All the Stupid Rules in This Game

Rules!!! There are way too many rules to look out for when churning for credit card points. Here are all the rules listed out. The main one here is Chase. Why Chase? Because they have some of the best rewards in the game. Amex is great as well but their one bonus per lifetime means you get the card and then forget. Chase and some others have repeated sign on bonuses. This means you get a card, meet the spend, get the bonus, close the account and then reapply for the card either 2 or 4 years later, depending on the T&C.

1. Chase – 5/24 Rule

• If you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards (from any bank) in the past 24 months, you will be denied for most Chase credit cards.

• This includes personal cards but not business cards (unless reported on your personal credit file).

• Some Chase co-branded cards may not be subject to this rule, but most are. NOT worth risking it.

2. American Express – One Bonus Per Lifetime Rule

• You can only receive the welcome bonus once per lifetime on a specific card.

• "Lifetime" is typically 7+ years, meaning after that, you might be eligible again.

• Business cards may have different rules.

• Some targeted offers don’t have this restriction.

3. Citi – 48-Month and 24-Month Rules

• 48-Month Rule (AA Cards Only): You can receive a new welcome bonus on American Airlines co-branded cards only once every 48 months.

• 24-Month Rule: Most other Citi cards require 24 months since earning a bonus or closing the same card before you can earn a new bonus.

• Product changes reset this timer.

4. Bank of America – 2/3/4 Rule

• 2/3/4 Rule: Limits on total new cards with BoA:

  • 2 cards in 2 months

  • 3 cards in 12 months

  • 4 cards in 24 months

• Some high-net-worth customers (Preferred Rewards members) may have more flexibility.

5. Capital One – 2-Card Rule

• You can have a maximum of 2 personal credit cards with Capital One at a time.

• No official time-based restriction, but they rarely approve applicants for multiple cards in a short period.

6. Wells Fargo – One Bonus Per 15 Months

• You can only receive a welcome bonus once every 15 months for a specific card.

• If you currently hold the card, you must close it and wait 15 months before applying again.

7. Barclays – 6/24 Rule (Unofficial)

• Barclays is known for denying applications if you've opened 6 or more accounts in the past 24 months.

• They prefer loyalty—sometimes they won’t approve you if you already hold a card in the same family.

8. U.S. Bank – Strict Approval & 1/12 Rule

• U.S. Bank is very sensitive to recent inquiries.

• 1/12 Rule: You cannot earn a welcome bonus if you’ve opened another U.S. Bank card in the past 12 months.