Historically Chase would simply decline card applications when the user is not eligible for a signup bonus due to the 5/24 rule or the 48 month rule. A underwriter for the bank reports on Reddit that on June 13th Chase made a change and will now approve Sapphire Reserve and Freedom Unlimited cards even without a bonus. Customers who are ineligible for a bonus will get a prompt before submitting the application that asks if they’re okay to proceed without the bonus.
Useful to know about this new option. The change isn’t hugely helpful to most of us since we’d typically upgrade/change an old card to a Sapphire or Freedom card, if desired. We typically wouldn’t sign up for a new card without a bonus since it would add to your 5/24 liabilities and can temporarily lower your credit score.