Chase: The 5/24 rule
Chase will usually decline you for a new card if you have opened 5 or more personal credit cards, with any bank, in the last 24 months.
Reported by applicants The issuer has never stated this. It is a pattern many applicants have reported, consistent enough to plan around, but not a guarantee.
What counts, and what doesn't
Applies to: Almost every Chase card, personal and business
- It counts personal cards from every issuer, not only Chase.
- Most business cards don't count toward the 5, because they don't appear on your personal credit report. A few issuers' business cards do report, and those count.
- Cards where you are an authorized user usually count, though applicants report Chase will sometimes set them aside on a call.
- It applies to Chase's business cards too: you need to be under 5/24 to be approved for one, even though it won't count once you have it.
- Chase has never published the rule. It is consistent enough across applicant reports to plan around.
Sources
- Frequent Miler: Complete guide to credit card application rules by bank (Feb 2026)
- Thrifty Traveler: Credit card application rules, bank by bank (Jan 2026)
Issuers can approve, decline or withhold a bonus for any reason. These rules describe what usually happens, not a promise of what will. Last verified September 26, 2026.
More Chase rules
Two cards in 30 daysReported by applicants
Chase usually approves no more than 2 personal cards in any 30 days, and no more than 1 business card in 30 days.
The 24-month bonus ruleIn the issuer's terms
On most Chase cards you can earn the welcome bonus only if you don't have that card now and haven't received its bonus in the last 24 months.
Sapphire bonus, once per cardIn the issuer's terms
You can earn the welcome bonus on each Sapphire card once, as long as you have never earned that card's bonus before. Holding the other Sapphire card no longer stops you.
Ink business cards, once per lifetimeIn the issuer's terms
The Ink Business Preferred bonus is once per lifetime, and the no-annual-fee Ink Business Cash and Ink Business Unlimited share one lifetime bonus between them.
Southwest personal cardsIn the issuer's terms
You can't earn the bonus on a personal Southwest card if you have any personal Southwest card now, or received a personal Southwest card bonus in the last 24 months.
IHG personal cardsIn the issuer's terms
You can't earn the bonus on a personal IHG card if you received a bonus on any personal IHG card in the last 24 months, and you can't hold two of the same IHG card.