Quick facts
Time
20-minute read
Cost
$0 to join; cards from $0 / $95 / $495 a year
Potential value
points on rent or mortgage with no card transaction fee, plus transferable points
Best for
renters and homeowners who want housing spend to earn travel points
Most credit card rewards ignore your largest monthly bill: rent or a mortgage. Bilt Rewards is built around that gap. You can earn Bilt Points when you pay housing through Bilt, spend in Bilt’s neighborhood partners, and (if you want) hold a Bilt credit card that removes the usual rent-payment fee and can earn up to 1.25X on housing.
This guide covers how earning works in October 2026, the three Bilt cards issued by Column N.A., current transfer partners (including the Hyatt change coming January 1, 2027), redemptions, status, who the program is actually for, and the gotchas that trip people up.
What Bilt is
Bilt Rewards is a loyalty program for renters and homeowners. Free membership gets you into:
- Housing payments through Bilt (Alliance properties or BillPay elsewhere)
- Neighborhood Benefits at dining, fitness, pharmacy, rideshare, and related partners
- Rent Day (the 1st of each month): limited-time transfer bonuses, neighborhood experiences, and for cardholders, double points on everyday spend (with caps)
- Bilt Points you can transfer to airline and hotel partners, book travel in the Bilt Travel Portal, or use for other redemptions
You do not need a Bilt card to be a member. The card is how most people avoid fees and earn a meaningful multiplier on rent or mortgage. Without a Bilt card, you can still earn, but payment fees and earn rates are much weaker (details below).
Bilt also reports on-time rent payments to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion for free when you pay through Bilt, which can help build credit history if rent reporting is new for you (Bilt).
Rent Day in plain English
Rent Day is the 1st of every month. Bilt uses it for:
- Cardholder double points on everyday purchases (not housing), capped at 1,000 bonus points per Bilt Rewards account, currently running March 1, 2026 through January 1, 2027 (October 2026 Rent Day terms)
- Transfer bonuses and other limited offers that change by month (for example, Hilton and Amtrak bonuses on October 1, 2026 under those same terms)
- Neighborhood experiences and partner perks (fitness classes, dining, etc.)
Treat Rent Day like a calendar reminder, not a guarantee of the same bonus every month. Always read that month’s terms before transferring.
Tip
If you hold a Bilt card, plan non-housing purchases you were going to make anyway for the 1st, up to the 1,000 bonus-point cap. Housing payments do not earn Rent Day double points.
For how Rent Day transfer bonuses work, what past offers looked like, and when it pays to wait, see Bilt Rent Day explained.
How earning works
There are three main buckets: housing, neighborhood/everyday ecosystem spend, and Bilt card spend.
1. Points on rent and mortgage
Bilt Alliance properties. If you live in Bilt’s property network, you typically pay through the Bilt Payment Center (ACH, debit, or credit per Bilt’s Alliance rules) and earn for on-time payments (How do I earn Bilt Points?).
Everywhere else (BillPay). Outside the Alliance, Bilt’s support page (updated August 12, 2026) lists these options (payment methods):
| Payment method | Fee (per Bilt support) | Typical points |
|---|---|---|
| Bilt Card (Blue / Obsidian / Palladium) | No transaction fee | Up to 1.25X on housing (card terms) |
| Bank account / ACH via Plaid | $1.95 | Up to 250 points |
| Visa / Mastercard debit | $9.95 flat | Up to 250 points |
| Discover / Amex debit | 3% (min $3) | Up to 250 points |
| Domestic third-party credit card | 3% (min $3) | 1 point per $2 spent |
| International card | 4% (min $3) | Credit: 1 per $2; debit: up to 250 |
For non-Alliance members without a Bilt card, Bilt also summarizes: third-party credit cards earn 1 point per $2; debit or linked bank account earn up to 250 points when you use BillPay (outside Alliance FAQ).
Mortgage and HOA. Bilt Card holders can pay mortgage and HOA through BillPay (mortgage BillPay is cardholder-focused per What is BillPay?). Bilt’s card pages say you can earn on multiple properties with no annual cap on housing payment amounts (bilt.com/card).
