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Alongside keeping track of rewards card applications and managing your credit score, it’s essential to understand the credit card application rules for each issuing bank. Rules around how many cards you can hold, how often you can apply, and whether you can hold more than one of the same card all vary by issuer.
But, the main problem is card application rules are rarely published by card issuers. So, you're left with scouring the internet, which is often rife with incomplete and outdated information about what you can and cannot do. In this guide, we combine what is available regarding credit card application rules and restrictions with the experiences and data points of the award travel community — all in one place. It's a resource worth bookmarking.
Page Contents
- What Effect Do Credit Card Application Rules Have?
- American Express Application Rules
- Bank of America Application Rules
- Barclays Application Rules
- Capital One Application Rules
- Chase Application Rules
- Citi Application Rules
- Discover Application Rules
- U.S. Bank Application Rules
- Wells Fargo Application Rules
- Navy Federal Credit Union Application Rules
- Final Thoughts
What Effect Do Credit Card Application Rules Have?
In short, these rules should have a huge impact on how you approach your credit card application strategy. In many cases, it may make sense to apply for certain cards before others, especially if you are new to credit card rewards. Understanding the major issuers’ application restrictions can help you build a long-term, sustainable plan for earning points and miles toward great travel experiences.
Application rules can influence:
- Whether you’ll be approved for a new card
- How many cards you can hold with a given issuer at once
- If (and when) you can earn a welcome bonus more than once
- How much total credit a bank is willing to extend across all your accounts

Many application rules aren’t published
Before we get into the specifics, it’s important to understand that not all of the restrictions covered here are hard and fast rules. In fact, many financial institutions don’t publish official guidance on key limitations. Instead, much of what we know comes from anecdotal evidence and crowd-sourced data points from the points and miles community, including readers like you.
Some issuers do make certain policies clear, like Amex’s “lifetime” rule. Others, like Chase’s 5/24 rule, are pieced together through a mix of community data points, loosely worded issuer guidelines, and even policies printed in error and then retracted.
American Express Application Rules
Credit cards vs “Pay Over Time” cards
Before we jump into the rules, we need to clarify the two types of American Express cards. Some American Express cards function like traditional credit cards. For example, each cardholder has a credit limit and the option to finance charges that aren’t paid in full if you carry a balance to the next month. Other Amex cards only allow you to carry a balance for certain charges with a feature called “Pay Over Time.”
If you don't enable the “Pay Over Time” feature, you must pay your Amex card balance in full each month. If you do enable this feature, you'll be able to carry a balance. But any Pay Over Time balance that you carry month to month will incur interest charges. However, unlike a credit card, these cards have no preset spending limit. No Preset Spending Limit means the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.
Note: Eligible charges can be included in a Pay Over Time balance, up to the Pay Over Time Limit. All charges not added to a Pay Over Time balance or monthly payment plan or Cash Advance balance must be paid in full each month by the payment due date. Pay Over Time only applies to eligible charges meeting minimum transaction amounts for certain cards.

Maximum number of cards
We covered the distinction between the Pay Over Time cards versus traditional credit cards since it affects how many Amex cards you can hold. With respect to the number of Amex cards you can hold, here's what we understand:
- Each individual can hold five traditional credit cards.
- You can hold up to 10 cards with no preset spending limit (i.e., cards with the Pay Over Time feature).
Both limits apply to the total number of American Express cards you can hold, including both personal and business accounts. While there are some reports of individuals being approved for more than five Amex credit cards, this isn’t the norm. Five has consistently been the limit for most cardmembers, so it’s best to treat it as a general guideline rather than a firm rule.
Application frequency
There are no published rules for application frequency with American Express. Based on anecdotal reports, it's possible to apply for two Amex cards in a single day. However, one will likely be held up for review as a fraud prevention measure. Other anecdotal reports state that you should wait at least five days between applications.
What seems more consistent with Amex is the limit of no more than two credit card applications every 90 days. However, there have been exceptions, particularly when applying for a mix of credit cards and no preset spending limit cards.
Welcome offer restrictions
Amex has some of the most restrictive rules for who can earn a new cardmember bonus. Here's the typical language that you'll see on welcome offer restrictions, pulled from as an example:
“You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Premier Rewards Gold Card, the Platinum Card®, the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab, the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley or previous versions of these Cards. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.”
You'll see that Amex has language restricting the new cardmember bonus, making it not available to applicants who “have or have had this Card.” This is often referred to as the “once per lifetime” restriction. However, a “lifetime” isn't what you might think it is.
Amex periodically purges old cardholder data, unlocking the ability to earn another welcome offer on the same card. The downside is that it may be several years (generally five to seven) after closing an account before this happens. There's no way of knowing exactly how long you need to wait.
The second thing to note is that Amex has added “family” restrictions to many of its cards. This rolled out on the Delta co-branded cards in 2023. We've also seen family restrictions on the American Express® Green Card, on the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card and Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, and The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Eligibility tool information
There’s a bit of good news when it comes to Amex: You don’t have to guess whether you’re eligible for a welcome offer. Amex has an eligibility tool built into the application process that will let you know upfront.
If Amex determines you’re not eligible for the welcome bonus, a warning will pop up before you submit your application, giving you the option to cancel it altogether. This is a helpful feature, as it can prevent an unnecessary hard inquiry on your credit report.

