I Wasn't Expecting That Auto-Approval!

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I just applied for the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. And for the first time in a very long time, I was automatically approved!

My inner miles nerd did somersaults when the auto-approval screen popped up.

If you’re new to this blog and/or the world of maximizing travel rewards, this is a big deal to me because I apply for more credit cards than the average Joe and I typically get a pending response when I apply for a new one so the bank can evil eye me first. And for a long time I was shut out completely by Chase bank for being over what’s been dubbed the Chase 5/24 rule. The basic gist is that Chase denies applicants for their credit cards once they’ve opened five consumer credit cards in the prior 24 months. Read Why I Credit Card Fasted to learn a little more about my roots in this hobby, how that led me to get cut off from Chase, and how and why I decided to mend my relationship with them over the last year.

Chase is a finicky institution (I mean really, they all are these days) when it comes to credit card churning, so you have to handle them strategically if you want to pump as much value out of travel rewards cards as possible.

That’s why I wrote the Five Chase Cards to Apply For Series, identifying four different types of consumers/travelers and which five+ Chase cards they should open to maximize their sign up bonus earning potential.

• The Five Chase Cards You Should Apply For: Combo #1: The general top five combination.
• The Five Chase Cards You Should Apply For: Combo #2: Similar to Combo #1 but for those that don’t live/travel to cities served by Southwest.
• The Five Chase Cards You Should Apply For: Combo #3: For those that can’t open small business credit cards.
• The Five Chase Cards You Should Apply For: Bonus Combo for Points Omnivores: For more serious card churners…those that collect any mile or point they can to get more travel.

I’m following the plan outlined in the fourth bonus combo, because I fall squarely in the points omnivore category.

I’m excited to earn the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card’s sign up bonus and transfer it to my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Ultimate Reward account, so I can then move the points from there to an airline loyalty program!

Why the Auto-Approval?

I haven’t been automatically approved for a credit card since–I don’t know–2015?

So what gives?

Well, I have slowed down my rate of applications in the last year, partially due to my nine month credit card fast in 2018, and then health issues that kept me a little more grounded in 2019. When you’re not traveling as much, you think less about applying for new cards because you don’t feel the need to replenish balances. Less new credit card accounts is obviously, in the short term at least, better for your credit score and makes you appear less risky to a bank that’s evaluating your profile.

Other Helpful Chase Tips

Chase will always expedite delivery of your new card if you call and ask . You can reach customer service at 888-291-5079. I called myself to request expedition and have various times in the past. That can be a game changer if you have a large expense coming up soon you want to put towards meeting your new card’s minimum spending requirement.