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Deciding when is the best time to apply for a new credit card is key, especially if you're looking to open a Chase credit card. While Americans have an average of four credit cards, those with more may run into Chase's "5/24 rule."
The 5/24 rule limits who can open a new Chase credit card, based on how many cards they have opened within the past two years. So, if you're looking to maximize travel rewards with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or get out of debt with the Chase Slate®, you may need to calculate your 5/24 score before applying.
Below, Select explains how the Chase 5/24 rule works, so you can gauge qualification odds for Chase credit card applications.
What is the 5/24 rule?
Many card issuers have criteria for who can qualify for new accounts, but Chase is perhaps the most strict. Chase's 5/24 rule means that you can't be approved for most Chase cards if you've opened five or more personal credit cards (from any card issuer) within the past 24 months.
For instance, if you've opened two Citi cards and three Amex cards within the past 24 months, then you will likely be denied for a new Chase card until your 5/24 score decreases. There really aren't any workarounds to the 5/24 rule, beyond waiting for a new account to be over 24 months old.
What Chase cards are affected by 5/24?
While Chase doesn't publish which cards are affected by the rule, there are numerous reports on forums, such as Reddit, that report which credit cards are subject to 5/24.
The 5/24 rule reportedly affects most Chase credit cards, including:
Co-branded cards are also reportedly affected:
How to calculate your 5/24 score
If you've recently opened new credit cards and want to apply for a Chase credit card, you may not know where you stand for the 5/24 rule. To calculate your 5/24 score, simply review your credit report and count the number of accounts that were opened in the past 24 months.
This also includes if someone added you as an authorized user on their account. And any accounts that were opened within the past two years but also closed within that time should still be counted.
Does the 5/24 rule affect other card issuers?
No — other card issuers don't follow the 5/24 rule, so you may qualify for an Amex or Citi card if you've opened five accounts within the past 24 months. However, all card issuers have their own requirements and criteria for approving applicants.
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
FAQs
The 5/24 rule is an unofficial policy that dictates that Chase won't approve you for its cards if you've opened five or more personal credit card accounts from any issuer in the last 24 months. Put simply, the number of cards you've opened in the previous two years will affect your approval odds with Chase.
What is Chase's 5 24 rule on card applications? ›
What is the 5/24 rule? Many card issuers have criteria for who can qualify for new accounts, but Chase is perhaps the most strict. Chase's 5/24 rule means that you can't be approved for most Chase cards if you've opened five or more personal credit cards (from any card issuer) within the past 24 months.
How do you avoid the 5 24 rule in Chase? ›
How to bypass the Chase 5/24 rule? If you've been approved for five cards in the past 24 months, you will not be approved for another Chase card thanks to the 5/24 rule. There have been reports of “Selected for you” and “Just for you” offers being exempt from the 5/24 rule.
How does Chase determine your credit limit? ›
Both your credit score and your credit report are important factors that card issuers weigh when considering how to determine your credit limit. A higher credit score shows you have a good track record of paying your debts back and being financially responsible, so your credit limits may be higher vs.
What is the 2 48 rule for Chase? ›
Most cards allow you to earn a welcome bonus if it has been at least 24 months since your last received a welcome bonus on the same card. Chase Sapphire-branded cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can only earn a welcome bonus once every 48 months.
Do Chase cards count towards 5 24? ›
All new credit cards applied for and approved within the last 24 months count toward the 5/24 rule, even if you've closed the account. The Chase 5/24 rule counts new accounts, not open accounts.
How many credit cards are too many? ›
Owning more than two or three credit cards can become unmanageable for many people. However, your credit needs and financial situation are unique, so there's no hard and fast rule about how many credit cards are too many. The important thing is to make sure that you use your credit cards responsibly.
How many inquiries is too many for Chase? ›
Hard pulls can affect your credit score and may also hurt your eligibility for new credit cards and/or loans — especially if the number of inquiries reaches six.
Does it hurt your credit to close a credit card? ›
Before you close a credit card account, consider the following: Closing a credit card could lower the amount of overall credit you have versus the amount of credit you're using (your debt to credit utilization ratio), which could impact your credit scores.
Do authorized users build credit? ›
Being added as an authorized user on another person's card may help you establish a credit history or build your credit. Yet cardholders and authorized users' on-time, late or missed payments will be added to both parties' credit reports, so it's important that cardholders and authorized users see eye to eye.
Sometimes, your credit card issuer may automatically increase your credit limit based on certain factors such as having the card open for a long period of time and making payments on time. If this happens, they may send you communication that your limit has increased, so be sure to monitor for these notifications.
Which Chase card has the highest limit? ›
On our list, the card with the highest reported limit is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which some say offers a $100,000 limit. We've also seen an advertised maximum credit limit of $100,000 on the First Tech Odyssey Rewards™ World Elite Mastercard®, a credit union rewards card.
How to get a $30,000 credit card limit? ›
To get approved for high-limit credit cards, you'll most likely need to have good or excellent credit and a steady income to support a higher credit limit. Picking the right card is important, too. You may be able to find the minimum starting credit limits listed in some cards' terms and conditions.
What is the 2 30 rule for Chase? ›
Two Cards per 30 Days
Chase reportedly limits credit card approvals to two Chase credit cards per rolling 30-day period. Data points conflict on this, but a safe bet is to apply for no more than two personal Chase credit cards or one personal and one business Chase credit card every 30 days.
Is it OK to have 2 Chase credit cards? ›
Yes, you can have more than one credit card from the same company. It's not only possible, but it can be a great way to deepen your relationship with one specific bank and take advantage of their card rewards and benefits.
How many credit cards should you have? ›
To prepare, you might want to have at least three cards: two that you carry with you and one that you store in a safe place at home. This way, you should always have at least one card that you can use. Because of possibilities like these, it's a good idea to have at least two or three credit cards.
How many Chase cards can you apply for in a month? ›
Two Cards per 30 Days
Data points conflict on this, but a safe bet is to apply for no more than two personal Chase credit cards or one personal and one business Chase credit card every 30 days. However, customers who open multiple cards in less than 24 months, regardless of the card issuer, may be declined by Chase.
Is the 5 24 rule removed from Chase? ›
While there's nothing official, anecdotally it would appear that Chase is no longer consistently enforcing the 5/24 rule since around April 2023. I wanted to post a reminder of this, both for those who may not be aware, and also to get additional data points from those who are over the limit and apply for a card.
What are Chase qualifying activities? ›
Qualifying transactions include debit card purchases, online bill payments, money orders or cashier's checks paid, Chase QuickDepositSM, Zelle®, or direct deposits.
How many times can you apply for Chase? ›
2/30 Rule. The 2/30 rule says that you can only have two applications every 30 days or else you'll automatically be rejected. If you don't have a high credit score (700+), your chances of getting approved for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is slim.