While Amex’s welcome offer rules can be restrictive, the issuer offers a wide range of cards. That said, applying for one Amex card can sometimes disqualify you from earning a bonus on another card that earns the same type of points, but not always.
For example, if you've received the welcome offer on the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you still can receive the bonus on the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card — but the reverse is not true. The welcome offer restriction rules are complicated.
The Marriott co-branded credit card application rules are similarly confusing. Thankfully, we have a dedicated post breaking down the eligibility requirements for each card.
Bank of America Application Rules
Maximum number of cards
Bank of America was once one of the most generous issuers when it came to opening and holding multiple cards, but that’s no longer the case.
There’s no officially published limit on the number of cards you can hold, but based on data points, many account holders seem to hit a cap at four cards. If you’ve been approved for more, we’d love to hear your experience in the comments.
More commonly, applicants run into a limit on the total amount of credit Bank of America is willing to extend. If you’re denied for a new card, lowering the credit limit on your existing cards may improve your chances of approval.

Application frequency
Bank of America has a much more consistent 2/3/4 rule for new card applications that restricts you to no more than:
- Two new cards per two-month period
- Three new cards per rolling 12-month period
- Four new cards per rolling 24-month period
These limits are specific to Bank of America cards, such as the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card. Other bank-issued cards are not counted when calculating the 2/3/4 rule.
Several years ago, Bank of America used to accept multiple applications in a single day, sometimes even for the same card. However, such applications are now routinely denied. What's worse, accounts are sometimes closed and points forfeited, so we recommend holding off on applying for multiple cards at the same time. Be mindful of your long-term card strategy!
Another application rule concerns the number of accounts you have opened recently at any bank, not just Bank of America. As with so many of these rules, this is not written and is not always enforced. This rule varies by whether or not you have banking accounts with Bank of America:
- If you have a deposit account with Bank of America: Your credit card application will be denied if you have opened seven new cards in the past 12 months, based on what they see on your credit report.
- If you do NOT have a deposit account with Bank of America: Your credit card application will be denied if you have three new cards in the past 12 months.
Business cards may not play into this calculation. But keep these general limits in mind. It may be worth opening a deposit account with Bank of America to be eligible for a higher limit. I've had better success applying for cards when I've had an open Bank of America deposit account.
Related: Bank of America Credit Card Application Rules
Sign-up bonus restrictions
Most cards are subject to a 24-month waiting period. Thus, you cannot get a card if you currently hold (or have held anytime in the previous 24 months) that card.
Barclays Application Rules
Maximum number of cards
There is no set limit, but Barclays is fairly stringent on how many total credit cards you can hold. The issuer seems to factor in how often you use your existing cards, along with the usual considerations like recent inquiries and current balances. If you’ve opened a bunch of cards recently or are carrying high balances, you’re less likely to be approved.
As one data point, I’ve been able to hold up to four Barclays credit cards at the same time. However, Barclays won’t allow you to hold more than one of the same card.

Application frequency
Barclays has an inconsistent “6/24 rule” that may apply to new applications. Similar to Chase’s 5/24 rule, it considers all new accounts opened in the past 24 months, and if you have more than six, approval becomes less likely. That said, based on data points, this rule seems far less strict than Chase’s version. Anecdotally, I ran into this in my most recent application and was still approved without issue.
Barclays also looks at your existing cards, spending habits, and current credit limits when making a decision. While it’s possible to apply for more than one Barclays card in a short period — even on the same day — we don’t recommend it. A good rule of thumb is to apply for no more than one Barclays card at a time and wait at least six months between applications.
Sign-up bonus restrictions
The language on some Barclays cards can be unclear about earning a second welcome bonus, but in most cases, you can. If you're approved for the card, you're typically eligible to earn the bonus. Unlike with some other issuers, Barclays rarely approves an application only to deny the welcome offer afterward.
If you already have the card, you'll need to cancel it and wait at least 24 months from when you last received the bonus before applying again. Barclays doesn’t allow you to downgrade to another card in the same family and still earn a new bonus — canceling is what resets the clock.
Capital One Application Rules
Maximum number of cards
The conventional wisdom is that you can carry a maximum of five personal Capital One branded cards at any one time. There are also reports of being limited to two starter cards (e.g., one Platinum- and one Quicksilver-branded card).
This is generally backed up by reports from our Award Travel 101 Facebook group. Members have been able to be approved for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card while already having the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.
A Capital One banker confirmed the maximum of five Capital One cards to another group member. This had more specificity, including a breakdown of permitting two Venture-branded cards, one Quicksilver-branded card, one Savor-branded card, and one charge card. Still, Capital One’s official stance is that there’s no hard limit.

