What is the 5/24 Rule?
The 5/24 rule is an unwritten policy: if you've opened 5 or more personal credit cards across all issuers in the last 24 months, certain card issuers will almost always deny your application.
Multiple major issuers enforce some version of this rule. The common thread: 5 or more personal cards in the last 24 months & you're going to have a hard time getting approved for new cards from these issuers.
The rule isn't in any card issuer's official terms - they've never confirmed it publicly - but it's been remarkably consistent over the years, & it's central to how I sequence your cards.
Why It Matters So Much
Some of the most valuable cards in the points game come from issuers that enforce 5/24. We almost always want to capture those welcome bonuses early in your journey - before the 5/24 window starts working against you.
That's why I ask for your card list with approximate month/year for each card you've opened. I'm running the 5/24 math behind the scenes.
How the Count Works
We're counting personal credit cards opened in the last 24 months across every issuer - all of 'em.
If you opened a card 25 months ago, it doesn't count anymore. Cards "age out" of the window. The count is a rolling 24-month window, not a calendar year.
The 4/24 vs 5/24 Threshold
This is where the strategy lives:
4/24 or under (4 cards or fewer in 24 months): You're eligible for new personal cards from rule-using issuers. You're ALSO eligible for most business cards - even from rule-using issuers - because business cards don't count toward your 5/24 number.
5/24 or over: You're locked out of new cards from rule-using issuers - personal AND business. The fact that business cards don't COUNT toward 5/24 doesn't mean they'll get approved once you've crossed the line.
That gap between "doesn't count" & "won't get approved" is the whole reason business cards are such a useful tool in the strategy. As long as you stay at 4/24 or under, you can keep stacking business card welcome bonuses without burning your personal slots.
What's Tricky About the Count
A few wrinkles get their own pages:
Business cards mostly don't count toward 5/24, but there are exceptions worth knowing about.
Authorized user accounts sometimes count, sometimes don't - & there's rarely an advantage to adding AUs anyway.
If you're already at 5/24, there's still a strategy - we just shift the order of operations.
Don't worry about the wrinkles up front. I track the count for you & sequence cards accordingly - which is exactly why your card list & approximate dates matter so much.
Related Questions
Important Disclosures
Educational guidance only - not financial, credit, or tax advice. Individual results vary based on card approval, spending habits, redemption choices, & timing. Approval for any credit card is subject to issuer criteria.
Hawaii Reward Travel may receive compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This is how this free program is funded. Compensation does not influence guidance. Opinions are the author's alone & have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any bank, card issuer, or other entity.
