Guide: Chase Application Restrictions & Bonus Rules
Each credit card issuer has it’s own unique set of rules with respect to approving new applications for their cards. Chase arguably has the most restrictive policies when it comes to approving applications for new cards and sign up bonus eligibility. (Although, Bank of America is really tough. Read With Their New Rules is Bank of America the Toughest Approval in the Biz Now?)
Chase’s most restrictive policy has been coined the “5/24 Rule”. Read all about it and learn how to minimize it’s affect on your life here: Chase 5/24 Rule Explained: Everything You need to Know. If you have any questions that aren’t covered, find me on twitter at @BethanyatMtM and i’ll be happy to answer them for you.
Related: Does Barclaycard Have New Anti-Churning Rules? What We Know So Far.
Recently, Chase introduced more rules that seem incredibly restrictive. We thought it would be helpful to create a guide that details everything you need to know about these recent developments. Earlier this week we also reported that Chase has been clamping down on bank bonuses. Chase also recently put an end to double dipping, which you can read about in detail in this post.
2 Applications Per 30 Days Rule
Personal Cards
The 2/30 rule limits people to two Chase credit card applications every 30 days. If you submit more than two applications, you’ll automatically be rejected. The 30 day period is rolling. Keep in mind that if you’re planning to apply for more than one Chase card in the same month it’s a good idea to apply for both at the same time so that your hard pulls are combined. Generally, if you apply for more than one card on the same day with the same issuer they’ll pull your credit once and your credit report will show less inquiries.
Chase Business Cards
Chase is actually more strict on their limits for business cards. You can only be approved for one business card every 30 days as opposed to the two max for personal cards.
Related: Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Guide: Earning, Redeeming and Sapphire, Freedom and Ink Brands
Product Family Restrictions
A product family restriction is when certain branded cards limit the eligibility for sign up bonuses by card type rather than each specific card. Chase applies these rules to Sapphire branded cards as well as Southwest Airline Cards.
24- and 48-Month Rules
Chase has a 24-month rule that limits card members to one sign-up bonus per card every 24 months. The rules are more restrictive when it comes to Sapphire and Southwest cards.
Related: Chase Introduces Stricter Churning Rules for Sapphire Credit Cards & A Possible Workaround
48-Month Sapphire Family Rule
“The product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card who received a new cardmember bonus within the last 48 months.”
The rules for Chase Sapphire Branded products is more restrictive than other Chase Cards. Instead of limited cardholders to one bonus on each card every 24 months, it applies the limit to all cards in the Sapphire family.
Now, eligibility for a sign up bonus on Sapphire products is limited to once every 48 months across all the Sapphire cards as opposed to once for each card. This means for example, instead of being able to get a bonus on the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve in the same 48 months, you can only get a bonus on one. The change from 24 for 48 months put this rule right up there with 5/24 in terms of most restrictive issuer rules.
Affected Cards: (Click on each for our review and bonus details)
Southwest Branded Cards 24-Month Exclusion
You’re now ineligible to receive a new card or a sign-up bonus on a Southwest consumer credit card if either you are a current SW consumer card holder; or you’ve earned a bonus on any Chase Southwest consumer credit card in the last 24 months. These changes have made the companion pass way more difficult to earn. Did Bloggers Kill Southwest Companion Pass Transfers? No, You Did!
There are currently three consumer versions of this card.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Conclusion
Not surprisingly, Chase is tightening it’s belt again. Here We Go Again: Chase Cutting Benefits and Continuing Trend of Devaluations This has been their trend over the past few years. If you have been eying a Chase card, it’s probably a good idea to start applying for the ones you can’t live without because I’d bet money that Ink is next followed by who knows. I’m a big fan of the Freedom card and since it’s no fee it’s a definite keeper. Check out our review here.
 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the old king of travel rewards cards. Right now
bonus_miles_full
Learn more about this card and its features!
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
I just took out a United explorer card from chase about 10 months ago and received the bonus, I am thinking about applying for the IHG hotel card through Chase, since these are not Sapphire or southwest cards can I still receive the bonus for the hotel card?
Yeah as long as you are under 5/24 and haven’t received an offer on the IHG card in the last 24 months you should be good to go
Interesting. Chase declined my application for a southwest priority card today. Reason: I earned a bonus within the last 24 months. My case: I applied for and received a premier card 1/2/2017, I cancelled card 12/27/2018. I applied for a priority card 1/4/2019 taking care that I waited till two years after 1/2/2017. However according to the representative, the bonus points were not applied to my account until 1/27/2017, so I guess I have to wait to after 1/27/2017 to re-apply.
Yes the 24 month clock starts from when the points are earned.
Does this apply to authorized users on another chase sapphire card? Or only if you were the applicant on the first card and the second card?
Authorized user accounts do go against your five card allowance. But you can ask to have them removed or you can try to explain it to the CSR for reconsideration
Sorry, I meant do cards that you’re an authorized user on interfere with receiving a bonus on another chase card. Haven’t been able to find the answer to that anywhere. Thanks!
Nope … As long as you would be eligible for the bonus the authorized user account does not affect your eligibility 🙂
Ok which one do you think I should apply for first, the personal or the business card? Thank you!
Always business first, it’s way less likely to show on your report (while that’s probably not going to matter in this situation- still a good rule of thumb.) let us know how it goes 🙂
If I want to apply for both the southwest personal and business cards should I apply for both on the same day?
I’d say that’s a good plan. Then wait 90 days to apply for any others