Simply put, the Chase 5/24 rule states that if you'vesigned up for 5 new accounts in the past 24 months, your chances of being approved for a Chase credit card within that time period are slim to none.
Although never officially confirmed by Chase, this guideline applies toall new card accounts opened in the past 24 months — not just Chase cards.
In this article
- Is Chase's 5/24 rule new?
- What you should know about the Chase 5/24 rule
- Cards subject to the Chase 5/24 rule
- Cards NOT subject to the Chase 5/24 rule
- FAQs
Is Chase's 5/24 rule new?
Nope, not new. Not official either, though. Back in 2015, reports began surfacing that Chase credit card applications were being automatically denied due to applicants having 5 or more new credit card accounts opened over a 24 month period. It seemed to only affect cards that participated in the Ultimate Rewards Program, and while some reported having success despite being over the rumored “magic” number, most applicants over 5/24 were denied.
Again, it was unofficial, but rumors were swirling.
In May 2016, new requirements made it pretty clear that the rule had expanded to include some, but not all, co-branded Chase cards and business credit cards.
Then, in November 2018, new data points began to surface that applicants were being denied for most, if not all, co-branded Chase cards that were previously regarded as exempt from the rule.
At the time of writing, Chase still hasn’t published anything formal about this policy, but it’s interesting following the evolution of it.
What you should know about the Chase 5/24 rule
Besides the general definition and history of the rule, there’s still a lot to understand about it. We dug a little deeper to find out:
- How Chase defines a new account
- Which cards are subject to 5/24
- Which cards are NOT subject to 5/24
- How to determine your 5/24 status
- Ways to get around 5/24
- Plus, some frequently asked questions
How Chase Defines "New Account"
Chase counts all new accounts on your report — not just Chase accounts — which is an important distinction. It’s also probably why a lot of the advice you have come across encourages you to prioritize signing up for Chase credit cards first.
As an example, let’s say you have applied and were approved for 2 Bank of America cards, 1 Discover card, and 2 American Express cards within a 24-month window. Based on how Chase defines a new account, you would likely be denied if you applied for a Chase card (affected by this rule) because you would be over 5/24.
New accounts are reported to all three nationwide credit bureaus, so it doesn’t matter where Chase pulls your credit report from — they'll find it.
Denied Applications Don't Count
New accounts do not include applications that are denied since they don't get reported. No one wants to be denied for a card, but if it happens, it’s good to know it won’t show up on your credit report.
Authorized Users
If you’re an authorized user on an account, it will show on your credit report and Chase will count it towards the 5/24 rule. You may, however, be able to get an exemption by calling the reconsideration line and convincing one of the representatives to let it slide. More on that later.
Business Credit Cards Are Not Always Reported
Not all business cards count towards 5/24, but you're still subject to (and thus need to be under) 5/24 to be approved. This is because most business cards don't show up on personal credit reports and so Chase doesn't count them towards the limit.
Currently, the only business cards reported on your personal credit report are Capital One and Discover business cards, so if you have these cards, they will count toward your 5/24 status.
Cards subject to the Chase 5/24 rule
While Chase has not officially confirmed this list of credit cards impacted by 5/24, the following cards are likely impacted based on crowdsourced data from the travel rewards community.
Personal Credit Cards
- AARP Credit Card from Chase(discontinued)
- Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card
- Amazon Visa
- British Airways Visa Signature® Card
- Chase Freedom Card (discontinued)
- Chase Freedom Flex®
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Chase Slate Card(discontinued)
- Disney®Premier Visa® Card
- Disney® Visa® Card
- Iberia Visa Signature® Card
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Premier Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
- Starbucks Rewards Visa Card
- United℠ Explorer Card
- United Club Card(discontinued)
- The World of Hyatt Credit Card
Business Credit Cards
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Ink Business Premier® Credit Card
- Marriott Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
- United℠ Business Card
- United Club℠ Business Card
Cards NOT subject to the Chase 5/24 rule
With the most recent data points suggesting most, if not all, Chase rewards cards are now subject to 5/24, it's not definitively clear which cards aren't impacted.
Thankfully, you can still earn highly valuable rewards from other card issuers. To see some Chase alternatives, take a look at our best current credit card offers.
