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    Credit Basics

    Joint Account

    A credit account opened in the names of two or more people, each fully responsible for the debt.

    What It Means

    On a joint account, every account holder shares legal liability for the full balance, regardless of who made the charges. Activity reports to each holder's credit file. Joint accounts are more common on mortgages, auto loans, and bank accounts than on modern credit cards, which most issuers no longer offer jointly. Closing or removing a joint holder usually requires paying off and refinancing the account.

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