Credit Card Application Rules By Issuer

Bank card software guidelines can positively be a hindrance while you need to enroll in new playing cards to earn extra rewards, however they are often managed if about them forward of time. The truth is, having some primary consciousness of guidelines just like the Chase 5/24 rule can assist you determine which playing cards from this issuer to enroll in, and in what order. The identical is true with journey rewards bank cards from different bank card corporations as effectively, though some have extra stringent guidelines than others.

You might also have to be gradual and cautious relating to the generosity of welcome bonuses. It’s because card issuers usually have a ready interval earlier than you possibly can earn the bonus on particular playing cards or merchandise inside a card household when you’ve got taken benefit already up to now.

On the finish of the day, understanding how the principles work with all the most important bank card issuers is one of the simplest ways to arrange. Right here’s an summary of all of the bank card software guidelines damaged down by issuer:

American Categorical

American Categorical has varied guidelines in regards to the variety of playing cards you possibly can have, the variety of earlier functions and even how usually you possibly can obtain a welcome bonus. All of that is to reduce what is named “bank card churning”—acquiring a bank card only for the welcome bonus and canceling it inside a 12 months.

• You may have as much as 5 American Categorical bank cards and as much as 10 cost playing cards.
• You may earn every Amex card’s welcome bonus as soon as per lifetime (with exceptions).
• You may apply for as much as two playing cards per day.

Bank card software guidelines

American Categorical has a number of restrictions relating to approving your bank card software. For starters, you possibly can’t apply for greater than two playing cards in a single day. This shouldn’t be a difficulty for most individuals, contemplating Amex imposes excessive spending necessities on their most profitable welcome bonuses.

When you apply for a number of Amex bank cards in a day, you might also find yourself with a mixed spending requirement that’s unmanageable. So preserve that in thoughts when planning out your American Categorical bank card software technique.

Welcome bonus restrictions

American Categorical’ once-per-lifetime rule dictates you can’t obtain the welcome bonus on an Amex card greater than as soon as. So in case you apply and earn the present welcome bonus on The Platinum Card® from American Categorical, you gained’t be eligible for one more bonus for the remainder of your “lifetime.”

It’s necessary to notice there are exceptions. Some experiences recommend “as soon as per lifetime” actually interprets to 1 each seven years. Others have reported receiving focused affords that excluded this language. There are even experiences of shoppers getting focused for second bonuses on playing cards they already carry of their wallets. So whereas these guidelines function necessary pointers, American Categorical doesn’t essentially at all times implement them.

Variety of American Categorical playing cards you possibly can have

American Categorical limits clients to 5 bank cards and as much as 10 cost playing cards at a time. That is necessary to concentrate on since you don’t wish to threat a credit score inquiry in case you’re not eligible for an Amex card underneath these phrases.

Financial institution of America

Financial institution of America doesn’t have a big rewards bank card line-up. Nonetheless, it does supply some widespread airline bank cards, just like the Alaska Airways Visa Signature® bank card and Free Spirit® World Elite Mastercard®. So, it’s best to positively familiarize your self with the financial institution’s bank card software guidelines in case a profitable welcome bonus comes round. Right here’s an summary:

Welcome bonus restrictions

Financial institution of America is without doubt one of the few main banks that don’t prohibit the variety of instances you may get a bank card sign-up bonus. You will get the identical bank card sign-up bonus a number of instances so long as you comply with the principles outlined under. Additionally observe that this rule applies for the issuer’s journey bank cards in addition to its money again playing cards just like the Financial institution of America® Personalized Money Rewards bank card.

Bank card software guidelines

When you’re making use of for a Financial institution of America bank card, you want to know the two/3/4 rule. It restricts bank card approvals as follows:

• Two new bank cards inside 30 days
• Three new bank cards inside 12 months
• 4 new bank cards inside 24 months

Variety of Financial institution of America playing cards you possibly can have

This issuer doesn’t prohibit the variety of Financial institution of America bank card accounts you possibly can have open at a time.