Chase 5/24 Rule Exemptions
If you’re over 5/24 and looking for a way around to get around this rule, you’re in luck — here are a few known exemptions.
Note: There are no guarantees that any of these exemptions will work, but it could be worth a try.
‘Selected For You Offers’
Recent data points suggest this may no longer work, but you can still check by logging into your Chase account and expanding the menu in the top left corner to see ‘Your Offers.’
In Branch Offers
If you’re at a Chase branch and told (without prompting) that you have been pre-approved for a credit card, you may be able to get approved in branch, thus getting around 5/24.
Some data points also suggest submitting a paper credit card application in abranch location may also bypass 5/24.
In Branch BRM Paper Offers
‘BRM’ stands for Business Relationship Manager and not every branch has one. If a BRM submits a paper application for a business credit card on your behalf, you may be able to get approved since the application will be handled by a department that doesn’t deny applications based on the 5/24 rule.
Taking a Chance
Even with the odds stacked against you, there’s technically nothing stopping you from applying. As you can probably guess, chances of being approved are slim to none, but some people report having success with it.
Authorized Users
If you’re over 5/24 due to being an authorized user on 1 of your 5 new accounts, you may be able to speak with a credit analyst to plead your case by calling the reconsideration line. As a heads up, you’ll likely need to close the authorized user card and request it be removed from your report. This process can take anywhere between 60-90 days and you’ll want to follow up with the creditor once they have updated their records.
What if I’m a Chase Private Client (CPC)?
As of late 2016, being a CPC doesn’t allow you to bypass the 5/24 rule.
Targeted Offers in the Mail
Receiving a targeted offer in the mail with a unique invitation code may have worked in the past but data points show this is no longer the case for getting around your 5/24 status.
FAQs
How do I know if I’m under 5/24?
The best way to know for sure is to review your credit report.
Otherwise, by doing a little simple math.
Ex 1. If today is 5/31/18 and you literally count back 24 months, your 5/24 start date would be 6/1/16
Ex 2. If today is 9/18/18 and you count back 24 months, your 5/24 start date would be 9/18/16
Will closing an account help if I’m over Chase 5/24?
No, the account will still have been opened in the past 24 months, so it counts.
Possible workaround: Some have reported being granted an exemption if the account closed was an authorized user account that pushed them over 5/24. Again, no guarantees, but it may be worth calling the reconsideration line to discuss with a Chase representative.
What is the contact information for the Chase reconsideration line?
For personal cards: 1-888-270-2127
For business cards: 1-800-453-9719
For business cards in particular, it's best to wait until after you receive a letter of explanation from Chase before calling the reconsideration line for business cards.
What if Chase shows me a banner offer in the Chase app — can that bypass the rule?
Good looking out, but unfortunately, no.
Can I apply for two new cards on the same day, one right after the other, can I get approved?
While this strategy may have worked previously, crowdsourced data points now show it's no longer an option for bypassing 5/24. You'll more than likely be instantly denied.
Does Chase count store cards?
Depends. If the card can be used outside that specific store, Chase will count it (since it uses a payment network like Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express). Otherwise, it probably won’t be counted.
Does Chase count auto loans?
No definitive answer, but we assume no since auto loans aren’t bank cards.
Does Chase count mortgages?
No definitive answer, but we assume no since home loans and/or mortgages aren’t bank cards.
Does Chase count student loans?
Maybe. Similar to the loans above, student loans aren’t bank cards (obviously) but some have reported being denied due to their student loans being counted as part of the 5 new accounts.
Does Chase count charge cards?
Yes, if it’s affiliated with a bank, Chase will count it.
If I’m over 5/24 and none of these exemptions are applicable to me, what can I do?
1) Wait until your accounts have been opened for longer than 24 months, or 2) apply for a card that isn’t affected by 5/24 (see list above).
What is the Chase 1/30 rule?
The 1/30 rule is short for "1 card every 30 days," meaning your chances of being approved for a Chase business card are slim to none if you've applied for any card in the last 30 days.
What is the Chase 2/30 rule?
In addition to the 5/24 rule, the 2/30 rule is a guideline for spacing out your applications. Your chances of being approved are slim to none if you've applied for 2 personal cards (or 1 business card) in the last 30 days.
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