Skip to main content

Navigation

I'm over 5/24. Which cards can I still get?

As of 2026-10-06: most banks other than Chase are still open to you. "5/24" is Chase's reported practice of declining applicants who opened five or more personal cards from any bank in the past 24 months; Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi, Capital One and Amex run their own, different checks. In this example the strongest cash picks are Bank of America Premium Rewards and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey ($505 each after the $95 first-year fee) and Citi Strata Premier ($355 on its own), based on issuer pages checked 2026-10-06. Skip new Chase cards until your count drops below five. In this example the options are Premium Rewards ($505), Autograph Journey Visa ($505) and Strata Premier ($355) in bonus value after the first-year fee. Terms apply; each issuer decides approval and bonus eligibility.

Use my own cards →

No account, email or credit pull. A saved plan keeps its own answers. Enter your own history and budget.

3 options to compare now

Choose at most one next card. These are alternatives, not three applications. Bonus value after the first-year fee excludes credits, ordinary spending rewards, interest, taxes and payment-processing costs. Each issuer decides approval and welcome-bonus eligibility; the example history must match yours.

Offer list checked ; issuer rules checked . Terms apply.

  1. Premium Rewards

    Bank of America · Likely option under the assumed history

    Bonus after first-year fee

    $505

    60,000 points × 1¢ ÷ 100 = $600 cash − $95 first-year fee = $505

    Spend $4,000 within 90 days.

    No listed cards from this issuer · cash out at 1¢ per point.

    Bank of America is reported to check 3 recent cards in 12 months without a deposit relationship, or 7 with one. This example has a checking account and two recent cards.

    takes your reported 24-month count from 6 to 7.

    Offer checked 2026-10-06 · First-year fee $95; renewal fee $95 · Terms apply. Confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.

  2. Autograph Journey Visa

    Wells Fargo · Likely option under the assumed history

    Bonus after first-year fee

    $505

    60,000 points × 1¢ ÷ 100 = $600 cash − $95 first-year fee = $505

    Spend $4,000 within 3 months.

    No listed cards from this issuer · cash out at 1¢ per point.

    Eligibility caveat: Wells Fargo may consider recently opened accounts across banks. Reports conflict on a fixed 24-month cutoff.

    Wells Fargo publishes a four-month window after another Wells consumer card. It also considers recent accounts; reports conflict on a fixed cutoff.

    takes your reported 24-month count from 6 to 7.

    Offer checked 2026-10-06 · First-year fee $95; renewal fee $95 · Terms apply. Confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.

  3. Strata Premier

    Citi · Likely option under the assumed history

    Bonus after first-year fee

    $355

    60,000 points × 0.75¢ ÷ 100 = $450 cash − $95 first-year fee = $355

    Spend $4,000 within 3 months.

    No listed cards from this issuer · cash out at 0.75¢ per point.

    Eligibility caveat: This offer excludes people who currently have or previously had Citi Premier or Strata Premier. Citi may also consider your card-opening and usage history.

    Citi is reported to require about 8 days between applications and no more than two in 65 days. Its Premier offer also excludes previous holders.

    takes your reported 24-month count from 6 to 7.

    Offer checked 2026-10-06 · First-year fee $95; renewal fee $95 · Terms apply. Confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.

I already have several Chase cards and want cash back. Which non-Chase card is best?

As of 2026-10-06: Bank of America Premium Rewards and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey lead at about $505 each in cash after the $95 first-year fee, with Citi Strata Premier at $355 on its own (issuer pages checked 2026-10-06). Rank by the cash a bonus actually pays: Wells and BofA points cash out at 1¢, Citi ThankYou (TY) points at 0.75¢ unless you also hold a Double Cash or Custom Cash, and Capital One miles at 0.5¢. If you earned a Venture X bonus in the last 48 months, skip Venture and VentureOne; skipping Amex too doesn't change the top picks. In this example the options are Premium Rewards ($505), Autograph Journey Visa ($505) and Strata Premier ($355) in bonus value after the first-year fee. Terms apply; each issuer decides approval and bonus eligibility.

This question shares the cash options above. Its example skips Chase, holds Sapphire Preferred, Freedom Flex, Freedom Unlimited, United Explorer and Amex Gold, and received a Venture X bonus within 48 months. Skipping Amex too leaves the same leading cash options.

The six recent accounts need two drop-offs to return to 4/24. With no new accounts, recheck on . This is not an approval date.

Cards to skip and why

What AI answers often get wrong here

Research snapshot: . These are documented source traps or inferences from the research; current AI-error frequency is unverified.

  1. "Wells Fargo also has a 5/24 rule." No such rule is published. Wells's current terms use a four-month window after another Wells consumer card and a 48-month same-product limit. A universal Wells 5/24 cutoff is unverified.
  2. "Get a Chase business card, it doesn't count." It doesn't *add* to 5/24, but Chase is reported to apply the 5/24 screen to Ink applications.
  3. "Citi points are worth 1¢ in cash." Standalone Strata Premier points cash out at 0.75¢ since 2025-08-24.
  4. "Capital One miles are worth 1¢ in cash." Cash or statement credit is 0.5¢; 1¢ applies to eligible travel purchases.
  5. "Closed cards and authorized-user (AU) cards don't count." Recently opened accounts count even after closing, and AU cards can appear in the count. Chase is reported to sometimes set AU cards aside on a reconsideration call; that is not assured.

Questions about this situation

What exactly counts toward 5/24?

Personal credit cards opened in the past 24 months, from any bank, including ones since closed and, often, cards where you are an authorized user. Most business cards don't appear on personal reports and so don't count; Capital One's Spark Cash Select is an exception because Capital One reports it personally.

When will I be back under 5/24?

When the fifth-newest counted account turns 24 months old. Count from opening dates, not approval emails or bonus dates.

Do other banks have their own limits?

Yes, mostly reported rather than published: Bank of America 3/12 or 7/12 depending on a deposit relationship, Citi roughly one card per 8 days and two per 65, Amex roughly one per 5 days and two per 90. Wells publishes a four-month window.

Should I apply elsewhere now or wait for Chase?

If a specific Chase card is the goal and you're within a few months of dropping to 4/24, waiting is usually better: a new personal card can delay the date until another older account leaves the count. See "I'll drop below 5/24 in a couple of months."

Does a Bank of America checking account help?

It is reported to raise BofA's recent-card limit from 3 to 7 in 12 months. It does not ensure approval.

Is being under 5/24 an approval?

No. It is one screen among many; income, credit history and the bank's own rules still apply.

What happens when I use my own cards?

Enter your own cards, dates, goal and spending. An existing saved plan or shared plan keeps its own answers. You can save your plan and add calendar reminders without giving an email address.

Use my own cards →