What Counts as a "New Account" for 5/24 Purposes

The short answer: Chase counts most personal credit cards that appear as new accounts on your personal credit report, regardless of which bank issued them. Business cards from most issuers do not count. Authorized user cards usually do count, but they can sometimes be removed from consideration if you ask a reconsideration agent directly.

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Does it matter which bank issued the card?

Yes, but not in the way most people assume. Chase counts new accounts from any issuer, not just Chase cards. A Citi Double Cash you opened 18 months ago counts the same as a Chase Freedom Flex opened the same day.

The rule is tied to your personal credit report, not to Chase's internal records. When Chase pulls your credit, they count the number of new personal accounts that have appeared in the last 24 months. If Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion shows it as a new account opened within that window, Chase sees it. This is why data points from the Doctor of Credit community consistently show that cards from Capital One, Barclays, Discover, and every other major issuer all add to your 5/24 count.

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Do business credit cards count toward 5/24?

Most business cards do not add to your 5/24 count, with one significant exception. Business cards from issuers like Chase, American Express, Citi, Barclays, and Bank of America are typically not reported to your personal credit bureaus, so they never show up as new accounts in the first place.

Capital One is the well-known exception. Capital One business cards report to personal credit bureaus, which means a Capital One Spark card opened last year will sit on your personal report and count against your 5/24 status. Discover business cards also report to personal bureaus. If you are trying to preserve slots, this distinction matters enormously when you are planning which business cards to apply for.

The practical upside here is significant. Many people build substantial points balances through Chase Ink cards, Amex business cards, and Citi business products without burning through their 5/24 slots, because those cards never touch the personal report.

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Do authorized user accounts count?

Authorized user (AU) accounts typically do count toward 5/24 when they appear on your credit report. If someone added you as an AU on their Sapphire Preferred last year, that account likely shows up on your report with an "authorized user" designation and can push you over the limit.

However, this is one of the few areas where a human conversation can actually change the outcome. A common approach among experienced applicants is to call the reconsideration line after a denial and explain that a specific account is an authorized user account, not a primary account they opened themselves. Reports from the community suggest that reconsideration agents have the ability to manually exclude AU accounts from the count in some cases. It is not guaranteed, but it is worth the call if an AU account is the difference between 4/24 and 5/24.

If you know you are planning a Chase application and you are sitting at 4/24, it is worth checking whether any AU accounts are on your report. Removing yourself as an authorized user before applying may or may not update your report in time depending on the issuer's reporting cycle, so plan ahead.

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Do store cards and retail cards count?

Yes, if they appear as a new account on your personal credit report, they count. A Target RedCard credit card (not the debit version), an Amazon Store Card issued by Synchrony, or a Best Buy credit card all show up on your personal report and add to your 5/24 count.

This catches people off guard because retail cards feel minor. Someone opens a Macy's card at checkout for a 20% discount, thinks nothing of it, and then wonders why their Chase application is declined 14 months later. That Macy's card is sitting there on the report, counted the same as any Visa or Mastercard.

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Do charge cards count?

Personal charge cards, like the American Express Gold or Platinum, count toward 5/24 when they appear on your personal credit report. Amex personal charge cards do report to bureaus, so they show up as new accounts. The same logic applies: if it is on your personal report as a new account, Chase counts it.

Amex business charge cards, like the Business Platinum or Business Gold, follow the same rule as other business cards from major issuers and generally do not report to personal bureaus, so they typically do not count.

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What does NOT count toward 5/24?

Business cards from Chase, Amex, Citi, Barclays, and Bank of America do not count because they are not reported to personal credit bureaus. Debit cards, prepaid cards, installment loans, credit limit increases, and product changes are also excluded. Only new revolving personal credit card accounts appearing on your personal report matter.

To make the list concrete:

• Business credit cards from Chase, Amex, Citi, Barclays, Bank of America (not reported to personal bureaus)
• Debit cards of any kind
• Prepaid cards
• Personal loans, auto loans, mortgages, student loans (these are installment accounts, not revolving credit card accounts)
• Credit limit increases on existing cards
• Product changes or upgrades from one card to another within the same bank (no new account is opened)

A product change from a Chase Freedom Unlimited to a Chase Sapphire Preferred, for example, does not generate a new account on your report. The account number stays the same. That is one reason product changes are a popular tool for people who are already over 5/24 and want access to a card without burning a slot.

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How do I check my actual 5/24 count?

Pull your credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com and count every personal credit card account with an open date in the last 24 months. Note the account type listed: "individual" accounts count, "authorized user" accounts count but may be disputable, and business accounts from the issuers listed above should not appear at all. Many people also use tools like Credit Karma or the MyFICO forums to cross-reference, though the free bureau reports are the most direct source.

Frequently asked questions

Does being an authorized user on someone else's card count toward my 5/24 limit?

Yes, authorized user accounts typically count toward your 5/24 limit because they appear as new accounts on your credit report. Chase's system automatically picks them up during application review. However, you can sometimes get these removed from your 5/24 count by calling a reconsideration line and explaining you're an authorized user, not the primary cardholder. Many data points suggest this works, though it's not guaranteed.

Do business credit cards count toward 5/24?

Most business credit cards do not count toward your 5/24 limit, but applying for them still requires you to be under 5/24. Business cards from Chase, American Express, Citi, and Barclays generally don't report to personal credit bureaus, so they won't add to your running total. However, business cards from Capital One and Discover typically do report personally and will count against your 5/24 score.

Does a credit limit increase or product change count as a new account for 5/24?

No, neither a credit limit increase nor a product change (also called a card upgrade or downgrade) counts as a new account for 5/24 purposes. These actions don't generate a new account on your credit report—they modify an existing one. Only applications that result in a brand-new account with a new account number will appear as a new tradeline and affect your 5/24 standing.

How do I calculate my current 5/24 number?

Count every new personal credit card account opened in the past 24 months that appears on your personal credit report. Pull your free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com and look for accounts with open dates within the last two years. Include store cards, authorized user accounts, and any business cards that report personally. Exclude accounts older than 24 months. The total is your current 5/24 number.

Does a charge-off or closed account still count toward 5/24?

Yes, if the account was opened within the last 24 months, it counts toward 5/24 regardless of whether it's currently open, closed, or charged off. Chase's rule tracks account opening dates, not account status. Only once the account's opening date passes the 24-month window will it naturally drop off your 5/24 count, at which point it no longer affects your Chase application eligibility.