Barclays

Relating to bank card software guidelines, Barclays isn’t as strict as another banks. There’s the loosely enforced 6/24 rule and a 24-month ready interval between functions for many bank cards. Along with that, Barclays tends to restrict or stop shoppers from having duplicate playing cards. This implies you can not earn the bonus on a particular Barclays product and join once more with out canceling your first card and ready for at the least six months.

However, most notably, Barclays will take spending into consideration when contemplating functions from present cardholders. When you’ve let your Barclays bank card acquire mud for a number of months, you’ll wish to use it a number of instances (and pay it off when the cost is due) to reveal your worth as a buyer. In any case, banks wish to concern bank cards to clients who will really use them. Use your present card for every day bills and you should not have any issues assembly this standards. Right here’s an summary of Barclays’ bank card functions guidelines:

Welcome bonus restrictions

One necessary rule that applies to Barclays bank cards: You may earn a sign-up bonus on the identical card so long as you wait 24 months between functions.

The exception is the Lufthansa Miles & Extra®World Elite Mastercard®, which has extra restrictive language within the phrases stating:

“These bonuses and/or incentives are meant for candidates who usually are not and haven’t beforehand been Miles & Extra Mastercard cardmembers.”

Bank card software guidelines

Barclays additionally loosely applies a 6/24 rule: When you’ve had greater than six bank card functions within the final 24 months, you will not be accepted for a brand new Barclays card. This rule doesn’t seem like strictly enforced however might be cited as a doable purpose in case your software is rejected. It’s finest to be secure and comply with this rule in case you’re making use of for a brand new Barclays card.

Variety of Barclays playing cards you possibly can have

Barclays doesn’t impose a restrict on the variety of bank cards you possibly can have at one time. In accordance with experiences, Barclays permits clients to use for a number of bank cards in at some point and can usually course of them each underneath a single credit score inquiry. Which means your credit score will take a smaller hit, often 2-5 factors per software.

Capital One

Capital One wasn’t identified for having restricted bank card welcome bonuses and new card approvals up to now. Nonetheless, the financial institution has been ramping up its bank card choices within the final decade with new choices just like the Capital One Enterprise X Card and the Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise Card. This has meant new guidelines have been launched over time, together with a rule that claims you can not earn the bonus on these playing cards greater than as soon as each 48 months.

If a card’s bonus and plenty of advantages attraction to you, you’ll wish to learn via the few (however necessary) restrictions earlier than making use of. Right here’s an summary:

Welcome bonus restrictions

Most Capital One bank cards have language on their software pages specifying eligibility. For instance, the Capital One Enterprise X Card has the next language on its web page:

“Present or earlier cardmembers usually are not eligible for this product if they’ve obtained a brand new cardmember bonus for this product up to now 48 months.”

The identical wording is discovered within the tremendous print on the Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card, the Capital One Savor Money Rewards Credit score Card and different playing cards that earn rewards. When you plan to use for a Capital One rewards bank card, ensure you verify the phrases and circumstances for this wording and know when you’ve got earned the bonus on the identical product inside the final 48 months.

Bank card software restrictions

Capital One restricts clients to 1 private and enterprise card approval each six months. This shouldn’t be too restrictive, contemplating Capital One doesn’t have the identical intensive card line-up as American Categorical, Chase or Citi. It’s nonetheless value protecting in thoughts since Capital One pulls your credit score from all three credit score bureaus. You don’t wish to incur three credit score pulls a number of instances a 12 months since you weren’t conscious of the six-month rule.

Variety of Capital One playing cards you possibly can have

Capital One might restrict clients to 2 private bank cards at a time. This shouldn’t be too restrictive since enterprise playing cards just like the Capital One Spark Miles for Enterprise usually are not factored in. A restrict of 1 enterprise cost card for patrons additionally applies.

Nonetheless, some knowledge factors present that Capital One might break its guidelines once in a while and let shoppers have greater than two playing cards without delay.

