March 18, 2026
Enforcement reported inconsistent
TPG notes there are no published requirements and that applicants may be approved for more than two cards within 90 days.
Sources:thepointsguy.com ↗
Documented rule history
Active — last confirmed March 18, 2026American Express 1-in-5 / 2-in-90 limits
Is the American Express 1-in-5 / 2-in-90 limits still active? On our documented record it is active, last confirmed March 18, 2026: Enforcement reported inconsistent. We have 3 dated, sourced changes on record since 2016. Statuses reflect documented confirmations, not live issuer policy.
Every documented change — newest first
February 24, 2026
Same-product 90-day approval limit documented alongside the velocity limits
Date reflects the guide's update date. Frequent Miler's guide lists one credit card per five days, two per 90 days, and approval for the same product only once every 90 days, the last mattering mainly for no-lifetime-language links.
Sources:frequentmiler.com ↗
January 1, 2016
Rule first documented (credit cards only; charge cards exempt)
Year approximate; origin of the practice is undated in tier-1 sources. Doctor of Credit's reference describes a limit of one approved credit card per rolling five days and two per rolling 90 days, applying to credit cards and not charge cards.
Questions
Is the American Express 1-in-5 / 2-in-90 limits still active?
Yes — active on our documented record, as last confirmed March 18, 2026: Enforcement reported inconsistent. Always verify before applying — issuers change unwritten rules without notice.
When was the American Express 1-in-5 / 2-in-90 limits first documented?
January 1, 2016: Rule first documented (credit cards only; charge cards exempt). Since then we have documented 3 changes, each dated and sourced on this page.
What changed most recently in the American Express 1-in-5 / 2-in-90 limits?
March 18, 2026 — Enforcement reported inconsistent. TPG notes there are no published requirements and that applicants may be approved for more than two cards within 90 days.
Application rules are unwritten issuer policy; they change and get enforced without notice, and exceptions exist. Statuses reflect our last documented confirmation, not live issuer policy. Not financial or legal advice.
Cite this data
Bonus Eagle. “American Express 1-in-5 / 2-in-90 limits — The Application Rules Record.” bonuseagle.com. https://www.bonuseagle.com/rules/american-express/1-in-5-2-in-90-limits
Data is free to use with attribution to bonuseagle.com.
All American Express rules: the full issuer page.