Last edit by: Dr Jabadski
Bilt Rewards Mastercard WikiPost
(10/7/23 Original author (Dr Jabadski) note: As I posted here on 9/9/23 Considering Ive been salivating about simple no-cost points-etizing (like monetizing) my condo payments for about 25 years, I see Bilt as a game changer. I should have added almost a Holy Grail (a thing that is eagerly pursued or sought after). I successfully applied for a Bilt Mastercard 1 month ago thus Im far from an expert. Both before and after approval I posted multiple questions many times on this thread and several other FTers were highly gracious and informative. Thought a WikiPost might save some others a good deal of time, effort and aggravation, at least in not repeating my questions and searching for the answers. I certainly hope the experts will edit and update this WikiPost as necessary. Im also exercising Writer's Prerogative to officially coin the term pointsetize, like monetize convert into or express in the form of currency, to earn points from payments which otherwise would not earn points.)
Bilt Rewards Mastercard (Bilt MC) was first launched in mid-2021, in good part as a no fee way to charge and pointsetize rent payments. (Perhaps the only no fee way to pointsetize rent payments.) There are multiple reports of earning Bilt points for paying condominium monthly maintenance/common charges, sometimes even when the word condo or condominium is in the transaction description.
Bilt MC is a personal credit card, WF reports credit card information to the various credit bureaus and Bilt MC will count toward Chase 5/24.
This post and this post (both from 9/7/23) describe shutdown reports perhaps related to micro transactions, fluctuating rent payment amounts or multiple rent payments. This 10/11/23 post includes several references to Reddit user quotes about shutdowns and several Reddit Bilt quotes in response.
Linksto Bilt Rewards Terms of Use and Evolve Bank & Trust (Bilt Technologies) Customer Account Agreement. The Terms state Bilt may make available to you a Bilt Rent Account (Account), which is a transaction bank account that can be used by you solely to make rent payments. The Agreement states: For the avoidance of doubt, the Account is a transaction bank account that can be used by you solely to make rent payments. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not an account that you may use to deposit or withdraw funds for any other purposes outside of rent payments.
Bilt MC is a metal card weighing ~16 grams (comparisons: AmEx biz plat 18.5 gm, AmEx Gold 15 gm, Chase Sapphire Reserve 13 gm, traditional plastic card 5 gm).
Bilt Mastercard is issued and managed by Wells Fargo. Bilt Rewards is a separate website and app (which contains some credit card information but not as much as WF website).
Most reports are of instant approvals, Wells Fargo reconsideration phone number and experiences are not well documented. Reported initial Credit Limits vary $4,000 - $30,000 with higher limits more commonly reported. This post (9/1/23) describes one instance of a Something went wrong message upon application and the steps toward approval several days later.
In March/April 2025 Bilt initiated a new and different process for paying rent and HOA fees which requires preauthorization and/or "auto-pre-authorization" within 5 days of payment.Rent payments can be made in multiple different ways. Bilt will provide a (bank) routing number and account number. ACH rent payments can be sent (deposited) by Bilt or withdrawn by a managing company.
Bilt MC is shipped via trackable no-signature-required First Class mail in a small (4.5 x 6.5) white box with unique packaging inside as pictured at the bottom of this post. As of Feb 2024 no reports of expedited shipping.
Reports on this thread starting in late November 2023 indicate this "quasi-SUB" may be offered randomly and/or only to some people, selection criteria unknown. This post may be the only report of being offered the quasi-SUB prior to Bilt Mastercard application, based on existing Bilt Rewards account. Bilt's quasi-SUB" is offered via an email and a text message notification the same day as card receipt informing of 5x/5 days/max 50K (email quoted verbatim in this post). (Quasi* due to very short duration in contrast to many traditional SUBs of 3 month duration.) Please note this quasi-SUB maxs out at $12,500 (not $10,000) and tax payments will count. No reports yet of returns and their effect on quasi-SUB. (* quasi- a combining form meaning resembling, having some, but not all of the features of, used in the formation of compound words: quasi-definition; quasi-monopoly; quasi-official; quasi-scientific.)
