The 5/24 rule is an unofficial but strictly enforced policy by Chase Bank that dictates who can be approved for their most popular credit cards. Simply put, if you have opened five or more new credit card accounts (from any bank, not just Chase) in the past 24 months, Chase will automatically deny your application for a new card. In 2026, this rule remains the most important factor for "travel hackers" and points enthusiasts. It applies to almost all Chase cards, including the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, and the Freedom series. The "5" includes any personal credit card that appears on your credit report, as well as some business cards from Capital One or Discover. It even includes accounts where you were added as an Authorized User, although you can sometimes get a human representative to ignore those on appeal. To "beat" the rule, you must carefully space out your applications and ensure you are at "4/24" or lower before applying for a coveted Chase card. If you are denied due to 5/24, no amount of high income or perfect credit score will typically overturn the decision; you simply have to wait until your older accounts "age out" of the 24-month window.