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Updated for 2026 • Credit Cards • 6 min read
I got denied for Chase Sapphire Preferred with a 762 credit score and $95k income.
The letter said: "Too many credit accounts opened in last 2 years."
I had 6 cards in 24 months. Chase has a secret rule called 5/24. If you opened 5+ personal cards in last 24 months from ANY bank, you are auto-denied for almost all Chase cards. No appeal works.
I waited 8 months, dropped to 4/24, reapplied, and got instantly approved for $18,400 limit.
Here is how to check your 5/24 and beat it.
What Counts for 5/24 (And What Doesn't)
COUNTS: All personal credit cards from any bank (Chase, Amex, Citi, Capital One, Discover, store cards). Even if you are just an authorized user, it counts. My wife added me to her Gap card and it counted against me.
DOESN'T COUNT: Business cards (most, except Capital One and Discover biz), auto loans, mortgages, personal loans, and business cards from Chase, Amex, Citi, Bank of America. This is the loophole.
Example: You have 4 personal cards and 2 Chase Ink business cards in last 24 months. Chase sees you as 4/24, not 6/24. You are safe.
How to Check Your 5/24 Status Right Now
1. Pull your free Experian report (not Credit Karma, real report).
2. Count every personal card with Opened Date in last 24 months.
3. Include authorized user cards.
4. If you are at 5 or 6, STOP applying for personal cards.
I was at 6/24: Jan 2024 - Apple Card, March 2024 - Citi Custom Cash (AU from wife), May 2024 - Amex Gold, July 2024 - Capital One Venture, Oct 2024 - Target RedCard, Dec 2024 - Discover It. All counted.
I had to wait until March 2026 for Apple Card to fall off. On March 15, I was 4/24 again. Applied March 16, approved.
📌 Start here: If you are under 5/24, grab these first → Best Credit Cards for 760+ Credit: How I Get $3,200/Year in Cashback
The Strategy to Beat 5/24
If you want Chase cards (and you should, they are the best), get them FIRST.
Year 1: Get Chase Freedom Unlimited, Chase Freedom Flex, Chase Sapphire Preferred. That's 3/24, all Chase.
Year 2: Get Chase business cards - Ink Unlimited, Ink Cash, Ink Preferred. These don't add to 5/24 but give you 75k-100k bonuses each.
Year 2-3: Now get Amex, Citi, Capital One. Because you already got Chase, you don't care if you go over 5/24 later.
I did it backwards. I got Amex and Citi first, got locked out of Chase for 8 months and missed a 90k bonus. Don't be me.
Also: Call recon line if denied at exactly 5/24. Sometimes they approve if one card is about to fall off in 1-2 months. Number: 1-888-270-2127.
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