Chase’s 5/24 rule isn’t a law. It’s not even written in stone. But if you’ve ever applied for a Chase credit card and gotten denied without explanation, you’ve felt its weight. It’s the hidden gatekeeper that blocks thousands of applicants every month - even those with excellent credit. And if you’re trying to chase sign-up bonuses, travel rewards, or cash back offers, this rule can feel like a wall.

What Is the Chase 5/24 Rule?

The Chase 5/24 rule means Chase won’t approve you for most of its credit cards if you’ve opened five or more new credit accounts (from any issuer) in the past 24 months. It’s not about how many cards you have - it’s about how many you’ve opened. That includes personal loans, auto loans, store cards, and even authorized user accounts on someone else’s card.

Chase doesn’t publish this rule officially. But it’s been confirmed by countless applicants, credit experts, and even Chase customer service reps who’ve slipped up in conversations. It’s enforced automatically by Chase’s internal scoring system, and it applies to nearly every personal credit card they issue - except for some small business cards and co-branded cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Card.

Here’s the catch: Chase checks your credit report from Experian, and it looks at the open date of every account you’ve opened in the last two years. So if you opened four cards last year and one this month, you’re at five. You’re blocked.

Why Chase Has This Rule

Chase isn’t being petty. They’re protecting themselves from risk. People who open five or more cards in two years are statistically more likely to default. They’re often chasing bonuses, maxing out cards, or juggling too much debt. Chase has seen this pattern play out too many times - especially after big bonus campaigns like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

They’ve also noticed that applicants who hit 5/24 often don’t hold onto cards long-term. They open, cash in the bonus, then close the card within a year. That’s bad for Chase’s profit margins. They make money from interchange fees and interest - not sign-up bonuses. So they’ve built a filter to stop the bonus hunters before they even apply.

How to Beat the Chase 5/24 Rule

You can’t delete accounts from your credit report. You can’t trick Chase’s system. But you can work around it - legally and smartly. Here’s how.

1. Stop Opening New Accounts

The most obvious fix? Stop applying for anything new. If you’re at 4/24, don’t open another card, loan, or line of credit until you’re past the 24-month window. That means waiting 6 to 12 months depending on when you opened your last account.

Use that time to build your credit profile. Pay down balances. Keep your credit utilization under 10%. Make every payment on time. Chase rewards stability, not activity.

2. Use Authorized User Accounts Strategically

Here’s a loophole: being added as an authorized user on someone else’s card doesn’t count as opening an account - unless you’re the primary account holder. But if you’re an authorized user on five cards, Chase still counts them. So don’t become an authorized user on five cards just to bypass the rule. That backfires.

Instead, ask a family member with good credit to add you as an authorized user on an older card. This adds positive history to your report without counting against your 5/24 total. It helps your credit score and makes you look less risky to Chase.

3. Apply for Chase Business Cards

Chase business cards are mostly exempt from the 5/24 rule. That includes the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Ink Business Unlimited®, and Ink Business Cash®. You need an EIN (Employer Identification Number) to apply, but you don’t need to be a full-time business owner. Sole proprietors, freelancers, and side-hustlers qualify.

Many people use their side gig income to qualify for a business card. You don’t need fancy accounting software. Just report your income on Schedule C when you file taxes. Chase doesn’t verify your revenue - they just want to see you have a business purpose.

Business cards often have better rewards than personal cards. The Ink Business Preferred® offers 3x points on travel, shipping, internet, cable, and phone services. That’s more than the Chase Sapphire Preferred®.

4. Wait It Out - Time Is Your Best Ally

Every month that passes, one of your older accounts drops off the 24-month window. So if you opened five cards in the last two years, wait one month - now you’re at 4/24. Wait six more months - now you’re at 3/24. You’re back in the game.

Track your account opening dates. Use a free tool like Credit Karma or your bank’s credit report dashboard. Mark the dates. Set a calendar reminder. Don’t guess. Know exactly when you’ll be eligible again.

5. Try a Chase Credit Card You Already Have

If you already have a Chase card, you can often get a product change - like upgrading from Chase Freedom Unlimited® to Chase Sapphire Preferred®. This doesn’t count as opening a new account. It’s just a swap. And Chase doesn’t check 5/24 for product changes.

Call Chase customer service. Say you want to upgrade. Ask if your current card is eligible for a product change. Be polite. They’ll check your credit and account history. If you’ve paid on time and kept your balance low, they’ll likely approve it.

What Doesn’t Work

Don’t try to game the system. Here are the myths that fail:

• Applying for a card you think Chase won’t see - Chase pulls your full credit report. They see everything.
• Using a different name or SSN - fraud. Don’t even think about it.
• Applying for a card through a third-party site - Chase still sees your credit history. The application goes through their system.
• Getting a card from a different bank and hoping Chase doesn’t notice - Chase checks your entire credit file. They know.

Real-World Example: How Sarah Got Approved After Hitting 5/24

Sarah opened four cards in 2023: Chase Freedom, Citi Double Cash, Capital One Venture, and a store card. In January 2024, she applied for Chase Sapphire Preferred® - denied. 5/24.

She didn’t apply for anything else. She paid down her balances. She asked her dad to add her as an authorized user on his 12-year-old Amex card. In August 2024, her store card closed. That dropped her total to 4/24. In October 2024, she called Chase and asked to upgrade her Chase Freedom to Sapphire Preferred. Approved. No new application. No 5/24 hit.

She got the 60,000-point bonus. She used it for a trip to New Zealand. And she didn’t open a single new account after the denial.

When to Give Up on Chase

If you’ve hit 5/24 and you’re not close to dropping any accounts off the 24-month window, don’t waste time. Chase isn’t the only game in town.

Consider these alternatives:

• Bank of America Premium Rewards® - 2x points on travel and dining, no 5/24 rule.
• Citi Premier® - 3x points on travel, dining, and gas. Citi has a different rule: 2/30 (two cards in 30 days).
• Capital One Venture X - $300 travel credit, lounge access. No hard 5/24 equivalent.
• Amex Platinum - 5x points on flights and hotels. Amex has a 1/60 rule (one card every 60 days), not a 5/24.

These cards offer similar or better rewards than Chase. And you don’t have to wait months to apply.

Final Tip: Don’t Chase the Bonus - Chase the Value

The best credit card isn’t the one with the biggest sign-up bonus. It’s the one you’ll use for years. If you’re opening cards just to collect points and then closing them, you’re hurting your credit score and your future chances.

Focus on cards that match your spending. If you fly often, get a travel card. If you eat out a lot, get a dining card. If you drive a lot, get a gas card. Use it. Pay it off. Keep it. That’s how you build real credit - not just points.

Chase’s 5/24 rule is a hurdle, not a wall. You can jump it. But you need patience, strategy, and discipline. Don’t rush. Don’t cheat. Just wait, plan, and play the long game.

Next Steps

If you’re blocked by 5/24 right now, here’s what to do:

1. Check your credit report. List every account you opened in the last 24 months.
2. Mark the opening date of your fifth account.
3. Wait until that account drops off the 24-month window.
4. During that time, pay down balances, keep utilization low, and consider adding yourself as an authorized user on an older card.
5. When you’re eligible, apply for a Chase card you’ll actually use - not just for the bonus.

Or, skip Chase entirely. There are better cards out there that don’t punish you for being smart with credit. Focus on rewards that match your life - not the next bonus.