The Chase 5/24 rule — full explanation

The rule

Chase will almost always deny a new personal card application if you have opened 5 or more new credit card accounts (from any issuer) in the past 24 months.

Which accounts count

• Count: personal credit cards from any issuer, including authorized user status on cards opened in the last 24 months.
• Don't count: Chase business cards (Ink family). Some other business cards (Amex, Capital One Spark) also don't show on personal reports.
• Don't count: mortgage, auto loan, student loan.
• Sometimes count: certain store cards (Kohl's, Victoria's Secret) don't report to all bureaus.

Counting your own

Go to Credit Karma or myFICO and count every credit card opened in the last 24 months. Include authorized user cards unless you've proactively removed them. That's your number.

The slot management game

• Under 3/24: apply for any Chase personal card you want.
• 3-4/24: next Chase personal should be the one with the highest value. Don't waste a slot.
• 5/24+: Chase personal is closed. Pivot to Ink business cards (which don't count themselves against 5/24 but require you to already be under 5/24 to apply).

The AU trick

If you're just over 5/24 because of an authorized user card, get removed. After Chase re-checks the bureaus at application, the card disappears from your report.