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Chase Rules

5/24 Rule

The Chase 5/24 rule is an unofficial but strictly enforced guideline that says:

If you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards (from any issuer) in the past 24 months, Chase will automatically deny you for most of their credit cards.

Details

  • It counts personal credit cards from any bank, not just Chase.
  • Authorized user cards may also count against your 5, even if you didn’t apply for them.
  • Most business cards from non-Chase issuers (like Amex, Capital One, or Citi) do not count toward 5/24 — but Chase does count their own business cards (like Ink Preferred).
  • The 5/24 status is based on the date the account was opened, not the application date.

Cards Subject to the Rule

Almost all Chase-branded cards, including:

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred / Reserve
  • Freedom Unlimited / Flex
  • Ink Business cards
  • Southwest, United, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, etc.

2/30 Rule

The Chase 2/30 rule is an unofficial guideline followed by Chase Bank when approving new credit card applications. It means:

  • You can be approved for at most 2 Chase credit cards in a 30-day period.

Key points

  • This applies to personal and business cards combined.
  • If you try to apply for a third card within 30 days, you'll most likely be automatically denied.
  • The rule is separate from (but often overlaps with) the 5/24 rule, which limits you to being approved only if you've opened fewer than 5 new cards from any issuer in the past 24 months.
Example

If you apply and get approved for a Chase Sapphire Preferred on May 1, and a Chase Freedom Unlimited on May 15, you should wait until after May 30 before applying for another Chase card.