In June of 2015, Chase implemented a rule known as the 5/24 rule. This rule states that anyone who has opened five or more personal credit cards within the past 24 months cannot get approved for any Chase credit card.

Why Does Chase Have the 5/24 Rule?

Chase introduced the 5/24 rule to prevent "gamers" or "point churners" from obtaining their credit cards solely to receive welcome bonuses. Regardless of your financial status, if you’ve opened five or more credit cards within the last 24 months, Chase considers you a less desirable customer.

Which Accounts Count Toward the 5/24 Rule?

• Personal Credit Cards: Any personal credit card from any bank opened in the last 24 months counts toward the 5/24 rule, regardless of whether the account is still open or closed.
• Authorized User Accounts: These do not count toward the 5/24 rule. However, you may need to contact the reconsideration department (phone: 1-800-453-9719) to clarify, as the system sometimes does not differentiate between individual accounts and authorized user accounts.
• Store Credit Cards: Often, store credit cards do not count toward the 5/24 rule because they are limited to purchases within a specific store or brand. You might need to call the reconsideration line to explain this.
• Loans: Mortgages, car loans, and leases do not count toward the 5/24 rule.

Do Business Credit Cards Count Toward the 5/24 Rule?

Business credit cards, including Chase business cards, do not count toward the 5/24 rule. However, some banks report business cards to the credit bureaus, and if they appear on your personal credit report, they will count toward the 5/24 rule.

Here is a chart of which banks report business credit cards on your personal credit report:

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How is the Chase 5/24 Rule Calculated?

You need to have fewer than five new accounts on your report (four or fewer) opened in the last 24 months, calculated on a month-by-month basis. For example, if you opened your fifth credit card on September 15, 2022, you must wait until October 2024 to get approved for a new Chase credit card.

Which Chase Cards Are Subject to the 5/24 Rule?

All Chase-branded and most co-branded credit cards are subject to the 5/24 rule. Here is a list of some cards affected:

• Chase Slate Edge℠
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Chase Freedom Rise Credit Card
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card
• Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
• United Quest℠ Card
• United℠ Explorer Card
• United Gateway℠ Card
• The World of Hyatt Credit Card
• British Airways Visa Signature® Card
• Iberia Visa Signature® Card
• Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card
• Aeroplan® Credit Card
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
• IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Ways to Bypass the Chase 5/24 Rule

Previously, Chase Private Client (CPC) was exempt from the 5/24 rule, but that is no longer the case. However, there are still some ways to bypass the rule:

1. Pre-Approval: If you see a green pre-approval star with the message “You are already approved” in your Chase account, you can bypass the rule.
2. In-Branch Application: For business cards, you can apply in-branch with a business relationship manager, providing necessary financial documents.

Recent Developments - July 2024

With the elevated INK offer, there have been reports of some applicants bypassing the 5/24 rule. This suggests that the rule might be more flexible than previously thought, particularly with INK cards and the Amazon card.