Regardless of the actual policy, the Capital One card limit doesn't apply to business credit cards. Thus, you could hold a Spark-branded card in addition to your personal portfolio. And that's great news, as Capital One Spark cards offer some incredible bonuses.
However, data points suggest you can't hold both of Capital One's premium small business charge cards at the same time — the Capital One Spark Cash Plus and Capital One Venture X Business.
Application frequency
Capital One’s application rules are straightforward: one card every six months. This applies to both personal and business cards, with no distinction between the two. Based on reports, Capital One doesn’t even run a hard credit check on additional applications submitted within that timeframe. Instead, those applications are flagged as duplicates. While unofficial, this is widely considered a hard and fast rule.
You can reapply for the same card after six months, as long as you're still under the overall card limit. Keep in mind that Capital One pulls your credit report from all three bureaus. Also, business credit cards from Capital One are reported to your personal credit report, meaning they’ll count toward your Chase 5/24 status. The exception is Capital One’s business charge cards — such as the Capital One Spark Cash Plus — which generally don’t appear on your personal report as long as your account stays in good standing.
It’s also worth noting that Capital One is one of the most selective issuers when it comes to approving new cards. Recent inquiries carry a lot of weight. Even applicants with excellent credit have been denied simply due to the number of new accounts.
Personally, I’ve been denied both times I applied in the past couple of years, despite having relatively few recent approvals. For the best shot at approval, we recommend holding off on other applications for a few months before applying for a Capital One card.
Sign-up bonus restrictions
The general rule for Capital One cards is that you'll receive the bonus if you’re approved for the card. Capital One's small business cards have this vague terminology: “Existing or previous account holders may not be eligible for these bonuses.”
However, personal credit cards have this more defined 48-month rule, with bonus terms like the following:
“This one-time bonus is available by clicking the “Apply Now” button on this page, and may not be available if you navigate away from or close this page. Existing or previous cardmembers are not eligible for this product if they have received a new cardmember bonus for this product in the past 48 months.”
It doesn't seem to apply across families of cards or prevent you from ever receiving the same card's bonus for a second time in the future, but you are limited by the 48-month period.
Chase Application Rules
Chase applies its 5/24 policy across its full range of credit cards. It applies to both Ultimate Rewards-earning and co-branded travel credit cards. Check out our dedicated post on Chase 5/24. We also cover how to check your Chase 5/24 status. Even though the rule is unwritten, it's one of the most well-known credit card application rules.
Maximum number of cards
Chase has no formal policy on the number of cards you can hold. Plenty of cardholders possess multiple co-branded travel cards in addition to a full stable of Chase products. There also aren't any restrictions on having multiple cards within the same family (e.g., you can hold both The New United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees) and The New United Quest℠ Card (Rates & Fees) simultaneously).
One exception to this is the Sapphire card family: You can't hold two cards in this family at the same time. The other is the Marriott card family, as you cannot hold both the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card simultaneously.
However, Chase does limit the total amount of credit it will extend to you across all personal cards. For example, if you already have six cards with a combined $80,000 in credit limits, Chase may view that as the maximum they're comfortable offering based on your current income and liabilities.
To open another card, you’d likely need to speak with a Chase representative and reallocate credit from your existing cards to free up room for a new line. I’ve done this more than once to get approved for a new Chase card.
Application frequency
Chase doesn’t publish formal application rules, but its policies can be some of the most restrictive in the industry.
The most well-known is the 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened five or more credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months, you’re very unlikely to be approved for most Chase cards. This includes any card that appears on your personal credit report, so while many business cards don’t count toward 5/24, personal ones do.
The restriction applies to virtually all Chase cards, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees) and families of cards, such as Southwest, Marriott, and Hyatt. You'll know this is the reason you are denied if the letter you receive states, “too many credit cards opened within the past 2 years.”

