Chase 5/24 Rule: How to Beat It and Get Approved

Trying to snag a new Chase credit card, but hit with the dreaded 5/24 rule? You're not alone. If you’ve opened more than five credit cards with any bank in the last two years, Chase will almost always turn down your application—even if your credit score is shiny and spotless. For folks who love collecting sign-up bonuses, this rule can seriously cramp your style.

Here’s where things get interesting: 5/24 doesn’t just count Chase cards. Any personal credit card from any bank that shows up on your credit report counts, but there are a couple of sneaky exceptions. Store cards, for example, sometimes slip through the cracks. If a card isn’t on your personal credit report, Chase probably won’t see it.

• What Exactly Is the Chase 5/24 Rule?
• Which Cards Count Toward 5/24?
• Loopholes and Workarounds People Actually Use
• Timing and Credit Report Tricks
• Pro Tips to Improve Your Odds

What Exactly Is the Chase 5/24 Rule?

The Chase 5/24 rule is one of the toughest hurdles for anyone who wants a Chase credit card. If you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards (from any bank, not just Chase) in the past 24 months, Chase will almost always deny your application for most of their popular cards. This isn’t a rumor—it’s policy, and people run into it all the time.

The 5/24 rule isn’t some random thing; it’s how Chase tries to keep serial bonus-chasers from gaming the system. If a card account you’ve opened shows up on your credit report, Chase counts it. That includes Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express cards. Even if you close a card, it still counts if it was opened within the last two years.

But here’s where it gets tricky. The rule only looks at “new” credit cards. If you’ve been an authorized user on someone else’s account, those cards might count against your 5/24 limit unless you call and ask Chase to ignore them. Business cards opened with some issuers (like American Express or most Chase Ink cards) usually don’t appear on your personal credit report and so don’t count unless you apply for them as a sole proprietor.

Not all Chase cards are affected by the rule, but the biggest ones are: Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Freedom Unlimited, Freedom Flex, and most Ink business cards. Chase’s own reps will point-blank tell you about your 5/24 status if you call and ask about a denial. So, before you shoot off an application, check your credit report for total new accounts in the last 24 months.

Which Cards Count Toward 5/24?

If you’re hoping to slip past Chase’s 5/24 filter, you’ve got to know exactly which cards the bank is counting. It’s not just about Chase cards—this rule is sneaky because it includes most personal credit cards you’ve opened recently, no matter where you got them. The Chase 5/24 threshold is based on what shows up on your personal credit report, and that can catch people off guard.

Here’s what generally counts against your 5/24 limit:

• Any new personal credit card from any major bank (think Amex, Citi, Bank of America, Discover, and more).
• Most co-branded personal cards, like airline or hotel cards (Delta, United, Marriott, etc.).
• Personal cards opened as an authorized user—even if you’re not the main cardholder (unless that bank doesn’t report authorized users).

But not everything with a swipe counts. Here’s what usually doesn’t get counted:

• Most business credit cards from Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, and others. These typically don’t show on your personal report.
• Store cards that can only be used at that store (like the Target REDcard or Lowe’s store card).
• Some charge cards and certain credit builders, if they don’t get reported to the main credit bureaus.

To really drive it home, check out this quick reference table:

Little gotcha: If you call to recon after a denial, sometimes Chase reps will consider removing an authorized user account if you clarify you’re not liable for it. This sometimes bumps you back under 5/24, so always check your report before applying and keep records of authorized user statuses.

Loopholes and Workarounds People Actually Use

People talk a lot about the Chase 5/24 rule, but guess what? Some folks still get around it—and not by accident. Here are the loopholes that actually work (at least, as of spring 2025):

