Issuer rules glossary
Each major credit card issuer publishes (or quietly enforces) rules that limit which cards you can apply for, when, and whether the welcome bonus will actually pay. PointBagel uses these rules in the eligibility engine on every recommendation, and in the Application Calendar (PointBagel Pro).
This page summarizes each rule in plain English. For the full data model + the exact cooldown clocks each card uses, click into the rule.
Chase
Chase 5/24
Read more →Chase generally won't approve you for most of their cards if you've opened 5+ personal credit cards across any issuer in the last 24 months.
Chase Sapphire and Ink lifetime bonus rules
Read more →Since June 23, 2025 each Chase Sapphire product's welcome bonus is once per lifetime per product - the old 48-month family rule is retired. A follow-up change on January 22, 2026 made each bonus independent of which Sapphire cards you currently hold. Ink cards carry their own lifetime rules.
Amex
Amex 2/90
Read more →Amex limits new credit card applications to 2 per rolling 90-day window, and to 1 every 5 days. Charge cards (Platinum, Gold, Green) are exempt from both, up to a 10-card charge limit.
Amex once-per-lifetime bonus
Read more →Amex pays the welcome bonus on each card product once per person, by default for life. Closing and re-opening doesn't reset anything.
Citi
Bank of America
BofA 2/3/4
Read more →Bank of America limits applications to 2 new cards in 2 months, 3 in 12 months, and 4 in 24 months - counting their personal cards only.
BofA Business 24-Month Application Caution
Read more →On a BofA business card, you may be declined if your business has held another BofA business card in roughly the past 24 months - but if approved, the welcome bonus is fully re-earnable.
Capital One
Capital One 1-in-6 months
Read more →Capital One generally approves at most 1 new card in any rolling 6-month window - and personal and business cards share the same timer.
Capital One consumer 48-month bonus limit
Read more →Capital One pays the Savor, Quicksilver and their student versions once every 48 months PER PRODUCT, counted from when the bonus was received.
REI Co-op prior cardmember rule
Read more →The REI Co-op Mastercard gift-card welcome bonus is for people who have never held the card, and no waiting period is published.
Bilt
Cardless
Crypto.com
TD
HSBC
Discover
Navy Federal
Wells Fargo
Barclays
Cross-issuer
Rules change. We re-verify each one against issuer terms and community reports periodically; each per-rule page lists when it was last reviewed.