It’s important to distinguish between cards subject to 5/24 and those that count towards your 5/24 status. You'll need to be under 5/24 to apply for Chase cards. Oddly, however, Chase's business cards won't add to your total number of new accounts.
Chase also limits how many cards you can apply for in a short period. You can be approved for no more than two personal cards in a 30-day window, and just one business card in the same period. Applying for too many cards too quickly is a red flag and could result in a shutdown of existing accounts.
A safe approach is to apply for no more than one personal and one business Chase card every 90 days. This helps keep your account in good standing and improves your chances of approval.
Sign-up bonus restrictions
The majority of Chase products state you can earn the bonus again 24 months after you last received it, as long as you're not a current cardholder of that product:
“This product is not available to either (i) current Cardmembers of this credit card, or (ii) previous Cardmembers of this credit card who received a new Cardmember bonus for this credit card within the last 24 months.”
The exception to this rule is the Sapphire cards. See our detailed post on Sapphire card restrictions. If you already have a Sapphire card — or have received a sign-up bonus on any Sapphire card within the past 48 months — you’re not eligible to apply for another Sapphire card right now. You’ll need to wait until the 48-month window has passed and you’ve closed any existing Sapphire account:
“The product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card who received a new cardmember bonus within the last 48 months. “
Other card families also have their own restrictions. For instance, you can't get another personal Southwest card if you've earned a sign-up bonus on another Southwest card within 24 months:
“The product is not available to either (i) current Cardmembers of any Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Card, or (ii) previous Cardmembers of any Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card who received a new Cardmember bonus within the last 24 months. This does not apply to Cardmembers of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Card and Employee Credit Card products.”‘
However, once that time period has elapsed, you can get a second card with its second bonus. You're not completely restricted from getting another card like you are with the Sapphire cards.
The application restrictions on Marriott co-brand cards are a different beast altogether, confounding even the most experienced points and miles fans. We've put together a post detailing the rules, plus a guide detailing the best application strategy for Marriott cards. These rules are complicated due to the fact that both Chase and American Express issue Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, and having a card with one issuer can affect whether you're eligible for a card with the other.
Citi Application Rules
Maximum number of cards
Much like Chase, Citi doesn’t have a firm rule on the number of cards you can hold. Instead, it limits the total amount of credit it’s willing to extend across all of your Citi cards. If you receive an “Application Pending” notice, Citi usually provides a reference number and a phone number you can call for an immediate review.
It is possible to hold more than one of the same card, at least for most cards. Some cards — such as the Citi Custom Cash® Card — explicitly state that Citi will not approve you for more than one of this same card. There are reports of being able to product change a different Citi card to a Citi Custom Cash while already holding one, but your experience may vary.

Application frequency
Citi has strict rules around how often you can apply for new cards, and while they’re easy to understand, they can be a bit frustrating. You’re limited to one personal card application every eight days and no more than two personal cards in a 65-day period. Business cards are even more restrictive; Citi generally allows just one business card application every 90 to 95 days.
Sign-up bonus restrictions
Citi has a 48-month restriction for the majority of its cards. This includes Citi-branded cards, such as the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, and the AAdvantage® family of cards. You must wait at least 48 months before being eligible for a new cardmember bonus. For example, these are terms and conditions from the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®:
“American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® account in the past 48 months.”
Citi dropped the restriction on applying for other cards within card families. So, you could get a bonus on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® even if ineligible for the AA Platinum Select. Or you could get a Citi Strata Premier and still be eligible for the offer on the Citi Custom Cash.
Likewise, the previous rules that factored in the timing of both account opening and closure no longer apply. This is a plus, as the reset upon closure was frustrating. But the 48-month restriction does make you wait a while before you can get a card for a second time.
Discover Application Rules
Maximum number of cards
The known rules for Discover are straightforward: You can have no more than two Discover cards at any given time. They can, however, be two of the same card. This may be useful if you like 5% cash back on rotating categories. We'll see if this changes in the future, as Discover was acquired by Capital One in May 2025.

Application frequency
You can only get one new Discover card every 12 months. If you want a second card, you'll have to wait a full year to apply for it.
Sign-up bonus restrictions
Discover doesn't appear to have any restrictions on receiving the sign-up bonus for a given card more than once. However, given the issuer's limits on the total number of cards and application frequency, this is limiting enough.
U.S. Bank Application Rules
Maximum number of cards
Like Chase and Citi, U.S. Bank doesn't provide a formal limit on the number of cards you can hold. Instead, the bank limits the total line of credit for each customer. If your application ends up being denied, you can call and see if the bank will reduce your available credit on another card to be able to approve you for the new card.