Newly earned Bilt points will display as pending until 5 transactions per statement cycle. After 5 transactions, points will post and become available shortly after a transaction, before statement date. The Bilt Rewards website has a transaction counter which disappears upon reaching 5.
Bilt points for linking partner programs (100 points each) and for adding a credit card to Bilt Wallet (100 points each for first 3) post immediately. Original author received 500 point bonus for first rent payment.
Bilt Rewards points are transferable at 1:1 usually within a few minutes to multiple different airline and hotel programs.
Theres discussion of the long term viability of Bilt with some of those posts linked at the bottom of this post after BREAK.
Bilt Status Tiers: Blue - anyone enrolled in Bilt Rewards with under 25,000 points, Silver - 25,000 points earned, Gold - 50,000 points earned, Platinum - 100,000 points earned. Tier status earned at any point in a year remains active through the end of the following year. Earn Interest on Points (Silver, Gold, Platinum Tiers) is minimal, discussed on this post and this post.
Bilt Points Quest Trivia was discontinued as of July 2024.Bilt Points Quest Trivia on the first of each month offers up to 250 points for correctly answering, within 10 seconds, 6 (out of 15-20) questions. Must get first 5 questions (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 points) correct to see the 6th bonus 100 point question. Theres often a Reddit thread with the Q & A. (Point Quest - October 2023 Answers) The lower half of this post has comments from a highly experienced test taker regarding memory, recall and studying for Points Quest Trivia.
Bilt Rent Free may also have been discontinued in 2024 or 2025.Bilt also has various RentFree games, available a few days prior to and/or on the 1st of the month, different people get different games. Could be a Family Feud style question with enough time to Google answers or a Where's Wally? (Bilt Brick) type of game or something else. Successful completion enters to be one of 3 people for whom Bilt pays their monthly rent (up to $2500).
List of Bilts Rent Day promotions going back to October 2022 at the bottom of the page here: DEALSPOINTS.
June 2024: Bottom of this post describes one persons experience paying a significant assessment (and earning points) with Bilt MC, at this time (only 3 weeks later) no report of clawback or shutdown (based on using Bilt to pay rent more than once a month and/or for something other than rent/condo fees).
June 2024: Bottom of this post contains Bilt quotes regarding Bilt BiltProtect.
June 2024: Important post (and link) stating that WF is losing money every month on Bilt.
(10/7/23 Original author (Dr Jabadski) note: As I posted here on 9/9/23 Considering Ive been salivating about simple no-cost points-etizing (like monetizing) my condo payments for about 25 years, I see Bilt as a game changer. I should have added almost a Holy Grail (a thing that is eagerly pursued or sought after). I successfully applied for a Bilt Mastercard 1 month ago thus Im far from an expert. Both before and after approval I posted multiple questions many times on this thread and several other FTers were highly gracious and informative. Thought a WikiPost might save some others a good deal of time, effort and aggravation, at least in not repeating my questions and searching for the answers. I certainly hope the experts will edit and update this WikiPost as necessary. Im also exercising Writer's Prerogative to officially coin the term pointsetize, like monetize convert into or express in the form of currency, to earn points from payments which otherwise would not earn points.)
Bilt Rewards Mastercard (Bilt MC) was first launched in mid-2021, in good part as a no fee way to charge and pointsetize rent payments. (Perhaps the only no fee way to pointsetize rent payments.) There are multiple reports of earning Bilt points for paying condominium monthly maintenance/common charges, sometimes even when the word condo or condominium is in the transaction description.
