If you are building a US credit card strategy, the Chase 5/24 rule is one of the first things worth understanding. It is an unofficial approval guideline that Chase applies to most of its credit cards, and it can quietly block you from some of the most rewarding cards on the market. Knowing how it works early can save you from a common and avoidable mistake. This is especially relevant for newcomers who, after finally qualifying for credit, feel tempted to open several cards quickly. Doing so can lock you out of Chase for up to two years. Understanding 5/24 helps you sequence your applications in the right order.
The 5/24 rule means that if you have opened 5 or more new credit card accounts across all banks in the past 24 months, Chase will almost always deny your application. It is not a published policy, but it has been consistently observed by cardholders for years. The count is based on when accounts were opened, and cards roll off once they pass the 24-month mark.
Almost all personal credit cards from any issuer count, including cards from Chase, Amex, Citi, Capital One, and store cards that run on a major network. Being an authorized user on someone else's card can also count, though Chase can sometimes overlook this. Business credit cards from most issuers usually do not count, because they typically are not reported on your personal credit report. Loans, mortgages, and debit cards do not count.
Pull your credit report from a free service such as AnnualCreditReport.com or a free credit monitoring app and list every credit card account by its open date. Count only the accounts opened within the last 24 months. If that number is 5 or more, you are currently over 5/24 and should wait until an older account ages out before applying for a Chase card.
Because Chase is strict about 5/24 while many other issuers are not, a common approach is to apply for the Chase cards you want early, before your count climbs. Popular targets include the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, and the no-annual-fee Freedom cards, all of which earn transferable Ultimate Rewards points. Once you are done with Chase, you can pursue cards from issuers that ignore 5/24.
American Express, Citi, Capital One, and Bank of America do not enforce a rule identical to 5/24, though each has its own approval quirks and velocity limits. Amex, for example, limits how many of its cards you can hold and has family rules on welcome bonuses. Capital One tends to dislike many recent inquiries. So while only Chase uses 5/24, no issuer approves unlimited applications without limits.
Most business cards from Chase, Amex, and Citi are not reported on your personal credit report, so they usually do not add to your 5/24 count. However, opening a Chase business card while you are already over 5/24 will still be denied, because Chase checks your count when you apply.
You get under 5/24 when one of your five most recent card accounts passes its 24-month anniversary from the open date. Find the open date of your fifth-most-recent card and count 24 months forward; after that date your count drops to four and you become eligible again.
Authorized user accounts can count toward 5/24 because they may appear on your credit report. If you are close to the limit, you can sometimes ask a Chase reconsideration line to remove authorized user accounts from the count, but there is no guarantee.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This site is a product concept. All card data, bonuses and figures are illustrative, may be out of date, and are not financial advice. Always verify with the issuer before applying.