Update: If you still have questions, read this post.
Now that the Chase Sapphire Reserve is officially available, there are a lot of disappointed people because the Chase 5/24 rule applies to this card. One of the ways you can bypass this ‘rule’ is by receiving a pre-approval in branch for the card (you can literally just ask if you have any pre-approval offers). A lot of readers let us know they were successfully approved for the card when they did this:
I don’t think I’ve seen any denial data points (at least on this site) for people that were pre-approved.
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What If I’m Not Pre-Approved In Branch?
It looks like that pre-approval is really necessary, if you ask and they say you have no offers (or the Chase Sapphire Reserve is not pre-approved) then chances are you will be denied due to 5/24. Here are some data points:
I Already Applied Online and I Was Denied, What Can I do?
Thankfully for you, I bring you good news. Three readers also applied online and were denied, they then went in branch and asked if they were pre-approved for any cards (they were). All three of them were approved. You can read about their data points here, here and here.
What If You’re Not Instantly Approved?
I believe this depends on the reason you’re not approved, but you should be able to ask the banker that processed your application if there is any reason why you were denied/if there is anything you can do to get approved. Sometimes they might need to call in and then verify some information, or ask you to reallocate credit limits.
What If There Is No Branch Near Me?
Unfortunately you’re out of luck, the online pre-approval tool isn’t the same. I guess your best option would to be go into a branch next time you travel near one.
Final Thoughts
Personally I’d do this soon (like now) rather than later because you never know when Chase will change their policies. I know we’ve posted about this card an unhealthy amount recently, but I really do think it is kind of special for the first year and while it keeps this big sign up bonus. Share your experience in the comments below.
We’ve also written a Frequently Asked Questions on Chase in-branch approvals here.
I applied for this Card at a branch today and got approved instantly. I had asked the banker if I was pre-approved for the Card and yes I was apparently. That’s probably how I managed to get around the 5/24 Chase Rule. I have 8 new accounts and 15 inquiries in the last 2 years. But I do have a good relationship with Chase (multiple Bank Accounts and Credit Cards) with them and I’ve been with them for 4-5 years now.
Apologies if you’ve posted about this in a separate thread:
Do you know if the Chase Sapphire PREFERRED can also bypass the 5/24 rule if you are pre-approved and apply in branch?
Thank you!
Yes, pre-approval seems to work for all cards.
Husband denied for CSP. 50 yr client of Chase, 3 satisfied Chase mortgages, 800+ credit score, 6 figure income, 6 figure Chase deposit accounts (our local branch requires $250,000 for Private Client), never “churned” a card from any bank, closed Sapphire Preferred Dec 2015 after holding card 4 yrs (and paid annual fees) and a $95,000 spend on that card. He is at 6 new cards in 24 mos. and authorized user on 8 for family members.Applied in bank, was denied for “too many cards”, called recon, they wouldn’t even discuss it. Branch manager gave another “special” number, stonewalled again. Wrote to corporate explaining long relationship and the cards opened are all airline/hotel cards used for very frequent business travel. Corporate called back within 24 hrs but shot down again! He was “thanked” for his loyalty to Chase and even though husband made it clear that he did not want MORE credit but to re-alocate existing credit, he was told that he could not transfer any portion of his $33,000 Chase United CL to this card (total lie…my son was initially denied for CSP but approved on the recon line when he offered to move $20,000 from his United card). So much for rewarding loyalty!!!! Any suggestions?
Just got approved in branch despite 10/24 and a 5 card AoR two weeks ago. Banker said I was eligible for all cards, approved instantly. Totally worth the trip to NY. Thanks!
