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The Chase 5/24 Rule: What It Is and How to Check Your Status
December 12, 2024
If you’re interested in maximizing credit card rewards and bonuses, you’ve likely heard about the infamous Chase 5/24 rule. This policy can significantly impact your ability to get approved for some of the most valuable credit cards on the market. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about this rule and provide multiple methods to check your current 5/24 status.
What is the Chase 5/24 Rule?
The Chase 5/24 rule is an unofficial policy that Chase applies when evaluating credit card applications. Under this rule, if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards across all banks in the past 24 months, Chase will automatically deny your application for many of their credit cards, regardless of your credit score or relationship with them.
As noted by The Points Guy, this is an “infamous” rule in the points and miles world that relies heavily on crowdsourced data since Chase has never officially published this policy. It’s important to understand that this rule applies specifically to Chase card approvals, but your 5/24 count includes credit cards from all banks.
From people sharing their experience across various sources like blogs and Reddit, this rule applies to most Chase credit cards, including:
- All United cards (Explorer, Quest, Club Infinite, Business)
- Marriott Bonvoy cards (Boundless, Bold, Bountiful)
Why Does the 5/24 Rule Matter?
Chase offers some of the most valuable credit card sign-up bonuses and rewards programs in the industry. Being restricted by the 5/24 rule can prevent you from accessing these valuable opportunities. Understanding your current status allows you to strategically plan your credit card applications and maximize your rewards potential.
How to Check Your Chase 5/24 Status
There are several reliable methods to determine where you stand with the 5/24 rule:
Method 1: Use Kudos
If you have a free Kudos account and have connected your cards, you can see the age of your card by clicking on the card details for each card in your wallet. This will show you if you fall under having applied for five cards in the last 24 months.
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Method 2: Manual Credit Report Review
The most straightforward approach is to review your credit reports from the three major bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion).
- Obtain your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com
- Identify all personal credit card accounts opened in the last 24 months
- Count the total number of accounts opened during this period
According to sources across the web, you will not technically be below 5/24 until the first day of the 25th month after your fifth most recent account was opened. For example, if your fifth most recent account was opened on November 15, 2024, you should wait until at least December 1, 2026, before applying for a new Chase card.
Pro tip: Create a simple spreadsheet to track your credit card applications, including the application date, approval date, and issuing bank.
Method 3 - Old School Credit Card Spreadsheet
For the most organized approach, maintain a spreadsheet with the following information:
- Card name
- Issuing bank
- Application date
- Approval date
- Annual fee
- Sign-up bonus received
This method not only helps you track your 5/24 status but also provides valuable information for managing your overall credit card strategy.
Important Considerations When Counting Cards
When determining your 5/24 status, keep these factors in mind:
What Counts Toward 5/24:
- All personal credit cards opened with any bank in the past 24 months (even if they’re now closed)
- Business credit cards from Discover and TD Bank
- Capital One small-business cards (except the Capital One Venture X Business and Capital One Spark Cash Plus)
- Store credit cards that can be used elsewhere (part of a national payment system)
- Many data points suggest even store cards that can only be used at a single establishment now count
- Cards where you’re an authorized user from another person’s personal card
What Doesn’t Count Toward 5/24:
- Cards for which you applied but were denied (credit inquiries alone aren’t counted)
- Most business credit cards from major issuers (except those mentioned above)
- Auto loans, student loans, and mortgages
- Accounts opened more than 24 months ago
Strategies for Managing Your 5/24 Status
If you’re approaching or at your 5/24 limit, consider these strategies:
- Prioritize Chase cards: Apply for your most-wanted Chase cards first before you hit 5/24. Be strategic about your application and rewards strategy to maximize your five allowed Chase slots.
- Wait it out: If you’re over 5/24, track when you’ll drop below it as older accounts age out. Remember that you become eligible on the first day of the 25th month after your fifth most recent account was opened.
- Focus on business cards: Apply for business credit cards from issuers like American Express or Citi that don’t report to personal credit reports. These business cards can help you continue earning rewards while waiting to drop below 5/24.
- Remove authorized user accounts: If authorized user cards are pushing you over 5/24, consider removing yourself from these accounts at least a month before applying. If you’re denied, you can call the Chase reconsideration line to explain which accounts are authorized user accounts.
- Space out applications: Applying for too many Chase cards too quickly can lead to account scrutiny and shutdowns, regardless of your 5/24 status. Some recommend avoiding applying for a new account more frequently than every three or four months.
Exceptions and Workarounds
While the 5/24 rule is fairly strict, there are some potential exceptions:
- “Just for You” offers: Recent reports suggest targeted “Just for You” offers through your Chase online account might bypass 5/24. To check for these, navigate to “Just for You” under “Explore products”" in the left-hand menu when logged into your Chase personal account.
- In-app pre-approvals: Some users on Reddit report seeing “You're already approved!” messages in the Chase app that sometimes bypass the 5/24 rule. However, reports are mixed. Some users successfully got approved despite being over 5/24, while others were ultimately declined when they applied.
- Relationship banking: Some reports suggest that having a strong banking relationship with Chase might increase your chances of approval.
- Chase Private Client status: Some high-net-worth clients report exceptions to the rule.
- In-branch pre-approvals: Some applicants report success with in-branch pre-approvals.
- It’s important to note that while these exceptions exist, they’re not guaranteed. If you’re over 5/24 and see a pre-approval offer, there’s still a chance you’ll be denied after a formal application.
Recent Changes and Speculation
While the 5/24 rule has been a firm policy for years, some recent Reddit reports suggest that Chase might be tweaking their approach. Several users have reported being approved for Chase cards despite being over 5/24, particularly through targeted offers in the Chase app or online banking portal. One Reddit user reported in early 2025 that they were approved for a Chase Sapphire Preferred despite being at 5/24 with their most recent card opened in November 2024. Another user mentioned being approved for multiple Chase cards while over 5/24, suggesting that Chase might be loosening the rule for certain customers. However, as with all unofficial policies, these reports should be taken with caution. The majority of users still report being subject to the 5/24 rule, and Chase has not officially announced any changes.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the Chase 5/24 rule is crucial for anyone serious about maximizing credit card rewards. By regularly checking your status and strategically planning your applications, you can navigate this restriction effectively and optimize your credit card portfolio.
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