Chase 5/24 Rule: Complete Guide (2026)

What Is the Chase 5/24 Rule?

Chase denies applications from anyone who has opened 5 or more new credit card accounts in the past 24 months, regardless of which bank issued those cards. The rule applies to virtually all Chase personal credit cards, including the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Freedom Flex, Freedom Unlimited, and most co-branded cards.

Chase has never officially published this policy. It was identified and named by the credit card community after thousands of data points collected on forums like r/churning. The “5/24” name refers to the threshold: 5 new accounts within a 24-month rolling window.

The rule exists because Chase wants to avoid approving cardholders who are actively accumulating cards primarily for welcome bonuses rather than long-term use.

Which Cards Count Toward Chase 5/24?

Most personal credit cards opened at any bank count toward your 5/24 number. Business credit cards from most major issuers do not appear on your personal credit report and therefore do not count. This distinction is the foundation of most advanced churning strategies.

The core strategy most experienced churners use is to apply for business cards first — earning those welcome bonuses without adding to their 5/24 count — before eventually cycling through Chase personal cards.

Which Cards Do NOT Count Toward 5/24?

Business credit cards from the following issuers are reported to business credit bureaus only and do not appear on your personal credit report:

• Chase: Ink Business Preferred, Ink Business Cash, Ink Business Unlimited
• American Express: Business Gold, Business Platinum, Blue Business Plus, Business Green
• Citi: All business cards
• Capital One: Spark Cash Plus, Spark Miles
• Bank of America: All business cards
• Barclays: All business cards

One important exception: US Bank business cards sometimes report to personal credit bureaus depending on the product. Verify before applying if you are close to the 5/24 threshold.

Capital One personal cards and Discover cards always count toward 5/24 — these appear on personal credit reports regardless of the card type.

Do Authorized User Cards Count Toward 5/24?

Authorized user (AU) accounts can count toward your 5/24 number because they typically appear on your personal credit report. This surprises many applicants who were added to a parent's or spouse's card years ago.

There is a known workaround: if you are declined and an AU account contributed to the denial, calling Chase's reconsideration line and explaining that the card is an authorized user account — not a card you applied for — has historically worked for many applicants. Chase agents have discretion to remove AU accounts from their 5/24 calculation.

This is not guaranteed, but it is worth attempting if an AU account is pushing you over the limit. Have the name of the primary cardholder and the date you were added ready when you call.

How Do I Check My Chase 5/24 Status?

You can check your 5/24 status without applying for any card and without a hard inquiry. Here are the most reliable methods:

Method 1 — Use a free tracker (fastest)

Enter your recent card approvals into the 524Tracker 5/24 tool and it calculates your current count and shows you exactly when each card drops off your 24-month window.

Method 2 — Check your credit reports

Pull your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. Count every personal credit card account opened in the past 24 months. That number is your 5/24 count.

Method 3 — Check Chase's pre-qualification tool

Chase's pre-qualification tool at chase.com shows which cards you are pre-qualified for. If you are over 5/24, Chase personal cards typically will not appear.

When Does a Card Drop Off My 5/24 Count?

A card drops off your 5/24 count exactly 24 months after the month it was opened — not the exact date. Chase counts by calendar month, not by the specific day.

Example: A card opened on March 15, 2024 drops off your 5/24 count at the start of April 2026, not on March 15, 2026. This means the effective wait is sometimes up to 24 months and 30 days depending on when in the month you opened the account.

This detail matters when you are planning your next application. Use the 5/24 drop-off tracker to see your exact dates rather than estimating manually.

Which Chase Cards Are Subject to 5/24?

Nearly all Chase personal credit cards enforce the 5/24 rule. The most common ones:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve
• Chase Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited
• Chase Freedom Rise
• Chase Amazon Prime Rewards Visa
• Chase co-branded cards: United, Southwest, Marriott, IHG, British Airways, World of Hyatt

Not subject to 5/24 (Chase business cards you can get even while over 5/24):

• Chase Ink Business Preferred
• Chase Ink Business Cash
• Chase Ink Business Unlimited

This means that even if you are currently over 5/24, you may still be able to get approved for Chase Ink business cards, which carry some of the strongest welcome bonuses in the market.

What Is the Best Strategy for Chase Cards?

The most widely recommended approach in the churning community follows this sequence:

1. Apply for Chase personal cards first while you are under 5/24
2. Then shift to business cards from all issuers — these don't count toward 5/24
3. Return to Chase personal cards once earlier approvals drop off the 24-month window
4. Track your count continuously so you know exactly when you can re-enter the Chase ecosystem

Most experienced churners treat their 5/24 slots as a limited resource. Spending a slot on a low-value card with a small welcome bonus — when you could have used it on a Sapphire Reserve or World of Hyatt — is a common mistake beginners make.

Frequently Asked Questions