Another DP:
Went to a branch yesterday and have a relationship with a banker from opening multiple banking accounts earlier this year. Unfortunately neither myself or my wife were pre-approved for the CSR, but he did give me some notable info:
-Regarding what the banker’s see on there end, he said he was seeing “nothing” when checking from pre-approvals for both of us. He said typically when he checks, as long as you haven’t gotten a new Chase card within 90 days, when they check for pre-approvals for a client, there will either be a pre-approval offer or a pre-qualified offer, the latter basically meaning Chase thinks you might be a good match for the card but hasn’t pre-approved you. To me, this sounds similar to the online self-checker on the Chase website. Since my wife and I both have gotten a new chase card within 90 days, I suppose this makes sense that he saw “nothing” and when I check online myself, we also are not pre-qualified for any cards. He said to check back with him after 90 days have passed so I’ll try again at the end of next month
-I also inquired about Chase Private Client. He said the minimum to start is $100K is chase holdings (banking and investments) with the goal to have $250K by the end of your first year. He also mentioned every time he calls lending for a client, they will ask him if the client is a chase private client, and as far as he remembers every time he has answered “yes” to that question, his client was approved for whatever product he was calling on. This included people over 5/24.
So nothing too groundbreaking, but thought I’d share my experience.
Thanks
I’m at 14/24 my last Chase card was in March. I was pre approved at bank on 9/15. They said they don’t do pre approval for specific credit cards, you are either pre approved or you are not. Got pending and just received a denial for “too many credit cards opened in the last 2 years”. Is this not happening to anyone else? I’m wondering if the banker didn’t submit my app as someone who was preapproved.
I am a 30-year Chase customer with a FICO score over 800, and am a Private Client customer. I applied in-branch with my private banker 8 days ago, and since then it has been radio silence. Today (9/9) I called card services and got the automated message that they had received my application on 9/1 and would notify me in writing in about 2 weeks! That doesn’t sound good, but my banker said she has no information. Ideas on whether I should phone the recon line? What is the number?
Oh, and I am only 3/24, so it’s not as if I have too many recent credit inquiries. I have never been declined for a credit card, and already have a handful of cards with Chase, including Freedom, CSP, United, SW, Marriott. I also have business accounts there. Puzzled.
Thanks for your CSR counsel DOC. Applied in branch early last week w/7/24 (got denial letter for over 5/24 last Tuesday, when applied day CSR link went hot).Armed with DOC’s “apply with your Chase Banker” DP, got apvd within 5 min after giving mother’s maiden and income. apvd w/34K line. Met spend today–will see how long it takes for 100K UR pts to post. DW went in a day after me (she is @10/24 got denial ltr too) asked for preapvl but banker said her app is now pending–she would get the card or unable to approve letter in next 7-10 days. She rcvd the decline ltr for over 5/24 (second time in two weeks) today. Per DP above and DOC’s recommendation will have her ask our Chase Banker for help getting her a CSR. We did open both Chase ckng and savings acct with wife’s app with eyes towards $500 bonus ($200 for Ck acct w/direct deposit, $300 for savings acct w/$15K deposit). Plan for 2017, will keep CSR but downgrade my CSP (changed to Visa last Dec to get another 50K UR bonus) when 12 month hold time hits and get Freedom card.
Nice work!
Another DP for approval in branch at 13/24 with pre-approval. I went into a branch today and asked if I was pre-approved for anything, and after the banker teased me by saying I was for FU and Slate, I asked him if CSR came up and sure enough it did! 😀 Put the app through, he had to call in, and I was approved for 18k after a few minutes of waiting on the phone.
Thanks DoC for putting this tip up!
In shock that I was approved in-branch today. I was denied online 8/24 after the 7-10 business day response. They sent me a letter 3 days later stating the sole reason for denial being the 5/24 rule. Called the recon and got a guy who sounded like he was sick of telling people over 5/24 that there is no reconsideration. I’m at 7/24 but 1 of those is a secure card and 1 was opened 3 weeks ago and hasn’t show up on my report. Online I had no preapprovals but in-branch I had like 5 preapprovals, including CSR. I have CSP and Freedom but no checking with Chase. The banker said having a checking account with them makes no difference in preapprovals. I was approved within 10 minutes of applying but for the bare minimum, 10k. I don’t care though, just so excited they even approved me! Seriously thought I was going to have to go through the whole recon thing and have the banker call them. So all in all, denied 8/24 online, no recon love, approved 8/29 in person at 7/24. Yey!