Chase

Chase has among the finest rewards bank cards in the marketplace, so it’s not shocking the financial institution imposes a number of restrictions round approvals. There’s the notorious 5/24 rule, in addition to guidelines round how usually you possibly can earn the identical sign-up bonus and the quantity of credit score the financial institution will lengthen to you. Right here’s an summary of all of the Chase bank card software guidelines you want to learn about:

Welcome bonus restrictions

Chase limits clients from incomes one other welcome bonus on a card in the event that they’ve earned that bonus up to now 24-48 months. The precise timeframe varies by card. The ready interval for the Southwest bank cards is 24 months, for instance, whereas the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® require 48 months between welcome bonuses. Be mindful, too, that Chase considers the Sapphire playing cards in the identical household and the 48-month interval applies even in case you’re switching from one card to the opposite.

So, for example, in case you earned the bonus for the Sapphire Most well-liked card in December 2024 (observed the restriction applies to while you earned the bonus, not while you utilized for the cardboard), you gained’t qualify for one more bonus for both Sapphire Most well-liked or Sapphire Reserve till after December 2028. You additionally gained’t be eligible for it in case you’re a present cardholder on the time of software — you’ll must cancel or downgrade your card earlier than making use of.

Lastly, you possibly can’t maintain each Sapphire accounts on the identical time. You’ll must downgrade or shut one earlier than you possibly can open the opposite, whatever the welcome supply.

Bank card software guidelines

Chase’s 5/24 rule is crucial rule to concentrate on in case you’re contemplating a brand new bank card. That’s as a result of the rule limits new bank card approvals in case you’ve had 5 or extra functions inside the final 24 months. This doesn’t simply apply to Chase bank card functions. When you’ve had 5 or extra at any financial institution, you gained’t be accepted for a Chase card.

Enterprise card functions with different banks don’t issue into your 5/24 tally; nonetheless, enterprise card functions with Chase do.

Total, the 5/24 rule isn’t fairly as restrictive because it sounds. You simply must be strategic when making use of for bank cards. When you’re new to journey rewards and have your eye on a number of completely different bank cards, you’ll wish to apply for a Chase card earlier than the rest. After getting your Chase card secured, you possibly can apply for playing cards with different banks since most of them don’t have an analogous rule in place.

Variety of Chase playing cards you possibly can have

Chase doesn’t presently restrict the variety of bank cards you possibly can have. As an alternative, Chase limits the quantity of credit score it extends to clients. So in case your bank card software will get denied since you’ve reached the credit score restrict, you possibly can attempt asking Chase to maneuver credit score from one card to the brand new account. Your whole accessible credit score will stay the identical, with a part of it allotted to the brand new bank card.

Citi

Relating to bank card software restrictions, Citi is a little more relaxed than opponents in some regards and extra strict in others. Right here’s an summary of all the appliance guidelines presently in impact for Citi bank cards:

Welcome bonus restrictions

Citi restricts welcome bonuses for many playing cards to as soon as each 48 months, together with Citi AAdvantage playing cards. The identical is true for the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, even in case you upgraded to this card from its earlier model (the Citi Premier® Card).

Whenever you learn over the phrases and circumstances on the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, you’ll find the next tremendous print:

“Bonus ThankYou® Factors usually are not accessible in case you obtained a brand new account bonus for a Citi Premier® or Citi Strata Premier℠ account up to now 48 months or in case you transformed one other Citi bank card account on which you earned a brand new account bonus within the final 48 months right into a Citi Premier® or Citi Strata Premier℠ account.”

Bank card software guidelines

When you’re making use of for a Citi bank card, you’ll wish to preserve two principal guidelines in thoughts: You may’t apply for multiple card each eight days, or greater than two playing cards inside 65 days. Citi may additionally deny your new card software in case your credit score experiences present greater than six onerous inquiries within the final six months.

