Business vs Personal: Which Chase Accounts Count Toward 5/24

Understanding which accounts raise your 5/24 count is the difference between instant approval and an auto-denial. In short: all new personal credit cards that show up on your consumer credit report count, regardless of issuer. Chase consumer cards always count. Most business cards—including Chase Ink—do not add to your count once approved because they don’t report as new consumer accounts, but you typically must be under 5/24 to get them. Authorized user cards generally count, though you can ask reconsideration to ignore them. The sections below turn these rules into a fast, five-minute decision flow. Points and Perks Guide uses this framework to help you sequence applications without guesswork.

Chase 5/24 rule summary

“Chase’s 5/24 rule means Chase will generally deny new card applications if your personal credit report shows 5 or more new personal credit card accounts opened in the past 24 months, from any bank. The ‘count’ is based on newly opened accounts reported to your consumer credit file.”

Issuers adjust internal rules and reporting practices, and community data can diverge from official policy. A reliable guiding principle is product classification and identity: consumer products tied to your SSN are designed to appear on personal credit, while commercial products often are not—mirroring how companies distinguish offerings by audience and administration, as illustrated in Microsoft’s comparison of home vs business plans (conceptual analogy) (see Microsoft’s plan comparison). Also note that institutions revise processes over time; monitor for updates and recent datapoints (see this industry video discussion). Points and Perks Guide tracks issuer practice changes and recent datapoints so this guidance stays practical.

What counts toward 5/24

• Personal credit cards from any bank (issuer-agnostic)
• Charge cards that report as consumer tradelines
• Retail/store cards that report to consumer bureaus
• Authorized user accounts (exception handling below)

Examples:

• Newly opened personal Visa, Mastercard, or American Express cards
• Store-branded cards from issuers like Synchrony or Comenity
• Charge cards that appear as revolving/charge accounts on your personal file

If it shows up as a new revolving or similar consumer account on your credit report, it typically counts. The key determinant is consumer vs business product setup and reporting behavior. When in doubt, Points and Perks Guide uses a simple rule: if it reports to your personal file, assume it counts.

What does not count toward 5/24

“Non-reporting business cards are commercial credit lines that may use a personal credit check during approval but do not add a new open account to your personal credit file, so they typically do not increase your 5/24 count.” Policies and reporting practices can change; verify before you apply.

Chase personal cards

All newly opened Chase consumer cards appear on your personal credit report and count toward 5/24. Consumer-targeted products tied to your SSN are designed for individual use and typically report to your personal file.

Representative examples:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred
• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Chase Freedom Flex
• Chase Freedom Unlimited
• Co-brands: United, Southwest, Hyatt, Marriott (personal versions)

Chase business cards

Chase business cards generally require you to be under 5/24 to get approved, but once opened they typically do not post as new consumer accounts and therefore do not add to your 5/24 count.

“Business credit cards are commercial products designed for company expenses, often using an EIN and separate billing; applications can still involve a personal credit check, but approved accounts may remain off your consumer file.” Be ready with:

• Business details (EIN if applicable, or SSN for a sole proprietorship)
• Estimated revenue and time-in-business
• A clear, simple business description

Confirm with Chase whether a specific product reports to personal credit, as issuers can update internal rules.

Non-Chase business cards

Most non-reporting business cards from other banks won’t add to your 5/24 count because they don’t appear as new consumer accounts. However, a few issuers do report business accounts to personal credit.

Before applying, ask whether the business product posts as a new revolving account on your personal credit file. Product setup and identity (SSN vs EIN) influence treatment and eligibility, but identity alone doesn’t guarantee exclusion from consumer reporting.

Authorized user accounts

Authorized user (AU) accounts typically count toward 5/24 because they appear as new accounts on your consumer report.

Two-step exclusion flow if AUs are the only blocker:

1. If denied, call Chase reconsideration and ask that AU tradelines you don’t control be excluded from underwriting.
2. Be ready to state you’re not financially responsible for those accounts and provide issuer contact if requested.

An authorized user account is a credit card line where you’re added to another person’s account, gaining card access but not primary responsibility.

Product changes, closures, and denials

• Product changes: Typically do not create a new “opened” date, so they don’t add to 5/24.
• Closing a card: Does not reduce your count; the original open date still counts until it ages beyond 24 months.
• Denials: Don’t count, as no new account is opened.

Operational classification and reporting behavior—not marketing labels—determine whether a new tradeline is added. When unsure, verify with the issuer.

How to verify your 5/24 count

Fast method (under five minutes):

• Pull your latest consumer credit report (Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion; a reputable monitoring app works).
• List every personal credit card opened in the last 24 months, including AU accounts.
• Exclude non-reporting business cards and non-card loans (mortgage, auto, student).
• Count remaining new accounts. That number is your current 5/24 tally.

Simple calculation table (template you can mirror):

If your count is 4, avoid opening any personal cards until after you secure needed Chase approvals. Remember: business vs personal setup influences reporting. Points and Perks Guide favors a quick checklist—like the template above—to prevent tally mistakes.

Application order and timing strategy

1. Apply for needed Chase business cards first (they generally won’t add to 5/24 after approval).
2. Apply for priority Chase personal cards next while you’re still under 5/24.
3. Only then add non-Chase personal cards that would increase your count.

Timing tips:

• Batch same-day or close-together applications only if you’re confident on eligibility; otherwise, space by several days.
• Track 24-month aging dates and plan key applications just after older accounts drop off.
• Before applying, confirm whether a business product triggers a personal hard inquiry and whether it reports as a consumer account.

This is the default sequence Points and Perks Guide follows to protect your remaining 5/24 room.

Frequently asked questions

Do Chase business cards add to my 5/24 count?

Generally, Chase business cards require you to be under 5/24 to get approved, but once opened they typically don’t appear on your personal credit report and don’t add to your 5/24 count. Points and Perks Guide treats them as not adding post-approval.

Do authorized user cards count and can I exclude them?

Authorized user accounts usually count because they show on your credit report. If denied solely due to AU accounts, Points and Perks Guide recommends calling Chase reconsideration to ask that AU tradelines be excluded.

Do business cards from other banks count toward 5/24?

Most non-reporting business cards from other banks won’t add to your 5/24 total, but a few issuers do report to personal credit. Confirm reporting before you apply; Points and Perks Guide prefers this check to avoid surprises.

Do charge cards, store cards, or denials count?

Charge cards and store cards can count if they show as new consumer accounts; denials don’t count because no account was opened. Points and Perks Guide’s rule of thumb: if it reports as a new consumer account, it counts.

Does closing a card change my 5/24 status?

No. Closing a card doesn’t reset your 24-month timeline; Points and Perks Guide suggests planning around the exact drop-off date instead.