Watch Out
Without a Bilt card, fees often wipe out the value of a few hundred points. Run the math. A 3% fee on $2,000 rent is $60 for roughly 1,000 points (1 per $2). That is a bad trade unless you have a very clear high-value redemption already lined up.
2. Neighborhood Benefits (no Bilt card required)
Link an eligible Visa, Mastercard, or American Express to your Bilt account and you can earn Bilt Points on top of your card’s own rewards at participating partners:
- Dining: about 1X–3X at Neighborhood restaurants (20,000+ listed on marketing pages); multiplier shown in-app (Dining support)
- Fitness: 1X–3X when you book classes through Bilt (Fitness support)
- Lyft: link accounts and set Bilt as the loyalty partner for bonus points on rides (card pages stack this with card earn rates)
- Walgreens, parking (Metropolis), and other partners: rates vary; check the app
Delivery orders coded as a delivery service (not the restaurant) generally do not get the dining bonus (Dining support).
3. Bilt Travel Portal
Bilt markets +1X on flights and +2X on hotels booked through the Bilt Travel Portal, stacked with card earn rates when you pay with a Bilt Card (How do I earn Bilt Points?, bilt.com/card). Portal value per point still varies by itinerary; transfers are usually where people aim for higher value.
The Bilt credit cards (Card 2.0)
As of 2026, Bilt’s consumer cards are Bilt Blue, Bilt Obsidian, and Bilt Palladium. They replaced the older Wells Fargo-issued Bilt Mastercard. Current cards are issued by Column N.A., Member FDIC, and serviced by Cardless (Bilt Card Offer Terms).
At a glance (checked October 7, 2026)
| Blue | Obsidian | Palladium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $95 | $495 |
| Authorized user fee | $0 | $50/AU | $95/AU |
| Welcome bonus | $100 Bilt Cash | $200 Bilt Cash | $300 Bilt Cash + 50,000 points + Gold status after $4,000 Everyday Spend in 90 days (housing excluded) |
| Housing (Housing-only option) | Up to 1.25X, no transaction fee | Same | Same |
| Standout everyday earn | Partner dining / Lyft / Travel portal stacking; 1X other | 3X dining or grocery (grocery capped at $25k/year), 2X travel | 2X on other everyday purchases; premium stacking |
| Notable credits | None highlighted | $100/year Travel Hotel credit ($50 semi-annual) | $200/year Bilt Cash + $400/year Travel Hotel credit + Priority Pass |
Sources: bilt.com/card, Card Offer Terms, Palladium page.
APR note (high level)
Bilt’s card marketing lists an intro APR on new eligible purchases for 12 billing cycles after account opening across all three cards, then a variable APR of 26.74% – 34.74% (bilt.com/card). Treat that as a reason to pay the statement balance in full. Housing charges on the Bilt Card are designed to be paid off from your linked bank account within about 24 hours so they do not sit on your credit line (bilt.com/card), but everyday spend is normal revolving credit. Always open the Rates & Fees PDF on Bilt’s site for the legal numbers that apply to you.
Two rewards options (this is the part people miss)
Every Bilt Card account picks one rewards option for the billing cycle (Card Offer Terms):
Housing-only option (default)
- No 4% Bilt Cash on everyday spend
- Housing multiplier based on Everyday Spend Ratio (everyday spend ÷ housing payment in that billing cycle):
| Everyday spend vs housing | Housing multiplier | Example on $2,000 rent |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25% | Floor: 250 points | 250 points |
| 25%–<50% | 0.5X | 1,000 points |
| 50%–<75% | 0.75X | 1,500 points |
| 75%–<100% | 1X | 2,000 points |
| 100%+ | 1.25X | 2,500 points |
- No annual cap on housing points under this option
- Points post after statement close
Flexible Bilt Cash option
- Earn 4% Bilt Cash on Everyday Spend
- Redeem Bilt Cash to unlock up to 1X on housing (terms describe roughly $3 Cash → 100 points / $30 → 1,000 points; minimum redemption is tiny)
- You do not get the 0.5X–1.25X Housing-only ladder
Bilt Cash is a separate currency from Bilt Points. Marketing and Cash terms say unused Cash generally expires December 31, with up to $100 carrying into the next year (bilt.com/card, Bilt Cash support). Confirm current expiration rules in the Bilt Cash Program Terms before you bank a large balance.
