Chase has a rule if you’ve opened too many credit cards recently, Chase won’t approve you for a new one. The unofficial rune is 5 open cards in the last 24 months. Although this rule is not pubished anywhere, but Chase enforces it with few exceptions.
Here’s the clean breakdown:
What 5/24 Actually Means
Chase will deny your application for almost any new Chase credit card (personal or business) if you’ve opened 5 or more personal credit cards (from any bank) in the last 24 months.
It doesn’t matter what your credit score is or how much money you make. If you’re at 5/24 or higher, Chase’s system won’t approve you.
What Counts Toward 5/24
Anything that shows up on your personal credit report as a new revolving account will count. That includes:
- Personal credit cards from any bank.
- Charge cards (Amex Platinum, Gold, Green, etc.).
- Store cards (But only if they can be used anywhere, because they have a Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Discover logo. Cards that can only be used at one specific store usually do not count).
- Co-branded cards (Delta, United, Hilton, Marriott, etc.).
- Authorized user cards. (This can be overridden most of the times by calling recon line)
What Doesn’t Count (The Business Card)
Most business credit cards do NOT show up on your personal credit report. If Chase can’t see them, they don’t count toward 5/24.
Business cards that do NOT count:
- Amex Business
- Citi Business
- US Bank Business
- Bank of America Business
- Chase Ink (once approved)
Business cards that DO count:
- Discover Business
- Most Capital One Spark cards
Avoid those if you’re trying to stay under 5/24, because they report to your personal credit.
Note: Loans (auto, mortgage, student, personal) do not count. Only credit cards.
Chase Business Card – specifically
To get approval for Chase business card:
- You must be under 5/24 to get approved for a Chase business card.
- But once you’re approved, that Chase business card does NOT add to your 5/24 count.
Authorized User Cards — The Fix
If an authorized user (AU) card is the only thing pushing you over 5/24, you can usually get it removed from your count.
Call the Chase reconsideration line and explain to them about the specific AU card. Rep can manually remove it and approve your application.
How to Check Your 5/24 Status
You don’t need a paid tool. Just:
- Log into Experian or Credit Karma.
- Look at your open accounts.
- Sort by Date Opened.
- Count every personal credit card opened in the last 24 months.
Better option is to just keep a note of your applications/new accounts in some excel.
Timing example:
If your 5th card was opened on September 15, 2024, it drops off your 5/24 count exactly 24 calendar months later. Chase resets on the first day of the following month, so you are clear to apply on October 1, 2026.
So, technically 1st of the following month.