• Pre-Qualified and In-Branch Offers: Sometimes, Chase sends out pre-qualified or targeted offers. If you get one, especially in person at a branch, you might slip through even if you’re over 5/24. This doesn’t always work, but people have recent success stories—especially with the Sapphire Preferred and Chase Freedom cards. Pro tip: Walk into a Chase branch and ask a banker to search for pre-approved offers under your profile.
• Business Cards Don’t (Usually) Count: Business cards from American Express, Chase, Citi, and a few others usually don’t show up on your personal credit report, so they don’t add to your 5/24 tally. So if you’re under 5/24, it’s smart to pick up business cards before personal ones. Chase’s own business cards still count against you if approved, but not when you’re applying for them.
• Authorized User Accounts: If you’ve been added as an authorized user on someone else’s card, those accounts might push you over 5/24. But Chase can sometimes ignore these if you explain they're not your responsibility. After you get denied, call recon and point out which cards you’re just an authorized user on. Sometimes, they’ll approve you if you’re otherwise under their limit.
• Product Changes and Upgrades: Changing a card to another product (like converting a Freedom Flex to a Freedom Unlimited) won’t show as a new account, so it doesn’t boost your 5/24 count. It also keeps your credit age healthy, and you might score better perks.

Recent survey data from a popular credit card forum shows about 27% of successful “over 5/24” Chase personal card approvals in the last year came via in-branch targeted offers. That’s not a myth—see for yourself in the data table below:

The bottom line? Don’t write off a Chase card just because you’re above the 5/24 line. These tricks won’t always work, but they’re real and have worked for others—recently.

Timing and Credit Report Tricks

If you’re itching to beat the Chase 5/24 rule, timing really matters. Chase checks your personal credit report at the exact time you submit an application—so your 5/24 count is locked in as soon as you hit "apply." Even if an old credit account is due to fall off your two-year window in a week, if it’s on your report that day, you’re out of luck.

Here's something most people miss: Not every credit card posts to your report the same day you open it. Approval doesn't always mean it’s instantly visible. Some banks are slower to report than others. For example, American Express and Bank of America usually show up faster than Citi or Wells Fargo accounts.

Want to keep close tabs on your 5/24 status? Pull your free annual credit report, or use apps like Credit Karma or Experian. Count the "Account Opened" dates. When one hits the 24-month mark, it no longer counts.

Check out this handy table. These are average reporting times (in days) for new accounts to appear on your credit report:

If you’re about to go under 5/24 soon, play it smart. Wait until your old account drops off and shows as “aged out” before applying. People sometimes set reminders for the exact day to recheck their credit report, so they don’t jump in too early.

Quick tips for timing:

• Don’t guess—pull your actual credit report to count your cards.
• Be patient. A few days can make or break your application.
• Don’t close accounts just to reduce 5/24—it won’t help. Closed accounts still count for 24 months from open date.

Those few extra days of patience can be the difference between a shiny new Chase approval and the dreaded “denied” screen.

Pro Tips to Improve Your Odds

If you’re set on landing a Chase card, beating the 5/24 rule isn’t easy, but there are proven moves you can make to stack the odds in your favor. It’s not magic, just strategy and a little bit of timing.

• Chase 5/24 loopholes change, but one trick still works: pre-approvals. You might get a special pre-approved offer (in the mail, online, or at a Chase branch) that lets you slip past the usual 5/24 gate. These don’t show up for everyone, so it’s smart to check your Chase online account and even ask at a branch every couple of months.
• Reduce your open card count. Cards don’t fall off your 5/24 count the moment you close them. You have to wait until the account opening date is 24 months old, then check your credit report (free options: Credit Karma, Experian). If you’re about to drop under the limit, hold off on any new card for a couple of months—don’t sabotage yourself by grabbing a store card at the register.
• Keep business and personal cards separate. Most business cards from American Express, Citi, Chase itself, and Bank of America don’t hit your personal credit report—meaning they won’t count toward 5/24. Use that to your benefit by applying for business cards while waiting for personal ones to age off your report.
• If you’re applying with a partner or spouse, alternate applications. Let one person go for Chase cards first, then switch. This way, you can maximize bonuses as a team without both of you hitting the 5/24 wall at the same time.
• Some people report success with in-branch applications using a Chase relationship banker. If you have a solid banking relationship (especially with a decent balance), staff sometimes access offers for cards even if you’re technically over 5/24. No guarantees, but if you’re trying everything, it’s worth showing up in person and asking.

Always triple-check your 5/24 status before you apply—one small, forgotten card can ruin your shot. And if you don’t make it this cycle, remember: the clock resets every time a card ages off your report. Sometimes patience does pay off, especially if you’re chasing a big bonus.