Tip
If your goal is transferable points from rent, Housing-only plus enough everyday spend to hit 75%–100% of rent is the straightforward path. Flexible Cash can make sense if you value dollar-for-dollar credits in the Bilt ecosystem more than maximizing housing points.
Old “5 purchases a month” rule
That monthly transaction minimum belonged to the old Wells Fargo Bilt card. Bilt states it does not apply to Card 2.0 products (bilt.com/card FAQ).
Transfer partners and ratios
Bilt’s support article (updated September 23, 2026) lists these partners and ratios (Bilt’s Transfer Partners):
Airlines (1:1 unless noted)
Atmos Rewards (Alaska + Hawaiian), Avianca LifeMiles, United MileagePlus, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Red, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Emirates Skywards, British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Aer Lingus AerClub, Iberia Plus, Air Canada Aeroplan, TAP Miles&Go, Southwest Airlines, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways Privilege Club Avios, Etihad Airways.
Hotels
| Partner | Ratio |
|---|---|
| Hilton Honors | 1:1 |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 1:1 |
| World of Hyatt | 1:1 today (see change below) |
| IHG One Rewards | 1:1 |
| Accor Live Limitless | 3:2 |
| Wyndham Rewards | 1:1 |
| I Prefer Hotel Rewards | 1:2 |
Rail
Amtrak Guest Rewards: 2:1 (2 Bilt → 1 Amtrak).
Transfer mechanics (from Bilt support)
- Transfers are final and cannot be reversed
- Most transfers: allow up to 48 hours; Southwest up to 72 hours
- Increments of 1,000 points
- Minimum: Bilt support says 2,000 for Blue status and 1,000 for Silver/Gold/Platinum. Always confirm the minimum shown in your account before you transfer; partner pages can show account-specific messaging.
Partners and ratios can change. Bilt also runs promotional transfer rates on Rent Day that temporarily beat the base ratio.
The Hyatt change: still 1:1 now, 4:3 on January 1, 2027
This matters if Hyatt is a reason you collect Bilt points.
- Today (October 2026): Bilt still lists World of Hyatt at 1:1 on its transfer partners support page (support article).
- Beginning January 1, 2027: Bilt’s Hyatt transfer page states: “The transfer ratio for World of Hyatt will change to 4:3 beginning January 1, 2027” (Bilt Hyatt transfer page, notice present when checked October 7, 2026; editorial highlight dated September 30, 2026).
Chase comparison: Chase Ultimate Rewards already transfers to World of Hyatt at 4:3 on Sapphire Preferred (1,000 Chase → 750 Hyatt). Accounts opened before June 15, 2026 kept 1:1 only through September 30, 2026 (Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits, as covered in our Chase guide).
So through the end of 2026, Bilt is still the cleaner Hyatt transfer for people who earn Bilt Points. On January 1, 2027, Bilt matches the same 4:3 math Chase Preferred already uses. Hyatt alone will not be a lasting reason to prefer Bilt over Chase after that date. Rent earning and partner mix still might be.
Watch Out
Do not transfer “just in case.” Award space disappears, and transferred points cannot come back. If you need Hyatt nights before the ratio change, search availability first, then transfer only what you need, in 1,000-point increments.
For a full decision framework (when to transfer, when to wait for Rent Day, and how Chase Preferred compares after the change), see Should You Transfer Bilt Points to Hyatt Before Jan 1, 2027?.
Redemption options
Rough priority for most travelers:
- Transfer to airline/hotel partners when you have a specific award booked in mind (usually highest ceiling)
- Bilt Travel Portal when transfers do not beat cash or you want simplicity
- Rent / mortgage credit, Lyft, fitness, gift cards, student loans, down payment contributions, and similar in-ecosystem options (convenience over peak value)
- Statement credit on a Bilt Card (minimum 1,000 points; value is whatever Bilt shows at redemption time and can change) (Card Offer Terms)
Bilt marketing cites third-party valuations (for example The Points Guy at 2.2 cents). Treat those as opinions, not guarantees. Your real cents-per-point depends on the redemption you book.
