My RAW Thoughts on Credit Card Churning

[@crystalgiannone2683]

Always LOVE to watch your episodes ❤ Thanks for sharing your knowledge and wisdom 🙏 Please keep up the wonderful work 👍👍👍 Lots of love ❤️

[@TheCreditFrog]

Wow thanks so much for the Super Thanks Crystal! I'm so happy to hear that you've found a lot of value in these episodes! I really appreciate your support!!

[@crystalgiannone2683]

❤❤❤​@@TheCreditFrog

[@Mushu_Pork]

It's always the same story, a LOUD "I don't care about 5/24"... followed by a quiet whisper later on of "I'm trying to get under 5/24".

[@Lifeissorich.]

There's only so many chase cards you can have because they only allow you to have a specific credit limit. I have 2 Ink cards and 5 personal cards.

[@TheCreditFrog]

Whether you don't care or you care, Chase 5/24 is always on the top of everyone's minds!

[@Mushu_Pork]

@@TheCreditFrog It's the people who are new to the cc game, and that haven't really paid attention to the math... until it's too late, and they've wasted slots on $200 SUBs

[@Lifeissorich.]

@@Mushu_Pork I started churning at 18. To me from 18-24 spending $500-$1000 for 150-300 dollars over 3 months was what I could do. That mixed with some bank bonuses was plenty. I didn't start doing big spend bonuses until last year and it's not natural spend. I'm funding bank accounts, overpaying my taxes, etc. I spend a little over 1k a month so I'd have to plan big purchases and most business cards are out of the window except around tax time.

[@newagain9964]

If anything just deal with 5/24 just to get 3-6 Chase cards/subs. Mostly inks. Their best cards.

[@shawn.credit]

I’m at 73 credit cards and don’t churn cards, I also seriously couldn’t care less about 5/24 yes Chase cards are solid but so are all my others from other banks. I’ll make my way around to Chase in 2026 to scratch the itch but I’m not bowing to Chase in regret of all my approvals elsewhere in the last 2 years.

[@TheCreditFrog]

That is a ton of credit card! But hey, if it works for you, then by all means! Not sure how close together those applications were, but it sounds like you're having no problems with approvals. Lucky you! As long as your strategy doesn't involve Chase cards, you're definitely good to go Shawn!

[@drchrisheidelberg]

I am interested in knowing which cards and banks you have successfully applied for since I am gardening until July 25 when my inquiries fall off and then I will start looking at business card funding spree and saved my pulls. My next card may be the First Tech Choice Mastercard

[@davidprettoofficial]

I agree. I don’t want to churn personal cards, just seek out keeper cards that have a great welcome offer AND a downgrade path if my needs change.

[@TheCreditFrog]

I agree. It would be nice if Chase let those with a good relationship with them bypass the 5/24 rule. They probably do this already tbh for their top clients, but us lowly folks here at the bottom with less than 10M in assets, it would be nice if they threw us a bone once in a while 🤣

[@mingyuwang6638]

Yes 5/24 is a big consideration for my credit card strategy

[@TheCreditFrog]

You and me both!

[@robert8311]

5/24 doesn’t matter to me I’ll take my business where I’m wanted

[@TheCreditFrog]

That’s fair

[@dabear7822]

u miss out on a lot of value and bonuses from chase with that mindset though. chase is almost inevitable with all of their great cards

[@TheCreditFrog]

@@dabear7822 Absolutely - Chase has some of the best welcome offers out there!

[@benchoflemons398]

It’s important when you’re running though over a million Hyatt points a year. I go where the juice is

[@ConstantPoints]

Ughhh why I have this feeling that I’d be bored with the USB Altitude Reserve? Am I too pedestrian ? 🤣

[@TheCreditFrog]

Haha! Maybe you like the complexity of the game! Nothing wrong with that Kostas!! Simplicity is what I want and the USBAR fits that quite well!

[@shawn.credit]

It’s a solid card to have but only if it makes sense in your credit portfolio.

[@jholbrook.42istheanswer]

Great video and food for thought! Strategic and paced application for the best welcome offers including business cards to minimize hard pulls will give result in higher ROI (in the cash or points currencies you actually need) than faster, less selective churn will. So it's ultimately more effective at achieving what churning is seeking to do. It's also sustainable and gives you more margin/flexibility to pivot based on current offerings and what your near-term goals are.

[@TheCreditFrog]

Thanks Jared! Yeah, I agree with that. Strategic is the way to go because it's really nice to be able to pivot when new products or an upgraded product comes out that matches your credit card goals. If there are too many inquiries or new accounts, it sort of locks you down if you hit that denial wall!

[@gregb5876]

5/24 only matters to me as I'm trying to keep the SW companion pass between me and my P2.

[@TheCreditFrog]

It's definitely a BIG benefit so it's definitely worth it to slow down on those applications to be suer you can get that SW CP!

[@Xavier_ID.]

Great stuff Stan! 👍🏼

[@TheCreditFrog]

Thank you!

[@GEN512X]

Yes 5/24 matters to me. Currently 6/24 and P2 is 5/24. Have to wait until next March before we can apply; so 5 months of churning is now frozen 🥶🥶🥶

[@TheCreditFrog]

Gah, that sucks. Gotta garden both those credit reports!!

