Application Rules Center

Once-Per-Lifetime Bonus Rule

Amex's terms state you may only receive a welcome bonus once per card per lifetime (per Amex's internal rules, sometimes enforced more loosely in practice). Closing and reopening the same card typically does not make you eligible for the same bonus again.

5 Personal Card Limit

Amex generally limits applicants to 5 personal credit cards (not counting charge cards like Platinum/Gold, which are limited separately). Business cards are evaluated separately from personal cards.

1 New Card Every 6 Months

Capital One generally limits applicants to 1 new personal card every 6 months and 2 in a 12-month period, though this is not officially published and is inferred from approval trends and data points.

Velocity / Inquiry Sensitivity

Capital One is known to be sensitive to a high number of recent credit inquiries across all issuers, sometimes denying applicants with otherwise strong credit due to recent inquiry velocity.

5/24 Rule

Chase generally won't approve you for most personal credit cards if you've opened 5 or more personal credit cards (from any issuer) in the past 24 months. Business cards from some issuers don't count, but Chase business cards do count toward your 5/24 status.

8/65 Day Rule

Citi generally won't approve a new card application if you've opened a Citi card in the last 8 days, or if you've received a bonus on that same card within the last 65 days (specific windows vary by card).

Card Family Bonus Restriction

You generally cannot earn a welcome bonus on a Citi card if you currently have or have closed that same card (or a card in the same family, e.g. ThankYou Premier-family cards) within a set lookback period, often 24 months.

2 Card Limit

Discover generally limits cardholders to 2 personal Discover cards at a time, and approval is most consistent for applicants with good to excellent credit and no recent Discover charge-offs.

Membership & Invitation Patterns

Some SoFi credit cards are invitation-only and require being a SoFi member who has opted into marketing communications. The Unlimited 2% card has generally been open to direct applications, but offer eligibility can vary by existing SoFi relationship.

Relationship & Geography Factors

U.S. Bank approval can be influenced by your state of residence (some cards aren't available everywhere) and by existing U.S. Bank banking relationships.

2/3/4 Rule

Bank of America generally limits applicants to 2 new personal cards in a rolling 2-month period, 3 in 12 months, and 4 in 24 months across BofA's personal card portfolio.

Existing Relationship Preference

Wells Fargo does not publish a strict velocity rule, but approval odds are generally stronger for applicants with an existing Wells Fargo banking relationship and stable income.