Whether you opened your first-ever credit card in the pursuit of free travel or already had a few accounts before you found this incredible world of points and miles, your first couple of moves may be highly scripted, thanks to Chase’s 5/24 rule. The issuer uses this rule to automatically reject applicants who have opened five or more cards in the last 24 months.
Some business cards don’t count, so be sure to check out our guide to 5/24 if you’re not familiar with how 5/24 works. But in general, you should open up your Chase cards first before moving on to other issuers because of this rule.
You might go with a tested card combination like the Chase trifecta, or you might build your own strategy after deciding which Sapphire card is better to anchor your strategy. Although there are plenty of great Chase card choices, there are only so many ways to use up those first five slots.
If you exceed five cards in 24 months, you’ll find yourself in the Wild Wild West of credit cards, where anything goes. After 5/24, there’s no uniform path for you to follow. It’s time to evaluate the cards in your wallet, figure out what you want from new credit cards and chart a new course.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of your best options for building a post-5/24 strategy.
Related: How to calculate your 5/24 standing
What not to do
Being ineligible for a Chase card doesn't mean it's time to stop getting new cards altogether. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is waiting on the sidelines to fall under 5/24 again and missing out on other valuable welcome bonuses in the meantime.
