Chase 5/24 Rule Explained: Which Cards Count and Why
Chase 5/24 Rule Explained: Which Cards Count and Why
Chase’s 5/24 rule shapes whether you’ll be approved for many of its most valuable credit cards. In short: if five or more personal credit cards have been opened on your credit report in the last 24 months, Chase will typically deny new applications for most of its cards. Personal cards that show up on your credit report usually count; most business cards do not. Authorized user lines often count if they appear on your report; loans and denied applications do not. While the policy is unofficial, it’s widely observed across the points community and financial media, and mastering it helps you prioritize high‑value Chase approvals early in your card strategy (see Business Insider’s overview of the 5/24 rule and consistent enforcement, and The Points Guy’s 5/24 guide for scope and timing). At Points and Perks Guide, we recommend mapping your last 24 months of new accounts before you apply so you can prioritize Chase approvals up front.
What the 5/24 rule means
Chase’s 5/24 rule is an unofficial policy where applicants with five or more personal credit cards opened in the last 24 months are typically denied for many Chase cards. The bank has never published the rule, but approvals and denials reported by consumers show it is enforced consistently across Chase’s portfolio, including popular frequent flyer credit cards and co‑brands (as summarized by Business Insider and CardRatings). Community data points and independent trackers reinforce the consensus. Treat it as a core Chase approval constraint—and plan around it.
How Chase determines what counts
Chase reads your consumer credit reports (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion), looking at the account opened date for each revolving credit card to assess your 5/24 status. “Counting toward 5/24” means an account appears on your personal credit report with an opened date within the last 24 months, regardless of whether the card is now closed (per AwardWallet’s guide). Installment loans—mortgage, auto, student—are not part of the calculation; the focus is on revolving credit lines that report to personal bureaus (as NerdWallet explains).
Cards that count toward 5/24
Most personal credit cards from any issuer add to your 5/24 tally if they were opened in the last 24 months and appear on your report. That includes:
- Personal cards from major banks (Chase, American Express, Citi, Bank of America, Discover).
- Co‑branded airline and hotel cards (e.g., United, Southwest, Marriott).
- Retail/store cards when they report to consumer bureaus.
Authorized user accounts typically count if they show on your report, though you can ask Chase to exclude them during reconsideration (details below). When in doubt, count conservatively.
Cards that do not count toward 5/24
- Most business credit cards don’t report to personal credit and therefore don’t add to your 5/24 count, with a few issuer exceptions noted next (see NerdWallet’s explanation).
- Loans like mortgages, auto, and student loans don’t count.
- Denied applications don’t count.
- Closed cards still count if their opened date is within the last 24 months—the opened date, not current status, is what matters (as covered by AwardWallet).
Authorized users and how to handle AU listings
An authorized user account is when a primary cardholder adds someone to their credit card so they can receive a card and spend on the account. The authorized user isn’t liable for repayment, but the account often appears on the AU’s credit report, which can impact credit factors and Chase 5/24 status.
Because AU lines commonly appear on your report, they often count toward 5/24. If an AU listing pushes you over the limit, use this quick flow:
- Identify AU accounts on your credit reports.
- Apply as planned. If denied for 5/24, call Chase reconsideration.
- Ask the agent to exclude AU lines from the 5/24 count.
- If needed, request the primary cardholder remove you, or ask the bureau to delist the AU account from your report, then reapply (per AwardWallet and NerdWallet’s guidance).
Business cards and reporting exceptions
Many business cards don’t report to consumer credit and won’t add to 5/24. However, a few issuers do report to personal bureaus, which can increase your count. Key nuance: you generally must be under 5/24 to be approved for most Chase business cards, even though those cards themselves typically won’t add to your 5/24 number (see The Points Guy).
Issuer-level patterns:
| Issuer | Do business cards report to personal credit? | Do they count toward 5/24? | Notes/DPs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase | Typically no | Generally no | Must be under 5/24 to get most Ink cards. |
| American Express | No in normal management | No | Amex business cards don’t report unless delinquent. |
| Citi | Typically no | No | Doesn’t normally report business cards. |
| Bank of America | Typically no | No | Occasional exceptions are rare. |
| Barclays | Typically no | No | Commonly stays off personal reports. |
| U.S. Bank | Typically no | No | Generally non‑reporting. |
| Wells Fargo | Typically no | No | Generally non‑reporting. |
| Capital One | Often yes | Often yes | Small‑business cards frequently report to personal (per NerdWallet). |
| TD Bank | Often yes | Often yes | Reports in many cases. |
| Discover | Often yes | Often yes | Some business cards show on personal reports. |
Plan applications accordingly to preserve your 5/24 slots (see NerdWallet’s what‑counts guidance).
