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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.
Don't miss:
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FAQs
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.
What is the 5 24 rule on Chase credit card application? ›
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.
How do you get around the 5 24 rule at Chase? ›
To avoid the Chase 5/24 rule, wait to apply for a new Chase card until some of your recently opened accounts fall outside the 24-month window.
How many inquiries are 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 Chase 5 24 apply to closed credit cards? ›
To calculate your 5/24 score, add up all the credit cards that you have been approved for over the past 24 months. Look at the sections that contain the list of both your open and closed accounts. Even if an account is currently closed, if it was opened within the past 24 months, Chase will count that card.
What is the 2 30 rule for Chase credit cards? ›
Chase 2/30 rule: Too many new cards in one month? Some credit card experts believe that Chase is also likely to decline new card applications if you have opened two credit cards within 30 days. This is known as the "2/30 rule." Because I had just opened two new cards, Chase was reluctant to let me open another.
Is Chase strict on 5 24? ›
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.
What's the best credit card you can get? ›
Best credit cards of June 2024
- Best for point value: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
- Best for dining and entertainment: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.
- Best overall: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.
- Best cash back on everyday spending: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.
If your goal is to get or maintain a good credit score, two to three credit card accounts, in addition to other types of credit, are generally recommended. This combination may help you improve your credit mix. Lenders and creditors like to see a wide variety of credit types on your credit report.
How often should I apply for credit cards? ›
You may want to reconsider the number of credit cards you have if you're falling behind on regular payments or if annual fees are eating up too much of your budget. It's also a good idea to wait at least 90 days between new credit card applications —and it's even better if you can wait a full six months.
There's no effect on your credit during the Chase pre-approval or prequalification process. However, filling out a full card application will result in a hard credit check when Chase pulls your credit report. Hard credit checks cause a small drop in your credit score.
How bad is 3 hard inquiries? ›
However, multiple hard inquiries can deplete your score by as much as 10 points each time they happen. People with six or more recent hard inquiries are eight times as likely to file for bankruptcy than those with none. That's way more inquiries than most of us need to find a good deal on a car loan or credit card.
Is 7 credit cards too many? ›
How many credit cards is too many or too few? Credit scoring formulas don't punish you for having too many credit accounts, but you can have too few. Credit bureaus suggest that five or more accounts — which can be a mix of cards and loans — is a reasonable number to build toward over time.
How does Chase 5/24 work? ›
What is the Chase 5/24 rule? In order to be approved for any Chase card subject to 5/24, you cannot have opened five or more personal credit cards across all banks in the last 24 months (more on business cards in a moment). This means you actually need to be under 5/24 to be approved.
What are the exceptions to the Chase 5 24 rule? ›
Credit accounts that are excluded from the Chase 5/24 rule include: Credit cards you were denied for. Small business credit cards (except the ones noted above) Auto loans.
How does credit limit work Chase? ›
What does "credit limit" mean? Your credit limit designates the maximum amount of money Chase has agreed to loan to you at any one time. If your balance should ever exceed the credit line, this is referred to as being overlimit.
What is the 48 month rule for Chase? ›
Yes. You can receive a Chase Sapphire bonus more than once. If it's been more than 48 months since you've last earned a bonus on either the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you can earn the bonus again.
When should I apply for a second Chase credit card? ›
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.
What is the Chase 2 90 rule? ›
If you manage to get approved for 2 personal cards on the same day, Chase will combine them into 1 hard inquiry on your credit report. If you do happen to get approved for 2 cards in the same day or month, you're probably better waiting at least 90 days before applying for another card with Chase.
What is the new Chase rule? ›
The Chase 5/24 rule is an informal name given to a Chase Bank credit card approval policy. The rule states that your application for a new Chase credit card will most likely be denied if you have opened five or more personal credit cards (from any bank, not just Chase) within the past 24 months.
