This guide covers Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One and Barclays, and only the rules each bank states on its own pages, quoted as of October 17, 2026. Chase's 5/24 rule is an unpublished rule, so it isn't quoted here. Our 5/24 explainer covers it and names it as unpublished.
Why Published Rules Matter
Banks put their bonus rules in the offer details on each card page, and the wording differs card by card. Read the terms of the exact card before you apply.
American Express
Amex's card pages say: "Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer."
The application terms for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card say: "You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card or previous versions of this Card." The same terms say eligibility can also depend on factors such as the number of credit cards you've opened and closed, and that Amex notifies you before processing the application if you aren't eligible for the offer.
Chase
Chase puts its rules in each card's offer details. The wording that matters:
- Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve: "This credit card is unavailable to you if you currently have one open." The new cardmember bonus "may not be available to you if you previously held this card" or received a bonus for it. Chase adds: "We may also consider the number of cards you have opened and closed in determining your bonus eligibility."
- Southwest Rapid Rewards cards: the card isn't available to current cardmembers of any Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card, or to previous cardmembers who received a new cardmember bonus within the last 24 months. Chase says this doesn't apply to the Southwest business and employee cards.
- Freedom Unlimited: not available to current cardmembers of the card, or to previous cardmembers who received a new cardmember bonus for it within the last 24 months.
- Ink Business Preferred: the bonus "may not be available to you if you have ever had this card."
- Ink Business Cash: the bonus "may not be available to you if you have ever had this card or any other Chase for Business card without an annual fee."
Citi
Citi's Strata Premier page says: "New account bonus offer is not available if you currently have or previously had" a Citi Strata Premier or a Citi Premier account. It adds that you may not be eligible based on a number of factors, including your history of opening, closing and using credit cards.
Our Citi Strata bonus rule article walks through that wording.
Capital One
Capital One's page on how many cards you can hold says there's no definitive answer, that you can have more than one Capital One credit card, and that approval depends on your credit, account history and Capital One policies. It also says there's no rule on how often you can apply, and it cites Experian's advice to wait six months between applications.
Barclays
The Barclays JetBlue card page says any bonus on the offer may only be earned once, and that you may not be eligible if you currently have or previously had an account with Barclays in that program.
How to Use This
Before you apply, open the card's offer details and look for three things: whether you have the card now, whether you ever had it, and whether the bank says it looks at how many cards you've opened and closed. Chase, Citi and Amex state those points in writing on the pages quoted above.
