Many people get new credit cards to earn valuable bonuses, take advantage of special perks or get interest-free financing. These features can be expensive for card issuers, so they implement rules to limit how often you can get a new credit card. Some rules are explicitly written, while others are learned by trial and error.
Learn about the credit card application rules for the major card issuers, so you know when to take advantage of lucrative offers.
What are credit card application rules?
Credit card application rules dictate how often you can apply for a new credit card or receive a welcome bonus. These rules limit your ability to take advantage of welcome bonuses, intro APR offers and other benefits offered by the best credit cards. Some rules are time-based, while others kick in based on what credit cards you already have.
Each issuing bank has unique application rules for its credit cards, so it is important to understand how they affect you before applying.
Rules by issuer
By thoroughly reviewing issuer websites, getting feedback from readers and using our personal experiences, we’ve created this list of rules for the major credit card issuers. Following these rules will help you avoid unnecessary credit inquiries when you’re likely ineligible to receive a new credit card.
Here’s how to get a credit card from each of the major credit card companies in the U.S.
American Express application rules
American Express application rules state that customers can get approved for up to two credit cards every 90 days. However, if you apply for both cards on the same day, your applications may be put on hold while the bank reviews them manually.
Welcome offers and restrictions
American Express has a “once per lifetime” rule on welcome bonuses. This means that you can only receive a bonus once for each version of a credit card. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that you may become eligible again after seven years.
During the application process, Amex now has an online eligibility checker so you can avoid credit inquiries if you’re ineligible for a bonus. If you’re ineligible, you can close out your application before the bank checks your credit report.
Occasionally, American Express releases offers with no lifetime limit language. In this case, you may be eligible for a welcome bonus even if you’ve had the card previously.
Multiple credit card limits
American Express limits customers to five credit cards open at one time. However, charge cards are excluded from this limit.
Eligibility
American Express requires good to excellent credit for approval and does not offer subprime or secured credit cards. This typically means a FICO Score of 670 or higher.
Explore the top cards from this issuer: Best American Express credit cards of May 2024.
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American Express® Gold Card
Bank of America application rules
Bank of America has what’s called the 2/3/4 Rule, which limits how often you can get approved for a new credit card. The rule is not available on its website, but has been communicated by some customer service representatives to customers. The rule works like this:
- Up to two new credit cards within two months.
- Up to three new credit cards within 12 months.
- Up to four new credit cards within 24 months.
Welcome offers and restrictions
Some Bank of America credit cards limit customers from getting a welcome bonus until 24 months after closing a similar card. This restriction does not apply if you’re applying for a different type of card from the bank.
Multiple credit card limits
The bank does not have a set limit for how many cards a customer can have open at once.
Eligibility
Bank of America offers a variety of credit cards for every type of credit situation. This includes student cards and secured cards for people building or rebuilding their credit.
Explore the top cards from this issuer: Best Bank of America credit cards of May 2024.
Barclays application rules
Barclays doesn’t have specific rules, but customers are unlikely to get approved for multiple cards on the same day. That said, reports indicate that even if you don’t get approved for more than one of the cards, Barclays may treat multiple applications on the same as a single credit inquiry. If you’re closing an account, you may need to wait six months before reapplying for the same card.
Welcome offers and restrictions
Many Barclays cards indicate that you can only earn a bonus on that credit card once. Additionally, the Barclays application language states that it can terminate an offer if it determines abusive behavior with the card.
Multiple credit card limits
There isn’t a hard limit on the number of Barclays credit cards you can have at once.
Eligibility
Barclays does not offer subprime or secured credit cards, so customers should have good to excellent credit. Having a FICO score of 670 or higher provides the best chance for approval.
Capital One application rules
Customers can get approved for a maximum of one new Capital One credit card once every six months. These Capital One application rules apply to both consumer and small business credit cards.
Welcome offers and restrictions
This issuer does not have a blanket policy on getting a welcome bonus multiple times. However, some cards restrict how often you can receive a bonus. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. both say that existing or previous cardholders are excluded from getting a new bonus if they’ve received a bonus for the card in the past 48 months.
Multiple credit card limits
Capital One limits customers to two personal credit cards at one time. However, small business credit cards are excluded from this limit.
Eligibility
Capital One offers a variety of credit cards for every type of consumer. Its portfolio includes secured cards, student cards and cards for people with good to excellent credit.
Explore the top cards from this issuer: Best Capital One credit cards of May 2024.
