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“5/24” refers to a widely reported, informal Chase approval practice involving five or more recently opened credit-card accounts in 24 months. It is not a published promise from Chase, and being below that count does not guarantee approval.
Before a big welcome bonus catches your attention, take ten minutes to look at the cards you already opened. This little step can make your next application much more intentional.
What the shorthand means
Experian describes 5/24 as an informal policy, based on reports of Chase declining applicants with five or more new card accounts in the preceding 24 months. Cards from other banks can matter too. It is not simply a count of your Chase cards.
Because Chase does not publish a complete 5/24 rulebook, treat this as a planning consideration, not a guaranteed eligibility test. Underwriting and offer restrictions still apply.
Make a simple account timeline
Review your credit reports and list each card, issuer, opening month, and whether you are the primary holder or an authorized user. Include recently closed cards in the review: closing an account does not erase its opening date.
| Record | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Issuer and card name | Include accounts across banks |
| Opening date | Identify accounts in the rolling 24-month window |
| Primary or authorized user | Flag an account that may need clarification |
| Personal or business | Check how the account is reported |
Do not confuse accounts with inquiries
A declined application can leave an inquiry without creating a new account. A card you have held for years can be open without being a newly opened account. Those are different pieces of your credit history.
Business-card reporting and authorized-user treatment can complicate a count. Do not assume every business card is invisible or that every authorized-user account will be ignored. Flag ambiguous accounts and ask the issuer about your situation rather than building an application strategy around an exception.
Why order matters for families
Imagine your next trip depends on a particular transferable currency. Opening an unrelated card for a modest perk first may use up flexibility without helping that trip. Compare the card you want with the points you actually need before adding another account.
This is not a reason to rush five applications. It is a reason to make one informed decision. A family working toward a Hyatt stay should check the card’s current transfer access and ratio as well as eligibility.
Your next step
Save your timeline somewhere private and revisit it before applying. Then review the actual issuer offer: annual fee, bonus eligibility, required spending, and payment terms. An old blog post or someone else’s approval does not override the application in front of you.
Read our first-card guide next. If an application is not a good fit today, you can still plan a trip around existing points or affordable cash prices.
Common questions
Does closing a card remove it from the count?
Do not assume so. The commonly described practice concerns when accounts were opened, not just how many remain open.
Is 5/24 an official published Chase rule?
No. This guide describes a widely reported informal practice, not a Chase-published guarantee.
Sources & booking notes
Source reviewed September 28, 2026. Booking terms can change; verify the details that apply to your account and reservation. Hypothetical examples are labeled; the Boulder stay, where mentioned, is our reported family experience.
Research-assisted educational guide. How we write and use sources.