Do Store Cards Count Against Chase 5/24? Here's the Real Answer

Most retail cards count against your 5/24 count if they run on the Visa or Mastercard network and report as a normal credit card. Store-only cards that can only be used at one retailer often work the same way. The network doesn't matter as much as whether it's a real credit inquiry and a real account on your report.

Wait, why does this even matter for my 5/24 count?

Chase looks at how many personal credit cards you've opened in the last 24 months. It doesn't care who issued the card. It just counts new accounts.

This trips people up because store cards feel different. They feel smaller. Less serious. Like a side quest instead of the main game. You sign up at a register to save 20% on a couch, and it doesn't feel like "getting a credit card." But to Chase, it usually is exactly that.

The 5/24 rule pulls data from your credit report. Specifically, it looks at new account openings across all three bureaus, not just cards from Chase or its direct competitors. So a card from Kohl's, Gap, Wayfair, or Home Depot can show up on your report the same way a Chase Sapphire Preferred does.

That's the core problem readers run into. They open a few store cards for the discount, forget about them, and then get denied for a Chase card months later. They assumed store cards were exempt. They aren't, in most cases.

Which store cards actually count against 5/24?

Almost all co-branded retail cards that run on Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Discover networks count against 5/24. This includes cards like the Amazon Prime Visa, Target RedCard (Mastercard version), and Best Buy Visa. If it can be used somewhere other than the original store, it's basically always a real credit card account.

These cards are issued by real banks behind the scenes. Comenity Bank, Synchrony, and Citi Retail Services are three of the biggest names in this space. When you apply for a "Gap card" or a "Wayfair card," you're actually applying to one of these banks. They pull your credit report. They open an account. That account gets reported to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, just like any other credit card.

Once that account shows up on your report, Chase can see it. It gets counted the same way a Chase Freedom or a Citi Double Cash would.

A few concrete examples of cards that report as normal credit accounts and count against 5/24:

• Amazon Prime Visa (Chase-issued, but this one is obvious)
• Target RedCard Credit Card (Mastercard version, issued by TD Bank)
• Best Buy Visa (Citi)
• Kohl's Card (Capital One)
• Gap Visa Card (Synchrony)
• Wayfair Credit Card (Comenity)

Notice something. Some of these are store-only cards, meaning you can only use them at that one retailer. Others are co-branded, meaning you can use them anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted. Both types usually count. The "store-only" limitation doesn't exempt them from 5/24.

Are there any store cards that don't count?

Yes. A small number of retail cards are charge cards or private-label accounts that some data suggests don't always show up as a standard revolving account, though this varies and isn't guaranteed. Some retailers also issue cards through channels that behave differently on credit reports.

This is the part where a lot of guidance gets fuzzy, and it's worth being honest about that. Whether a specific store card counts against 5/24 depends on:

1. Which bank issued it
2. How that bank reports the account to the bureaus
3. Whether it's a true credit card or something else, like a charge card

Some readers report that certain small retail or "buy now" type accounts don't always show up the same way. But this isn't something you can count on. Bureau reporting practices change. Bank practices change. What worked for someone else's Kohl's card two years ago might not match how it reports today.

The safe assumption is this: if a store card involves a hard credit pull and shows up as an open account on your credit report, it almost certainly counts against 5/24. Treat every retail card application as if it's a real credit card application, because it usually is one.

What about cards with instant "store credit" but no hard pull?

Some retailers offer small, in-house financing that doesn't always involve a traditional credit card at all. These are less common but worth knowing about. Things like layaway plans, buy-now-pay-later checkout options (Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay), or certain furniture store financing deals sometimes don't pull a traditional hard inquiry and don't always report as a revolving credit card account.

These are different animals. A BNPL loan from Affirm at checkout, for example, is a personal installment loan, not a revolving credit card. It's underwritten differently and reported differently. Many of these do not count against 5/24 because they aren't credit cards in the way Chase counts them.

But this is exactly where people get confused at checkout. The cashier says "want to save 20% today?" and swipes you into an application. You don't always know in that moment whether you're signing up for:

• A real credit card (counts against 5/24)
• A charge card (may or may not count, depends on issuer)
• A BNPL installment loan (usually does not count against 5/24)

If you're not sure which one you're being offered, ask directly. "Is this a credit card, or a payment plan?" is a fair question to ask a cashier or online checkout screen. The terms and conditions screen usually says which type of product it is, even if the marketing language doesn't make it obvious.