Bottom Line on value: transfer partners are why Bilt Points get attention. Portal and statement credit are backup lanes, not the main strategy.
Status, neighborhood, and elite benefits
Status tiers
You earn the higher of points-based status or Fast Track spend status (How do you earn Bilt Elite Status?):
| Tier | Qualifying points (calendar year) | Fast Track spend (non-rent) |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Under 50,000 | Under $10,000 |
| Silver | 50,000 | $10,000 |
| Gold | 125,000 | $25,000 |
| Platinum | 200,000 | $50,000 |
Fast Track spend includes non-rent Bilt Card spend plus eligible ecosystem spend (Neighborhood dining/fitness, Lyft with Bilt linked, Walgreens with linked card, Bilt Travel Portal). Referrals, courtesy points, survey points, and some campaign bonuses do not count toward tier points.
Status earned in a year generally remains active through the end of the following year (per Bilt’s status FAQ). Palladium’s welcome Gold status has its own duration rules in the Card Offer Terms.
What status is useful for
Exact perks shift, but primary sources and status-benefit terms emphasize:
- Lower transfer minimums at higher tiers (see support article)
- Stronger Rent Day transfer bonuses (month-specific; Blue gets less than Silver/Gold/Platinum)
- Points “interest” (bonus points) for Silver+ (Status Benefits Terms)
- Partner status matches / perks such as Flying Blue Gold match for Platinum (requires a 10,000-point transfer under current terms), BLADE benefits by tier, Virgin Voyages Sailing Club match for Silver+ in 2026 (Status Benefits Terms)
- Priority access to Rent Day experiences for higher tiers (reflected in Rent Day terms and in-app)
Neighborhood dining and fitness bonuses are available to members broadly when you link a card; status mainly upgrades the “VIP” layer (experiences, transfer bonuses, partner matches), not the basic idea of earning at local partners.
Who Bilt is best for vs Chase / Amex / Capital One
Bilt is strongest if you:
- Pay meaningful rent or mortgage and want that spend to earn transferable points without a 3% portal fee
- Fly United, Southwest, or Atmos (Alaska/Hawaiian), or use hotel partners Bilt shares
- Want Hyatt at 1:1 through December 31, 2026 from a non-Chase currency
- Live near strong Neighborhood dining/fitness coverage
Start with (or stay heavier in) Chase if you:
- Still need Sapphire / Freedom cards and care about 5/24 timing (opening a Bilt card still counts as a new credit card toward the widely reported 5/24 count)
- Prefer Chase’s partner set and ecosystem you already use
- Do not have large housing payments to monetize
Lean Amex if you:
- Spend heavily on dining and U.S. groceries and like Membership Rewards partners (and can accept Amex’s transfer fee on U.S. airlines)
Lean Capital One if you:
- Want a simple flat earn card and international-heavy partners (no Hyatt; JetBlue at a reduced ratio)
Bilt is not a full replacement for Chase or Amex. It is a housing and neighborhood program that also happens to have a strong transfer list. Many people use Bilt alongside Chase or Amex, not instead of them.
Gotchas
- Fees without a Bilt card. ACH ($1.95), debit ($9.95), or 3% credit fees can erase the points. Cardholders avoid the transaction fee on housing through Bilt.
- Housing-only vs Flexible Cash. Pick wrong and you either miss 4% Cash or miss the 1.25X housing ladder for that cycle.
- Everyday Spend Ratio. To hit 1X or 1.25X on rent, you need real non-housing spend on the Bilt Card in the same billing cycle. Putting everything on other cards undermines Housing-only.
- Transfers are permanent. Confirm award space first.
- Hyatt devaluation dated January 1, 2027. Plan ahead; do not panic-transfer without a booking.
- Rent Day bonus cap. Double points bonus is capped at 1,000 bonus points per account; housing is excluded.
- Bilt Cash expiration. Large Cash balances can expire above the rollover cap.
