US Credit Card Application Rules by Issuer (2026)

Every big US issuer limits how often it will approve you, and most limit how often they will pay you a bonus. The two are different rules. The first decides whether you get the card. The second decides whether the card comes with the bonus you applied for.

These are the approval rules Churn checks for six US issuers, and the bonus terms on some of the most-applied-for cards as of October 2026. Issuers don't publish most approval rules; they are what applicants have seen consistently for years. Bonus terms are published, on each card's application page.

Approval rules

Chase: 5/24

Chase will deny most applications if you have opened 5 or more personal credit cards with any issuer in the past 24 months. It counts every bank's cards, not just Chase's. Most business cards don't count because they don't appear on your personal credit report; business cards from Capital One, Discover and TD do. A card counts from its open date until the same day 24 months later, even if you closed it. Our complete 5/24 guide covers the edge cases.

Amex: 2 in 90 days

Amex approves at most 2 new credit cards in 90 days. Charge cards (the Platinum, Gold and Green cards) don't count toward it. Separately, each Amex welcome offer is once per lifetime per card; see the Amex lifetime rule.

Citi: 1 in 8 days, 2 in 65 days

Citi limits you to one Citi card application every 8 days and two every 65 days. Only Citi cards count.

Capital One: 1 in 6 months

Capital One generally approves one new card every 6 months. It is also known for being sensitive to how many recent inquiries you have, which no simple count captures.

Bank of America: 2/3/4

Bank of America limits you to 2 new cards in a rolling 2 months, 3 in 12 months and 4 in 24 months. All three windows apply at once.

US Bank: 1 in 6 months, 2 in 12

US Bank limits you to 1 new card every 6 months and 2 every 12 months.

Bonus rules on popular cards

These are the bonus terms as Churn's card data has them in October 2026. They change, so read the terms on the application page before you apply.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred: not for current cardholders, and the bonus is not available if you previously held the card. Older guides quote a 48-month rule for Sapphire bonuses; the current wording is stricter.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve: not for current cardholders; the bonus may not be available if you previously held the card or earned its bonus.
• Ink Business Preferred: the bonus may not be available if you have ever had the card.
• Chase Freedom Flex and World of Hyatt: not available if you earned that card's bonus in the past 24 months.
• Capital One Venture X: not available if you earned its bonus in the past 48 months.
• Citi Strata Premier: not available if you have or have had a Strata Premier or a Citi Premier account.

Putting them in order

1. Chase first, while you are under 5/24. Every new card from any bank uses up one of your five slots, and Chase is the only issuer that counts the others' cards. Apply for the Chase cards you want before the ones that don't care about 5/24.
2. Business cards next. A Chase Ink card still needs you under 5/24, but it doesn't add to your count once you're approved. See the best business cards for churning.
3. Space out the same-issuer rules. Two Citi cards need at least 8 days between them; two Amex credit cards in one quarter fill the 90-day window.
4. Write down every open date. All of these rules count from it. A card you closed still counts from the day you opened it.

In Canada

Canadian issuers don't use 5/24-style counts across banks; they limit bonuses per bank, often with a 12- or 24-month wait. See Canadian churning rules by issuer. US rules count only US cards, so a Canadian card doesn't use a 5/24 slot.