Variety of Citi playing cards you possibly can have

Like Chase, Citi doesn’t restrict the variety of bank cards you possibly can have open at a time however quite the quantity of obtainable credit score. So in case you’re denied a bank card as a result of variety of Citi playing cards you might have open, attempt calling the reconsideration line to see in the event that they’ll approve you after transferring credit score strains round.

Uncover

Since Uncover bank cards don’t include conventional welcome affords, they don’t must have plenty of tremendous print that limits new sign-ups. Uncover bank cards with rewards supply bonuses via the issuer’s Cashback Match program as an alternative, which doubles all of the rewards a cardholder earns throughout the first 12 months after account opening.

That stated, there are some common guidelines to learn about relating to maximizing rewards with Uncover bank cards through the years:

• A 12-month ready interval is required between new Uncover card sign-ups.
• Shoppers can solely have two bank cards from Uncover without delay.

U.S. Financial institution

U.S. Financial institution doesn’t record any bank card software guidelines or limitations inside the tremendous print of its bank cards. Nonetheless, some anecdotal proof reveals that some common pointers would possibly apply.

For instance:

• It’s possible you’ll not be capable to earn a welcome supply on a particular U.S. Financial institution bank card if you have already got it.
• Having opened 5 or extra new playing cards within the final 12 months might result in being denied a brand new U.S. Financial institution bank card.

These usually are not onerous and quick guidelines from U.S. Financial institution, however it’s best to preserve them in thoughts in case you plan to use for a card just like the U.S. Financial institution Altitude® Go Card or the U.S. Financial institution Money+® Visa Signature® Card.

Wells Fargo

Whereas Wells Fargo bank cards with rewards was once few and much between, there are literally fairly a number of profitable rewards playing cards to select from in 2025. Choices embrace Wells Fargo journey bank cards just like the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa® Credit score Card and the wildly widespread Wells Fargo Lively Money^SM Credit score Card, to call a number of.

Right here’s an summary of the principles that restrict playing cards and bonus affords from this issuer.

Welcome bonus restrictions

Most Wells Fargo bank cards restrict welcome bonuses to shoppers who haven’t earned the bonus on the cardboard within the final 48 months. In a singular twist, this issuer may also restrict intro APR affords to clients who meet the identical necessities.

For instance, tremendous print on the Wells Fargo Lively Money^SM Credit score Card says the next:

“You will not be eligible for introductory annual proportion charges, charges and/or rewards bonus affords when you’ve got the Wells Fargo Lively Money Visa® or opened one inside the final 48 months from the date of this software – even when that account is closed and has a $0 stability.”

Notice that signal–up bonus limits are shorter on Selection Privileges bank cards from Wells Fargo just like the Selection Privileges World Elite Mastercard Credit score Card. With this card, tremendous print says the next:

“When you opened a Selection Privileges Mastercard Credit score Card or a Selection Privileges Choose Mastercard Credit score Card inside the final 15 months, you will not be eligible for an introductory bonus rewards supply. See necessary exclusions under.”

Bank card software guidelines

Wells Fargo follows some free guidelines relating to bank card functions:

• You usually can’t get a brand new Wells Fargo bank card in case you’ve already opened one with the issuer within the final six months.
• It’s possible you’ll get declined for a brand new Wells Fargo bank card when you’ve got opened 5 or extra playing cards with any issuer within the earlier 24 months.

Variety of Wells Fargo bank cards you possibly can have

Wells Fargo doesn’t have any limits on the variety of bank cards you possibly can have. Nonetheless, they may probably lengthen you a complete credit score restrict that should apply throughout all playing cards you carry with them.

The underside line

Whether or not you’re new to rewards bank cards or a seasoned professional, there are nonetheless loads of alternatives to leverage bank card sign-up bonuses for unimaginable journey experiences. By familiarizing your self with these guidelines (or just consulting this information earlier than making use of), you’ll be higher suited to navigate the more and more complicated world of bank card software guidelines.