Bilt MC is a personal credit card, WF reports credit card information to the various credit bureaus and Bilt MC will count toward Chase 5/24.
This post and this post (both from 9/7/23) describe shutdown reports perhaps related to micro transactions, fluctuating rent payment amounts or multiple rent payments. This 10/11/23 post includes several references to Reddit user quotes about shutdowns and several Reddit Bilt quotes in response.
Links
Bilt MC is a metal card weighing ~16 grams (comparisons: AmEx biz plat 18.5 gm, AmEx Gold 15 gm, Chase Sapphire Reserve 13 gm, traditional plastic card 5 gm).
Bilt Mastercard is issued and managed by Wells Fargo. Bilt Rewards is a separate website and app (which contains some credit card information but not as much as WF website).
Most reports are of instant approvals, Wells Fargo reconsideration phone number and experiences are not well documented. Reported initial Credit Limits vary $4,000 - $30,000 with higher limits more commonly reported. This post (9/1/23) describes one instance of a Something went wrong message upon application and the steps toward approval several days later.
In March/April 2025 Bilt initiated a new and different process for paying rent and HOA fees which requires preauthorization and/or "auto-pre-authorization" within 5 days of payment.
Bilt MC is shipped via trackable no-signature-required First Class mail in a small (4.5 x 6.5) white box with unique packaging inside as pictured at the bottom of this post. As of Feb 2024 no reports of expedited shipping.
Reports on this thread starting in late November 2023 indicate this "quasi-SUB" may be offered randomly and/or only to some people, selection criteria unknown. This post may be the only report of being offered the quasi-SUB prior to Bilt Mastercard application, based on existing Bilt Rewards account. Bilt's quasi-SUB" is offered via an email and a text message notification the same day as card receipt informing of 5x/5 days/max 50K (email quoted verbatim in this post). (Quasi* due to very short duration in contrast to many traditional SUBs of 3 month duration.) Please note this quasi-SUB maxs out at $12,500 (not $10,000) and tax payments will count. No reports yet of returns and their effect on quasi-SUB. (* quasi- a combining form meaning resembling, having some, but not all of the features of, used in the formation of compound words: quasi-definition; quasi-monopoly; quasi-official; quasi-scientific.)
Newly earned Bilt points will display as pending until 5 transactions per statement cycle. After 5 transactions, points will post and become available shortly after a transaction, before statement date. The Bilt Rewards website has a transaction counter which disappears upon reaching 5.
Bilt points for linking partner programs (100 points each) and for adding a credit card to Bilt Wallet (100 points each for first 3) post immediately. Original author received 500 point bonus for first rent payment.
Bilt Rewards points are transferable at 1:1 usually within a few minutes to multiple different airline and hotel programs.
Theres discussion of the long term viability of Bilt with some of those posts linked at the bottom of this post after BREAK.
Bilt Status Tiers: Blue - anyone enrolled in Bilt Rewards with under 25,000 points, Silver - 25,000 points earned, Gold - 50,000 points earned, Platinum - 100,000 points earned. Tier status earned at any point in a year remains active through the end of the following year. Earn Interest on Points (Silver, Gold, Platinum Tiers) is minimal, discussed on this post and this post.
Bilt Points Quest Trivia was discontinued as of July 2024.
Bilt Rent Free may also have been discontinued in 2024 or 2025.
List of Bilts Rent Day promotions going back to October 2022 at the bottom of the page here: DEALSPOINTS.
June 2024: Bottom of this post describes one persons experience paying a significant assessment (and earning points) with Bilt MC, at this time (only 3 weeks later) no report of clawback or shutdown (based on using Bilt to pay rent more than once a month and/or for something other than rent/condo fees).
June 2024: Bottom of this post contains Bilt quotes regarding Bilt BiltProtect.
June 2024: Important post (and link) stating that WF is losing money every month on Bilt.
Bilt Mastercard
#138

Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 291
Got a (possibly) targeted email for 5x on Amazon through 4/21.
Edit: Cap mentioned. $1,250 spend to get a total of 5k bonus points.
Edit: Cap mentioned. $1,250 spend to get a total of 5k bonus points.
#139


Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA, AS, some others
Posts: 1,368
Missed the memo on this card, just signed up today. My innocent brain assumed that there would have to be some sort of verification of the rent/landlord setup, but sure doesn't seem like it.
Which leads to my immediate followup question - how is this not going to get wildly abused for the 50k/yr of "rent"?
Which leads to my immediate followup question - how is this not going to get wildly abused for the 50k/yr of "rent"?
#140




Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 87
Probably going to apply for this card to set and forget rent payments to earn points. Two questions:
1. It seems this works on literally any apartment, regardless of the landlord / rental company. Is that correct? I currently pay rent through a portal (called Resident Portal) that charges a 4% credit card processing fee...this card somehow circumvents that?
2. Can you transfer points to a spouse's UA / Hyatt / whatever account?
1. It seems this works on literally any apartment, regardless of the landlord / rental company. Is that correct? I currently pay rent through a portal (called Resident Portal) that charges a 4% credit card processing fee...this card somehow circumvents that?
2. Can you transfer points to a spouse's UA / Hyatt / whatever account?
#141




Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Kettle Class
Posts: 1,051
Can't speak to your second question, but for Question 1 the way it works is that Bilt will give you an ACH routing number and account number that you'd enter into Resident Portal and allow your landlord to pull rent payments from that account. Bilt will track those payments and give you 1-to-1 credit for any rent payments made via that ACH account. You do not even use the credit card payment functionality offered by the Resident Portal.
Probably going to apply for this card to set and forget rent payments to earn points. Two questions:
1. It seems this works on literally any apartment, regardless of the landlord / rental company. Is that correct? I currently pay rent through a portal (called Resident Portal) that charges a 4% credit card processing fee...this card somehow circumvents that?
2. Can you transfer points to a spouse's UA / Hyatt / whatever account?
1. It seems this works on literally any apartment, regardless of the landlord / rental company. Is that correct? I currently pay rent through a portal (called Resident Portal) that charges a 4% credit card processing fee...this card somehow circumvents that?
2. Can you transfer points to a spouse's UA / Hyatt / whatever account?
#143
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 552
Has the fraud detection on this card been super sensitive for folks lately? I know they had that BIN attack so they're probably trying to look out for people, but it's been pretty annoying having routine transactions declined. I didn't have any fraudulent transactions but they replaced my card anyways. Prior to the replacement, I had numerous transactions declined for potential fraud where they didn't give me the ability to clear the transaction via text or email, forcing me to call in. These were for things like using Lyft and making online purchases.
After they rather unnecessarily replaced my card, I had to update my payment method for a number of online accounts, which resulted in a number of rejected transactions and again required me calling in to get the transactions cleared.
It's making me a bit nervous about bringing it for overseas trips in case it trips the fraud detection and I have to call while traveling internationally, especially since all my cards have removed the travel notice feature. I always bring several cards so as to have a backup but still, pretty annoying.
After they rather unnecessarily replaced my card, I had to update my payment method for a number of online accounts, which resulted in a number of rejected transactions and again required me calling in to get the transactions cleared.
It's making me a bit nervous about bringing it for overseas trips in case it trips the fraud detection and I have to call while traveling internationally, especially since all my cards have removed the travel notice feature. I always bring several cards so as to have a backup but still, pretty annoying.
#144




Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Kettle Class
Posts: 1,051
Yes, it would seem so. I've had a number of small online purchases (<10$) declined, even when they were with a merchant I'd successfully purchased with before. It's a bit annoying, but usually fixed quickly with a call.
#145



Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Delta Plastic
Posts: 1,063
I expected this to work, but will confirm it here in case anyone else wants to be 100% sure.
My AA miles were within a month of expiration but transferring 2000 Bilt points reset the two-year clock. I'm sure 1000 would work as well but I'm not Bilt silver yet.
My AA miles were within a month of expiration but transferring 2000 Bilt points reset the two-year clock. I'm sure 1000 would work as well but I'm not Bilt silver yet.
#146
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,682
Man - these guys are really chintzy with the rounding. Seems like just for goodwill they round like everyone else, but no, they just cut off everything to the right of the decimal (this is, at least, after any multiples are applied - so that's something).
#148




Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 62
besides bilt, there are many ways to keep AA miles active: eshopping, uber, ubereats, shell, etc.
#149



Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Delta Plastic
Posts: 1,063
90 days of Hyatt Explorist (10 nights during that time to keep it for a year, 20 for Globalist for a year). This could be very valuable for some. Because of my travel schedule I'll get a bottle of water and some more bonus points, which is, I guess, not nothing.
#150

Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: DCA, IAD
Programs: Hyatt Globalist; AA Plat. Pro.
Posts: 249
What's the timing on transfers? I just transferred to AA--will it actually take 48 hours?








