The Chase 5/24 Rule: What It Is and How to Work Around It

If you’re diving into the world of travel hacking, points, and miles, you’ve may have heard about the infamous Chase 5/24 rule. It’s one of the biggest factors that can influence your credit card strategy, and if you don’t plan ahead, you might find yourself locked out of some of the best travel rewards cards out there.

So, what exactly is the Chase 5/24 rule? How does it impact your ability to get new cards? And most importantly, how can you work around it? Let’s break it down.

What Is the Chase 5/24 Rule?

Simply put, the Chase 5/24 rule means that if you’ve opened five or more credit cards (from any issuer, not just Chase) in the past 24 months, you will not be approved for most Chase cards. Yes, even if you have a perfect credit score and a stellar banking relationship with Chase, they will still deny you if you’ve crossed that threshold.

Here’s what counts toward your 5/24 total:

• Personal credit cards from any bank (Chase, Amex, Citi, Capital One, etc.)
• Being an authorized user on someone else’s account (though sometimes you can call reconsideration to have this overlooked)
• Some business credit cards
  • Business cards from Discover Bank
  • Business cards from TD Bank
  • Capital One small-business cards (except for Venture X Business and Spark Cash Plus)

What doesn’t count?

• Business cards from banks like Amex, Citi, and Bank of America (they don’t show on your personal credit report). Business cards from Chase don’t count either.
• Capital One Venture X Business and Spark Cash Plus
• Loans, mortgages, and other non-credit card accounts

Why Does Chase Have This Rule?

Chase implemented the 5/24 rule to cut down on excessive credit card churning—basically, people signing up for cards just to get the bonuses and then canceling them. Since Chase offers some of the most valuable rewards cards (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Ink Business Cash), they want to make sure their customers are long-term users, not just in it for the points.

How the 5/24 Rule Affects Your Credit Card Strategy

Because of this restriction, Chase cards should usually be first on your list when applying for new credit cards. If you focus too much on Amex, Citi, or Capital One early on and hit five new cards in two years, you’ll lock yourself out of Chase’s ecosystem until some of your older accounts drop off.

Here’s a smart approach to avoid getting blocked by 5/24:

1. Keep track of your 5/24 status – Use a simple spreadsheet or an app like Travel Freely to monitor how many cards you’ve opened in the last two years. If you aren’t sure, check Credit Karma, which will give you the opening dates of each of your cards.
2. Prioritize Chase cards first – If you’re under 5/24, go for Chase cards before reaching five accounts.
3. Use business cards strategically – If you qualify for a business card, consider applying for them in between personal cards, since they don’t add to your 5/24 count. Depending on how frequently you open new cards, you may want to open more business cards than personal cards. If you’re over 5/24, you’ll want to start here in order to get back under 5/24 again.
4. Space out applications – Applying for too many cards at once can not only push you over 5/24 but also raise red flags with banks.
5. Enlist a Player 2 (P2) – A spouse, adult child, or travel partner can also apply for cards, and you can work together to meet the minimum spend requirements, allowing each of you to space out your applications.

Can You Get Around the 5/24 Rule?

For the most part, Chase is strict about this policy. However, there are a few ways to still get approved even if you’re over 5/24:

• New Chase Cards – When Chase rolls out a new product, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business, there are sometimes data points of people who get approved despite being over 5/24.
• In-Branch Pre-Approvals – Sometimes, Chase bankers can see pre-approved offers that bypass the 5/24 rule. These aren’t guaranteed, but if you have a solid banking relationship with Chase, it’s worth asking.
• Targeted Mail Offers – If you receive a special invitation to apply for a Chase card in the mail (with a fixed APR listed), it might bypass 5/24.

Other Considerations with Chase Card Applications

In the past, it was possible to apply for several Chase cards in a row, then move on to cards from other banks. Now, however, denials start to pop up when there are too many Chase applications close together. So what’s a savvy traveler to do?

• Space Out Chase Applications – You’ll likely see recommendations to space applications at least 30 days apart, but 90 days between applications from the same bank is even better. With 90 days between applications, you’ll likely see your approval odds go way up.
• Business Cards From Other Banks – If you have a lot of spend, opening business cards from other banks is a great way to space out your Chase applications. Some of these cards have higher minimum spend requirements, which can further help with application timing.
• Consider a Personal Card From Another Bank – This advice goes against the grain – but hear me out. Take a look at the personal Chase cards you may want to open over a 2 year period. If there are fewer than 5 cards on this list, you’ll have a slot or two open for a non-Chase personal card. For example, the Venture X is a card many people will want to open early in their points and miles journey, since Capital One tends to be inquiry sensitive.

Final Thoughts

The Chase 5/24 rule can be frustrating, but with a little planning, you can work around it. If you’re serious about maximizing travel rewards, make sure to prioritize Chase cards early in your strategy, track your new accounts carefully, and consider business cards to keep your 5/24 count lower.

Have you run into the 5/24 rule before? Drop a comment below and share your experience—or any tips you’ve found to maximize points earning despite the rule!