The 5/24 Rule Explained in Plain English

If you’ve ever been denied for a Chase credit card despite having excellent credit, you’ve probably encountered the infamous 5/24 rule. It’s one of the most important rules in credit cards—and one of the least understood.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Why Does Chase Do This?

Chase wants customers who will be profitable over time, not “churners” who grab bonuses and disappear.

From Chase’s perspective:

• People who open lots of cards are higher risk
• They’re more likely to default or miss payments
• They’re less likely to become long-term, loyal customers
• The sign-up bonus costs Chase money

The 5/24 rule is their filter for application volume.

How to Check Your 5/24 Status

Step 1: Pull Your Credit Reports

Go to annualcreditreport.com or use Credit Karma. Look at all three bureaus.

Step 2: Count New Accounts

Count every credit card account opened in the last 24 months. Include:

• Personal cards from all issuers
• Store cards
• AU accounts (mark these separately)

Step 3: Note the Dates

Write down when each card was opened. This tells you when slots open up.

Example:

Card	Open Date	Falls Off 5/24
Amex Gold	Jan 2024	Jan 2026
Chase Freedom	Mar 2024	Mar 2026
Citi Premier	Jun 2024	Jun 2026
Discover It	Sep 2024	Sep 2026
Apple Card	Dec 2024	Dec 2026

This person is at 5/24. They can apply for Chase again in January 2026 when the Amex Gold falls off.

The 5/24 Strategy

If You’re Under 5/24

Prioritize Chase cards first. You can get cards from other issuers anytime, but Chase cards require being under 5/24.

Recommended order:

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve (start the 48-month timer)
2. Chase Freedom Flex (5% rotating categories)
3. Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5% everything)
4. Any Ink Business card (doesn’t add to 5/24)
5. Co-branded Chase cards you want (United, Marriott, etc.)

Then fill remaining slots with non-Chase cards.

If You’re at 5/24

Wait it out or minimize applications.

Options:

1. Wait for older cards to fall off (after 24 months)
2. Apply for business cards that don’t count (Amex, etc.)
3. Focus on non-Chase personal cards

If You’re Over 5/24

Accept you can’t get Chase cards right now.

Options:

1. Apply for Amex, Capital One, Citi, etc.
2. Wait until enough cards fall off
3. Consider the modified double dip (advanced strategy)

The Reconsideration Call

Denied? Call Chase reconsideration.

Phone number: 1-888-270-2127

What to say:

“Hi, I recently applied for the [Card Name] and was denied. I’d like to have my application reconsidered.”

They’ll ask questions about your application. Be prepared to explain:

• Why you want the card
• Your relationship with Chase
• Any authorized user situations

When reconsideration helps:

• You’re borderline (close to 5/24)
• You have AU accounts that don’t really count
• There was an error on your application

When it won’t help:

• You’re clearly over 5/24
• You were denied for other reasons (too many Chase accounts, velocity)

The Bigger Picture

5/24 is frustrating, but it’s also a forcing function for good strategy.

Without 5/24, you might:

• Grab random cards impulsively
• Miss out on Chase’s valuable ecosystem
• Never build the optimal wallet

With 5/24, you’re forced to:

• Plan strategically
• Prioritize high-value cards
• Time applications thoughtfully

Think of 5/24 as the game’s rules, not an obstacle. Play within the rules and you’ll come out ahead.

The Bottom Line

The 5/24 rule is simple: if you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards in 24 months, Chase will deny you for most of their cards.

Strategy:

• Prioritize Chase cards while under 5/24
• Track your card count and open dates
• Use business cards that don’t add to 5/24
• Wait it out if you’re over

5/24 isn’t an obstacle—it’s a reason to be strategic. Get the best Chase cards while you can, then branch out. Your future self (with pooled Ultimate Rewards and transfer partners) will thank you.