Application frequency
You can't find any written rules on application frequency. That being said, unwritten rules and consumer experiences show that U.S. Bank is fairly sensitive to how many credit inquiries and new accounts are visible on your credit report.
U.S. Bank is likely to deny your application if you are applying for and opening numerous accounts, even if these are with other banks. We would suggest holding off on new card applications for a few months or more before applying for a new U.S. Bank credit card.
Similar to Bank of America, anecdotal evidence also indicates U.S. Bank factors your overall banking relationship into its decision to approve you for a new card. Having a deposit account with U.S. Bank may not be a bad idea if you want to increase your chances of being approved for a card.
Sign-up bonus restrictions
U.S. Bank doesn't have rules about earning bonuses within the same “card family.” However, you will see this restriction on some cards:
“The bonus is not available to Cardmembers who currently have, or had…”
That means you may not qualify for a second sign-up bonus on a card that you had in the past. Additionally, some cards do not let you earn another bonus until your account has been closed for a period of time. For example, the Korean SKYPASS cards have the following restriction:
“Existing or previous SKYPASS Visa Signature cardmembers are not eligible if you have received a new account bonus for this product in the last five years.”
Five years is a long time! This language is showing up on other U.S. Bank cards as well, such as the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card. It may be that this is becoming the new standard for U.S. Bank cards.
Make sure you read the fine print, however, as the terms vary a bit.
Wells Fargo Application Rules
Maximum number of cards
Wells Fargo doesn't provide a formal limit on the number of cards you can hold. However, the bank is known to limit the total line of credit extended to each customer. In the terms for some cards, the issuer even states it will automatically adjust your credit limits if needed.
“If you are applying for an additional card, then you agree that we can distribute your credit limits between each card if: You already have a Wells Fargo Credit Card account that has no current balance, and You have not used the Wells Fargo Credit Card account for any reason within the past six months.”
Given the inflexible application restrictions, applying for too many Wells Fargo cards is not likely to present much of an issue for most folks. You simply won't be approved for multiple cards or sign-up bonuses each year.

Application frequency
Wells Fargo restricts applicants to one credit card every six months. Although the language is a little vague, the application restrictions are strictly enforced from all reports. You'll see something along the lines of:
“You may not qualify for an additional Wells Fargo-branded credit card if you have opened a Wells Fargo-branded credit card in the last 6 months.”
There are reports that Wells Fargo considers your total banking relationship in new card approvals. This is similar to both U.S. Bank and Bank of America. Opening a deposit account with Wells Fargo may be a good idea if you're looking to get one of their cards.
Sign-up bonus Restrictions
The Wells Fargo language is a little vague, but you'll only receive one introductory offer on a Wells Fargo credit card product every 48 months — including introductory APR offers. If you're looking to bank Wells Fargo sign-up bonuses, you'll need to stagger your applications significantly. Here are the terms from the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (Rates & Fees) as an example:
“You may not be eligible for introductory annual percentage rates, fees and/or rewards bonus offers if you have the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa® or opened one within the last 48 months from the date of this application – even if that account is closed and has a $0 balance.”
Wells Fargo increased this restriction from 15 months to 48 months in 2024. However, at least for now, the Choice Privileges cards are still subject to this 15-month restriction:
“If you opened a Choice Privileges Mastercard Credit Card or a Choice Privileges Select Mastercard Credit Card within the last 15 months, you may not be eligible for an introductory bonus rewards offer.”
Maximum number of cards
Navy Federal Credit Union confirmed to AwardWallet that members can hold no more than three NFCU cards simultaneously.
Application frequency
You must wait at least 90 days between applying for Navy Federal Credit Union cards.
Sign-up bonus restrictions
When we inquired, Navy Federal Credit Union said that it doesn't have any other sign-up bonus restrictions that potential cardholders should be aware of.
Final Thoughts
Understanding each provider's credit card application rules and restrictions will help you develop a successful long-term rewards travel strategy. In addition, by using this knowledge, you'll be less likely to waste “hard pulls” (credit inquiries) on cards you aren’t likely to get approved for. Remember, many of these restrictions aren't written rules. Instead, they are pulled from community data.
If you receive conflicting information from providers, we’d love to hear about it. Feel free to leave a comment. Additionally, check out our Award Travel 101 Facebook group if you're not yet a member. This is a great place to share data and ask questions about all sorts of travel and credit card rewards topics.
And if you have questions about the information we’ve provided in this post, please get in touch in the comments below. We will do our best to find you an answer and update this guide.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The New United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees), The New United Quest℠ Card (Rates & Fees), and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.