Which Chase cards are subject to 5/24
Chase expanded 5/24 screening to virtually all of its cards by 2018, covering most consumer and co‑branded products (The Points Guy’s 5/24 guide). While Chase business approvals generally require you to be under 5/24, approved Chase business cards typically won’t add to your count.
Card families subject to 5/24 include:
- Sapphire (Preferred, Reserve)
- Freedom (Flex, Unlimited)
- Ink business cards
- Co‑branded airline/hotel portfolios like United, Southwest, and Marriott
Timing, aging off, and when you’re under 5/24
An account stops counting the day it passes 24 months from its opened date. Best practice: wait until the first day of month 25 after your fifth‑most‑recent account’s open date before applying (per The Points Guy). Chase reads the opened date from your bureau; whether the card is open or closed doesn’t change the 24‑month calculation (AwardWallet).
Example: If your fifth newest account was opened on March 10, 2024, it “ages off” on March 10, 2026—but to be safe with statement‑cycle and reporting variations, apply on April 1, 2026 (the first day of month 25).
How to check your 5/24 status quickly
You can tally your status in under five minutes:
- Pull open dates from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—or apps like Credit Karma or Experian—and list only credit cards opened in the last 24 months (AwardWallet).
- Checklist: 1) Export accounts from a bureau/app, 2) Filter for credit cards only, 3) Count opened dates ≤ 24 months and flag AU and business cards for exceptions.
- Chase usually pulls one bureau; discrepancies happen, so count conservatively to avoid a surprise (NerdWallet and AwardWallet).
At Points and Perks Guide, we favor a manual tally from your actual bureau reports rather than relying on third‑party estimates.
Strategy to prioritize Chase approvals
Slots are scarce; front‑load Chase while you’re under 5/24. Focus first on flexible Ultimate Rewards earners and highest‑value co‑brands, then add complementary cards.
- Under 3/24: Lead with Sapphire (if eligible) and Freedom; add strategic co‑brands that fit your travel plans.
- At 4/24: Pause new personal cards; consider non‑reporting business cards to avoid consuming slots.
- At 5/24+: Maintain and let accounts age off; if needed, pursue banks or business products that don’t report.
For program depth and long‑term value, prioritize transferable currencies; see our earn‑once, redeem‑anywhere rewards guide for context.
Edge cases, in-branch offers, and reconsideration
Occasional reports of approvals above 5/24 do exist, but they’re exceptions and not reliable strategy—recent Reddit data points suggest sporadic softening, yet enforcement remains the norm. Chase also applies other limits (for example, a practical cap of two personal approvals in roughly 30 days), so space applications accordingly (Thrifty Traveler’s application rules summary). On reconsideration calls, be ready to explain authorized user lines, articulate legitimate business use for business cards, and accept credit reallocation if offered. In‑branch or targeted offers sometimes bypass constraints, but recent data shows such workarounds are inconsistent.
Frequently asked questions
Do Chase business cards count toward 5/24
Generally, Chase business cards don’t add to your 5/24 count, but you typically must be under 5/24 to be approved for them. Points and Perks Guide recommends confirming your counts across all three bureaus before applying.
Do product changes or credit limit increases create a new 5/24 account
No. Product changes and credit line increases don’t create a new opened date, so they don’t affect your 5/24 tally.
When exactly does an account fall off my 24‑month window
On the first day of month 25 after the account’s opened date; apply after that day to be safely under 5/24.
Can I remove an authorized user account from counting
Sometimes. If an AU line causes a denial, call Chase reconsideration to exclude it and consider removing or delisting the AU account from your report.
Do retail store cards and charge cards count toward 5/24
Many retail store cards count if they’re reported to your personal credit; charge cards can count if they appear on your report as new revolving credit within 24 months. Points and Perks Guide suggests verifying how the account is reported before you apply.