Quick summary
Chase’s 5/24 is an unofficial but widely observed guideline: Chase tends to deny most personal rewards-card applications if you have opened five or more new credit card accounts from any issuer in the past 24 months. Chase has not published a formal policy, so guidance comes from crowdsourced reports and exceptions can occur.
What the rule covers
– Applies to most Chase personal rewards cards, including many co-branded airline and hotel cards and cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards. Some Ink business cards are treated as personal for approval purposes.
– The count uses new personal credit card accounts that appear on your credit report, even if the account is now closed. Denied applications do not add to the count.
– Small-business cards usually do not count, but reporting varies by issuer. Some Discover, TD Bank, and many Capital One small-business cards have been reported to count. Treat business-card reporting as issuer-dependent.
How to check your 5/24 status
– Review your credit report and sort accounts by open date. Free services such as Experian are commonly used. Count any personal credit card accounts opened in the prior 24 months that appear on the report.
– Timing detail: you drop below 5/24 on the first day of the 25th month after the fifth account was opened. Example: if your fifth account opened in October 2024, you should be below 5/24 on November 1, 2026.
What counts toward 5/24
– Personal credit cards opened in the last 24 months that show on your credit report, whether open or closed.
– Authorized-user accounts that are reported on your credit file. These often count unless removed or successfully excluded during reconsideration.
– Store cards and network-issued cards that appear on your report.
What does not count
– Denied applications do not count toward 5/24.
– Most business cards from many issuers usually do not count, though there are exceptions.
– Installment loans such as mortgages, auto loans, and student loans do not count.
Product changes, upgrades, and conversions
– A product change or upgrade may not be treated as a new account if the issuer keeps the same account number and does not do a hard pull. Ask the issuer before requesting a change; if a new account number or hard inquiry occurs, it may increase your 5/24 count.
Ways to mitigate or work around 5/24
– Targeted Chase offers sometimes approve applicants over 5/24. Check your Chase account for personalized offers.
– Product changes within Chase that do not generate a new account can move you to a different Chase card, but such changes generally do not qualify for welcome bonuses.
– Calling Chase reconsideration can help in cases involving authorized-user reporting or reporting errors, but outcomes are manual and not guaranteed.
Application timing and best practices
– Chase may view many new accounts or multiple applications in a short window unfavorably. To reduce scrutiny, avoid applying for new cards more often than every three to four months and do not submit several Chase applications at once.
– If you submit two Chase applications on the same day while at 4/24, one may be auto-declined if both post rapidly.
Common FAQs
– If you applied on the exact day you fell below 5/24 and were denied: wait until the first day of the next month and then call reconsideration or reapply.
– Can other banks approve you if you are over 5/24? Yes. The 5/24 guideline is specific to Chase; other issuers have their own rules.
– Do Chase business cards count? Approved Chase business cards generally do not add to the personal 5/24 count, but Chase often requires you to be below 5/24 to get approved for business cards.
– What about authorized-user accounts? You can ask to be removed as an authorized user before applying or call reconsideration to explain the situation.
Bottom line
Chase 5/24 is a practical screening rule that affects chances for most Chase rewards cards. Because it depends on how accounts appear on your credit reports, plan ahead: prioritize Chase cards earlier in your rewards strategy, monitor your credit report to track open dates, avoid frequent applications, and be ready to pursue product changes, targeted offers, or reconsideration when appropriate.