How do I check if a store card I already have is hurting my 5/24 count?

Pull your credit reports and look at the account type and opening date for each retail card you have. If it shows as a revolving credit account opened in the last 24 months, assume it counts. This is the most reliable way to know for sure.

You can get free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, which pulls from all three bureaus. Look for:

• Account type: Revolving accounts usually count. Installment loans usually don't.
• Date opened: Only accounts opened in the last 24 months matter for 5/24.
• Account name: Sometimes the report shows the issuing bank (like "Comenity Bank/GAP") instead of the retailer name, which can be confusing if you're trying to match it up.

If you see a Gap card, a Kohl's card, or a Wayfair card that's less than 24 months old, count it toward your 5/24 total along with your other cards. Add up all personal credit cards opened in the last 24 months, including these, to get your real number.

Should I stop opening store cards if I'm chasing Chase bonuses?

A common approach among people focused on Chase bonuses is to skip most store card offers, since they cost a 5/24 slot without offering strong point value. This is a strategy choice, not a rule, and it depends on your goals.

Store cards usually offer weak rewards compared to general travel cards. A typical retail card might offer 5% back at one store, or a one-time 20% discount on a purchase. Compare that to a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which has offered welcome bonuses worth hundreds of dollars in travel value in the past (bonus values change over time and aren't guaranteed).

If you're trying to stay under 5/24 so you can qualify for Chase cards later, spending one of your five slots on a store card with a 20% one-time discount often isn't a great trade. That slot could instead go toward a card with a stronger sign-up bonus or long-term value.

That said, there are situations where a store card still makes sense:

• You shop at that retailer often enough that ongoing rewards add up over time
• You're already over 5/24 and Chase cards aren't on your radar for the next year or two
• The store card has a strong enough welcome offer to justify the slot, which does happen occasionally with retailers like Wayfair or Home Depot during promotional periods

A common approach is to check your 5/24 count before applying for any store card, then decide if it's worth the slot based on what else you're planning to apply for over the next two years.

What's the one thing to remember here?

Treat every store card application like a real credit card application, because in most cases it is one. The register discount doesn't change how the account reports. If it's a Visa, Mastercard, or standard revolving retail account, plan for it to count against your 5/24 total, and make your decision with that in mind.

Frequently asked questions

Do store credit cards count toward 5/24?

It depends on the network: store-only cards that can only be used at one retailer typically don't count, while co-branded cards on a Visa, Mastercard, or Amex network usually do. For example, a Target RedCard (store-only) won't count against your 5/24 status, but a Target Mastercard will. Always check whether the card carries a network logo before applying, since that's the biggest indicator of whether it reports as a new account affecting your Chase 5/24 count.

Why does the payment network matter for 5/24?

The payment network matters because Chase's 5/24 rule counts most personal credit cards reported on your credit report within the last 24 months, and store-only cards (closed-loop, usable at one retailer) often aren't reported the same way or are excluded from Chase's internal tracking. Co-branded network cards (Visa/Mastercard/Amex/Discover), however, function like regular credit cards and are reported to credit bureaus normally, so Chase counts them just like any other card toward your five-card limit.

Does a Target RedCard count against 5/24?

No, the standard Target RedCard is a store-only card with no payment network, so it doesn't count against your 5/24 total. However, Target also offers a Target Mastercard RedCard, which does carry a network logo and can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted, this version does count as a new account. When applying, double-check which version you're being offered, since retailers often present both options at checkout or online.

Which retail cards are safe to get before a Chase application?

Store-only cards from retailers like Amazon (store card, not the Prime Visa), Costco (Citi version is network-based, so it counts), Gap, or Old Navy are generally safe since they're closed-loop and don't report as networked credit cards. Before applying, verify by checking if the card mentions "Visa," "Mastercard," or "American Express" in its name or terms. When in doubt, call the issuer or check card details online, since even minor branding differences can change whether it affects your 5/24 count.

Should I avoid retail cards while working on 5/24 strategy?

You don't need to avoid true store-only cards, since they typically don't count toward 5/24 and can still offer decent discounts or financing. However, be cautious with co-branded retail cards (like store Visa or Mastercard versions), as these count just like any other credit card and can use up a valuable slot. If you're actively pursuing Chase sign-up bonuses, prioritize confirming a card's network status before applying to avoid accidentally burning one of your five slots.