Chase application rules
The Chase credit card application rules are based on new accounts within a short period of time, as well as if you have a similar card already open. Typically, you can open two new accounts within 30 days.
Additionally, some applications will be automatically denied if you already have a similar card. For example, you cannot open a Chase Sapphire Reserve® if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card active. The Southwest consumer cards have the same restrictions.
Welcome offers and restrictions
Many Chase credit card families restrict how often you can earn a welcome bonus. Typically, you cannot earn a welcome bonus within a family of cards, for example the cobranded Southwest credit cards, if you’ve received a bonus in the last 24 months. Note that the relevant date is when you received the bonus, not when the account was opened. The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve extend this exclusion period even longer to 48 months.
Multiple credit card limits
There are no limits to the number of personal and small business credit cards you can have open at one time. However, the bank may have a total overall credit limit that customers may bump up against preventing approval of a new credit card. In order to get approved, you may need to close or transfer a portion of your credit limit from an existing card.
Eligibility
While Chase does not have secured cards, it does have a credit card for building credit and options for tackling debt. The rest of its card portfolio targets people with good to excellent credit.
Explore the top cards from this issuer: Best Chase credit cards of May 2024.
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Citi® application rules
Customers can be approved for no more than one Citi card every eight days and two within a 65-day period. For business credit cards, Citi credit card application rules limit approvals to one card every 90 to 95 days.
Welcome offers and restrictions
Citi limits customers to earning a welcome bonus once every 24 to 48 months per card or card family. These limits vary by card, so verify the applicable rules before applying. For example, customers can only receive a bonus from the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® * The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. once every 48 months.
Multiple credit card limits
There are no limits on the number of Citi cards a customer can have open at once. However, you may be limited by your overall credit limit when applying for a new card. To get approved, you may have to close an existing card or move some of your credit limit to the new card.
Eligibility
Citi offers credit cards for people with a range of credit histories, including one secured card and numerous cards for people with good to excellent credit.
Explore the top cards from this issuer: Best Citi credit cards of May 2024.
Discover application rules
You can only have two Discover credit cards at a time. If you want to open a second Discover card, your first must be open for at least one year before you can apply.
Welcome offers and restrictions
This issuer does not prevent customers from getting a welcome bonus multiple times on the same cards.
Multiple credit card limits
Customers are limited to a maximum of two open Discover credit cards at one time.
Eligibility
Discover offers credit cards for people with no credit history or repairing bad credit, students and those with good to excellent credit.
Explore the top cards from this issuer: Best Discover credit cards of May 2024.
U.S. Bank application rules
Most of the U.S. Bank credit cards do not have any application rules. For the bank’s premium card, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , customers should have an existing relationship with the bank before applying.
Welcome offers and restrictions
Customers cannot receive the welcome bonus more than once for most U.S. Bank credit cards.
Multiple credit card limits
Customers can have as many U.S. Bank credit cards open at one time as they’d like. However, the issuer may limit new accounts based on your total credit limit across U.S. Bank products.
Eligibility
U.S. Bank has credit cards for every type of credit score, including three different secured credit cards.
Wells Fargo application rules
Customers may open no more than one Wells Fargo credit every six months.
Welcome offers and restrictions
Restrictions vary by credit card. In some cases, you may be limited to receiving a bonus on the same card once every 15 months, while other cards require you to wait 48 months.
Multiple credit card limits
Wells Fargo may limit how many credit cards you have open. However, it doesn’t have a set rule on the number.
Eligibility
Wells Fargo typically targets customers with good to excellent credit, which means having a FICO score of at least 670.
Explore the top cards from this issuer: Best Wells Fargo credit cards of May 2024.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Like most banks, Capital One has rules in place to prevent customers from gaming its system. The bank’s 6-month rule limits customers to one new credit card every six months. The rule includes both personal and small business credit cards.
The qualifications for a credit card vary by bank and the type of card you’re applying for. In most cases, you may be disqualified from a credit card if you don’t meet the bank’s credit score requirements. For most credit cards, you should have sufficient income and not have any missed payments, defaults or bankruptcies on your credit report.
Banks have not released any new credit card rules for 2024, but you should still be strategic with your card applications. Maintain a high credit score by keeping balances low, making all payments on time and avoiding unnecessary applications.
Follow trends of welcome bonus offers and be prepared to strike when your preferred card’s bonus is higher than normal.
A good FICO score ranges from 670 to 739. The higher your score, the more likely you are to be approved for a credit card, loan or line of credit. Additionally, some lenders offer better terms for people with higher credit scores.