[@docsays]

Good words if Wisdom Stan. I don’t think continuously churning is a sustainable long goal. As you mentioned eventually you will the wall with denials or even account closures.

[@TheCreditFrog]

Thanks Doc! Yeah, eventually you hit the wall like you said, and nobody likes hitting the wall.

[@davidprettoofficial]

I think 5/24 is such a big deal because they issue some of the best and ONLY legacy airline/hotel keeper cards. And Ink/Sapphire cards. 5/24 isn’t worth gate keeping on something like a Freedom Unlimited or a cash back card.

[@TheCreditFrog]

I totally agree. They have such a great lineup that it's really important to be under 5/24 so you have access to those options!

[@Boxerexp]

I'm not a churner at all. I want to get my setups and be done. people might think its dumb, but I want o get to X amount of points/miles then move to another. working on my amex goal then top off on C1 miles. but chase and I had a miss understanding a few years back.. trying to get back into their good graces and its NOT easy. I'm kinda thinking its because I'm at 7/24 right now. going to try again in April/may which will bring me to 4/24. id like to get an ink then freedom flex. we will see. great topic Stan!

[@TheCreditFrog]

We all have our strategies, and it sounds like you have one that works for you! Hopefully, Chase will accept you back in, but yeah, being under 5/24 is certainly going to help!

[@Boxerexp]

@@TheCreditFrog so I know please correct me if I'm wrong. if I'm under 5/24, (say 4/24) go for a ink card and get approved I'll stay at 4/24 correct?

[@TheCreditFrog]

@@Boxerexp Yes that is correct.

[@TheRitualChannel]

I'm more curious on how you get to 14/24.....who is giving you new cards when you get to that high # of new accounts? Please share!

[@TheCreditFrog]

Some people can just get away with it. Lucky them!

[@smileychess]

High credit score and high income.

[@theredditnerdlol]

Love to see this new shirt - Anurag here btw...

[@TheCreditFrog]

Haha, thanks Anurag! 👋

[@Th33Vultur3]

I’m 43 and I have over 20 credit lines active and at least six inactive including my very first credit card that got closed in 2015 because I forgot to use it but it’s still in my credit profile till 2025. After that it’ll be thin again. But I have over 30 inquiries so I have to buckle down with the credit card applying and churning

[@TheCreditFrog]

You, my friend, need to calm down 😂. But kudos for getting that far without that many denials (I think?)

[@jenniferw8963]

If I could only have one card for life it would be the Bank of America Premium Rewards with Platinum Honors Preferred Rewards tier status.

[@TheCreditFrog]

Such a great card for only a $95 annual fee. Very powerful!

[@jenniferw8963]

@@TheCreditFrog Thanks for the reply Stan. Yeah IYKYK :)

[@MasonsTurtle]

Yeah too many credit cards is starting to bog me down. Keeping track of all the credits on my cards as well as my wife's cards makes things annoying. I'm staying at 4 different hotels in the span of 8 nights in an upcoming trip just to use my credits.

[@TheCreditFrog]

Wow, that's a lot of things to deal with Mason! Yeah, of course, we all like to get the value, but it's becoming a lot more like work these days. Sounds like it may be time to downsize a little bit! But it's great that you have a nice 8-night vacation coming up!

[@kabledesigns]

You said if you're over 5/24 you can't get INK. I've had several over 5/24. Isn't 5/25 just for personal cards?

[@TheCreditFrog]

It’s for both, but there are exceptions. Looks like you’re one of them!

[@td4812]

8 priority passes, does that mean 8 people can go in at once time or only you allow to go 8 times?

[@TheCreditFrog]

For the USBAR, you can do either of those two things.

[@robertjarrell7276]

Sorry, what might be closed off in mid-November? I didn’t catch that.

[@TheCreditFrog]

There's been some rumors that the USB AR will no longer have a welcome offer and applications will be closed off to new applicants. But so far, it's been a lot of heresay through CS reps and not enough data to make this a true concern.

[@newagain9964]

@@TheCreditFrogone thing I know for sure US Bank CSRs are often clueless. Sadly Even with current offers and products.

[@robertjarrell7276]

Yeah, I’ve gotten friendly with the local USB branch manager and he doesn’t seem to know any more about the cards, including the Smartly, than we do. As far as the USBAR, as long as I’m grandfathered in and not nerfed I’ll be happy!

[@zwall8474]

Where have the rumors been circulating? We have seen the card pulled before and then cane back with minor changes.

[@TheCreditFrog]

@@zwall8474 Most of this has been coming from customer service reps and internal discussions. Still a rumor, but it is becoming increasingly more likely.

[@itskat55]

I'm building biz credit, so it doesn't matter to me...

[@TheCreditFrog]

That's good!

[@traildisc155]

Calm down

[@TheCreditFrog]

🤣

[@joeysok2366]

To be honest I tend not to believe Luke points and miles. He seems like a story teller 😂😂😂. What in my wallet never see he show cards I apply chase card I bet 5/24 never see he show the card all he does tell story about cards 😂.

[@TheCreditFrog]

I believe him! We all have our own individual experiences, and what I like about him is that he always tell it how it is. And I agree, he's also a great storyteller!

[@jamesv5802]

lol Calm the F down.

[@TheCreditFrog]

Sometimes it's good to just take a step back, and calm the F down, hah! Definitely has helped me out in the past as well.