Chase’s 5/24 rule: How it works and how to work around it

The Chase 5/24 rule limits how many Chase credit cards you can be approved for within a 24-month period, making it essential to understand if you want to sign up for new offers in the future.

What is the Chase 5/24 rule?

In general, the Chase 5/24 rule doesn’t allow you to be approved for more Chase credit cards if you’ve opened five or more credit card accounts in the past 24 months. Something to note is that just about any recently opened credit card account, regardless of issuer, counts toward this limit. 

That means if you’ve opened one card each from American Express, Chase, Citibank, Barclays, and Wells Fargo in the past 24 months, Chase will most likely deny any further applications for one of its credit cards.

There are exceptions to this rule, but these guidelines have largely held since Chase first included 5/24 language on a credit card application, stating, “You will not be approved for this card if you have opened 5 or more bank cards in the past 24 months.”

That language was later removed, and you won’t find mention of a 5/24 rule in any official Chase publications today, but through loads of crowdsourced data and personal experience, the rule seems to still be intact.

Keep in mind that other card issuers also have their own unofficial rules regarding credit card application limits, so if you’re denied opening a credit card while having good or excellent credit, the reason could be one of these hidden rules. Chase also has other unofficial rules regarding credit card application limits, such as typically limiting card approvals to two per 30 days.

Best Chase credit cards

What cards count toward the 5/24 rule?

Chase checks your credit report to see how many new card accounts have been opened in the past 24 months. So, any newly opened card account that appears on your report will count toward the 5/24 rule.

This can include authorized user accounts that also appear on your report, though certain Chase representatives may be able to discount them if you call the reconsideration line after being initially denied or not automatically approved.

Related: How to apply for a credit card

Do business cards count toward 5/24?

In many cases, business credit cards don’t count toward 5/24 status because they don’t show up on your personal credit report. However, there can be exceptions to this rule, as it depends on the specific card issuer and its credit reporting guidelines.

Do upgrades and product changes count toward 5/24?

Upgrading your card or changing it to a different card product with the same issuer typically won’t count toward 5/24 status because you’re not opening a new card account. However, if the original card account was opened in the past 24 months, it will still count toward 5/24 status until the two-year mark passes.

How to track your 5/24 status

You can check your 5/24 status by accessing your credit report and seeing how many card accounts you’ve been approved for in the past 24 months, and that’s your 5/24 status. AnnualCreditReport.com provides free credit reports from the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

In addition, you can create your own tracker spreadsheet or document to bypass the need to check your credit report. As long as you keep it updated whenever you open a new credit card account, this can be an easier way to track your 5/24 status. 

Note that closed accounts that were opened within the past 24 months also count toward 5/24 status.

Related: When do credit card companies report to credit bureaus?

Can you bypass 5/24?

There have been several ways to bypass the 5/24 rule in the past, including:

Personal card offers: Your online Chase account may sometimes show “Selected For You” or “Just For You” credit card offers that could bypass the 5/24 rule if you’re approved.

Business card offers: Similarly, if you have a business relationship with Chase, your online account could show “Selected For You” or “Just For You” business card offers that bypass 5/24.

In-branch offers: In some cases, applying for a card inside a Chase branch could bypass 5/24.

Targeted offers: Applying for an offer you receive in the mail, especially one with an invitation code, could bypass 5/24.

Business credit cards: Many business credit cards don’t report to your personal credit, so they technically shouldn’t show up on your personal credit report and affect your 5/24 status.

Random success: People have been approved for Chase credit cards while over 5/24 without any real rhyme or reason. This may become more common as Chase continues to update its application rules.

FAQs about the Chase 5/24 rule

Does Chase still have the 5/24 rule?

According to recent reports, Chase’s 5/24 rule seems to be alive and well.

Which Chase cards aren’t subject to 5/24?

While not always guaranteed to bypass 5/24, you may be able to avoid the rule with:

Does Chase 5/24 count closed cards?

Yes, the Chase 5/24 rule counts closed card accounts if they were originally opened in the past 24 months.

Does Amex count toward Chase 5/24?

Yes, American Express credit cards typically count toward the Chase 5/24 rule.

Why do credit card issuers limit how many credit cards you can have?

Credit card issuers want to limit their exposure to risk, such as customers defaulting on their loans, and prevent consumers from abusing the rewards structures they’ve put in place.

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn’t include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.