The Five Chase Cards You Should Apply For: Combo #2

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5/24 is a buzzword in the miles and points sphere. It refers to the fact that Chase will cut you off from eligibility for their credit cards once you’ve opened five credit cards from any bank in the last 24 months (not counting most business cards). It was never published by Chase anywhere, but rather pieced together and clarified over time after many people like us shared their experiences online.

As Chase issues travel rewards cards with valuable sign up bonuses and earning structures, there is an opportunity cost to signing up for credit cards from other banks first. Pick the Chase cards you want and then move on to other banks. Chase issues a variety of credit cards though, to suit a variety of consumers and travelers. How do you know which ones you should choose?

I have broken down the answer to this question into four different five-card combos.

Combo #1

1. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
2. Chase Freedom Flex℠
3. Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
4. One Chase Southwest consumer card
5. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

If you’re not interested in Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card nor the Companion Pass/don’t live in city served by Southwest, then apply for:

Combo #2 (THIS POST)

1. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
2. Chase Freedom Flex℠
3. Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
4. Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
5. Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Not eligible for business credit cards? You sure? Then apply for:

Combo #3 

1. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
2. Chase Freedom Flex℠
3. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
4. United℠ Explorer Card
   
5. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Bonus Combo for Points Omnivores: read more in the linked post. 

Today I’ll tell you a little about each card in Combo #2 and what you’d earn total from those cards. As Combo #1 and #2’s first three cards are the same, I won’t regurgitate the info on those cards here. If you’re just picking up on this series and are interested in learning more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Freedom Flex℠, and Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (as well as the kind of points they earn), read The Five Chase Cards You Should Apply For: Combo #1.

Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Much like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ card, the Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is marketed as a cash back card. But the Ultimate Reward points it earns don’t have to be redeemed for 1 cent each. If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can Ultimate Rewards with Ultimate Rewards earned with one of the premium card and redeem them for travel.

The Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card comes with a generous welcome bonus and has no annual fee.

You’ll earn the following category bonuses as well:

• 5 Ultimate Rewards per dollar spent at office supply stores, and with internet, cable and phone services (bonus is capped after $25k in spending per cardmember year)
• 2 Ultimate Rewards per dollar spent at restaurants and gas stations (bonus is capped after $25k in spending per cardmember year

If you’re not sure you qualify for a business card, check out How to Be Approved for Business Credit Cards.

One pitfall: This card does charge foreign transaction fees.

Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Just like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (and Freedom Unlimited, for that matter), the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is another one of those Chase cards that–you guessed it–is advertised as a cash back card. But you know better. Move those points over to an Ultimate Rewards earning card with an annual fee and you’ve got yourself much more valuable points to either redeem for 1.25 to 1.5 cents a piece through the travel portal or to turn into airline miles or hotel points.

Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card also comes with a generous welcome bonus has no annual fee.

Its selling point, aside from it’s large sign-up bonus, is the fact that it earns 1.5 Ultimate Rewards on all purchases. That’s a nice card to have in your wallet for otherwise non-bonused spending. Don’t use it abroad though, as it also collects foreign transaction fees.

Timing of Applications

The general consensus is that Chase won’t, automatically at least, approve more than two applications in a 30 day period. It is possible to get approved for more than that, but you’ll almost certainly have to put in a reconsideration phone call and Chase representatives are known for being rather difficult in that aspect.

It’s wise to apply for two at the same time (on the same day), as the two hard credit inquiries should combine into one as long as both are personal cards or both are business cards. I’d recommend putting some time–at least three months if not four–between these double application days though, as Chase will shut down accounts for too many new accounts too quickly as it makes you look risky to lend more credit to.

Bottom Line

If you plan on pursuing miles and points as a hobby, it’s a no-brainer that your first five rewards cards should be issued by Chase. If you’re not interested in earning a Companion Pass and/or Rapid Rewards for Southwest flights, then the first five should be the Sapphire Reserve, the Chase Freedom Flex℠, the Ink Business Preferred, the Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, and the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card.

I’ll discuss Combo #3 and the bonus combo in upcoming posts.