don’t know which one to get,” she wrote, explaining that it would be her first account.

Well, that was the beginning of a long text conversation, and one she may have regretted because it’s entirely possible I was a little too enthusiastic with my response. 

Eventually I asked why she wanted a credit card. I knew she had secured her first career job and was already a world traveler, so I assumed it was to continue her adventures. I began to mentally prepare how I would cover all the exciting things she could get with a travel card, but she replied: “I basically just want to build my credit.”

It turns out she’s in the majority. The Rivel report discovered that 68% of Gen Zers cite their primary motivation to become a credit card owner is to build their credit history.

For credit issuers, this is marvelous news. It indicates that young people know they need to prove that they are responsible with money. Gen Z understands that when they create a more desirable profile — as many do when they use dating apps —  their options open up. 

This includes being able to show a landlord or property manager that they can handle money well. Even with a single credit card they can ensure that their credit file is filled with a trail of on-time payments. 

When they don’t carry over large (or any) balances they can edge out the competition, too. For example, when several people are looking at the same amazing apartment for rent, a credit report filled with positive data will shine bright. 

Odds are good this generation will also be on the right side of credit history with a financial cushion. According to a 2025 GWI (a consumer research firm) report 59% of Gen Zers made a New Year’s resolution plan to save more money, outpacing that of other generations. 

If they meet that goal, this generation won’t be leaning on the credit card for emergencies as much as others might.  

Although credit cards come with credit lines that allow cardholders to spend more cash then they may have, in general it’s not what Gen Z consumers are looking for.

Per the Rivel research, only 31% of Gen Zers surveyed say they want a credit card because it offers them the ability to borrow more money. Therefore roughly two-thirds of people in this age group say they’re not motivated by credit limits. 

It turns out that most young adults are especially debt-shy, making high credit limits appear daunting. After all, if they have the ability to charge $10,000, they also have the ability to owe that same sum. 

With the job market tight, the economy shaky, and securing housing tough, getting in over their heads is particularly scary. 

A 2025 Credit One Bank survey found that 1 in 3 Americans surveyed across generations said they have a significant fear of debt, but roughly half of Gen X and millennials in the study shrug their shoulders about it. Gen Z, though? Only 39% accept debt as part of life. 

The Rivel research revealed an uncomfortable truth about credit card rewards programs. Younger cardholders are meh about them. A mere 24% say they are attracted to a card for its better reward programs. 

That held true when I was chatting with my daughter’s friend. Explaining that a card offering 2% cash back on everything she buys with the account was like explaining the plot of a long, dull movie. “If you charge $800 you’ll get $16 back!” left her yawning, despite my insisting it’s like getting a salad at her favorite restaurant for free. 

According to a 2025 Credit One Bank survey, only 39% of Gen Zers accept debt as part of life.

Ultimately, conventional beliefs about why young people want credit cards are largely untrue. They don’t want to buy more than they can afford, and they aren’t that thrilled with bells and whistles. 

This demographic is seeking stability in an uncertain environment. A credit card that allows them to develop an appealing credit profile — while also helping them make purchases — is what they’re after. 

I have a feeling that, when it comes to credit cards, this generation will slay.