- 5/24 interaction. A new Bilt card is still a new credit card. If you want Chase bonuses soon, sequence carefully (see our Chase 5/24 and Chase starter guides).
- Issuer change history. The move from Wells Fargo to Column N.A. / Cardless is a reminder that products and bank partners can change. Read current terms, not 2024 blog posts.
- Statement credits and portal redemptions usually return less value than a well-chosen transfer.
How to get started (step by step)
- Create a free Bilt Rewards account at bilt.com or in the app.
- See if your building is Alliance. If yes, pay through the Bilt Payment Center. If not, set up BillPay for Home.
- Link a Visa / Mastercard / Amex for Neighborhood Benefits even if you skip the Bilt card for now.
- Link Lyft and set Bilt as the loyalty partner if you use rideshare.
- Decide on a Bilt card only after the fee math. If you rent or have a mortgage and can use the card for everyday spend, Blue ($0) is the usual starting point; Obsidian ($95) if dining/grocery 3X plus the hotel credit clear the fee; Palladium ($495) only if the credits and Priority Pass fit how you already travel.
- Pick Housing-only or Flexible Cash during the selection window and track your Everyday Spend Ratio in-app.
- Join airline/hotel programs you actually use (United, Southwest, Atmos, Hyatt, etc.) so transfers are ready when you need them.
- On Rent Day, skim that month’s terms before moving points.
- Redeem with a trip in mind. Search awards → check ratio → transfer → book.
Checklist:
Checklist
0/0
- Bilt account open
- Housing payment method set (Alliance or BillPay)
- Payment fee confirmed (ideally $0 with a Bilt Card)
- Neighborhood / Lyft cards linked
- Rewards option chosen (Housing-only vs Flexible Cash)
- Transfer partner accounts opened in your name
- Calendar reminder for Rent Day + Hyatt ratio change (Jan 1, 2027)
Tick items as you go. Saved in this browser only.
FAQ
Do I need the Bilt card to earn points on rent?
No. You can earn as a member without it, but outside the Alliance the fees and earn rates are much weaker. The card is how you get no transaction fee and up to 1.25X on housing under Housing-only.
Who issues the Bilt cards now?
Column N.A., Member FDIC, with Cardless as servicer. This is not the old Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard (Card Offer Terms).
Is Hyatt still 1:1 with Bilt?
Yes, as of October 7, 2026. Bilt has announced the ratio becomes 4:3 beginning January 1, 2027 (Hyatt transfer page). Chase Preferred already uses 4:3 to Hyatt.
Does paying rent through Bilt hurt my credit utilization?
Bilt describes housing charges as posting to the card and being paid from your linked bank account within about 24 hours so the credit line stays free for everyday spend (bilt.com/card). Everyday purchases still affect utilization like any card. Pay those balances in full.
Can I earn on rent and a mortgage at the same time?
Bilt says yes: multiple eligible properties, no annual cap on housing payment amounts for cardholders under the housing rewards rules (bilt.com/card).
Are transfers instant?
Often fast, but Bilt asks you to allow up to 48 hours (72 for Southwest). Transfers cannot be reversed (Transfer Partners support).
Does Bilt count against Chase 5/24?
Chase does not publish “5/24,” but the widely reported rule counts cards from any issuer opened in the last 24 months. A new Bilt card is still a new card on your credit reports. If Chase bonuses matter soon, plan the order of applications.
What happened to the five transactions per month rule?
It applied to the legacy card. Bilt says Card 2.0 products do not require five monthly transactions to earn on housing (bilt.com/card).
What to read next
If you are still choosing a first bank program, see Why Chase Is Still a Great Place to Start for how Bilt fits next to Chase after the Hyatt ratio changes. For Hyatt and other hotel stays where meals are included, see the 10 best all-inclusive resorts you can book with points.
The Points Quest
Points Quest is educational content only, not personalized financial advice. Fees, earn rates, welcome offers, APR, status benefits, and transfer ratios were checked on Bilt’s and partners’ sites on October 7, 2026 and can change at any time; terms apply. Card products are issued by Column N.A., Member FDIC. Advertiser Disclosure