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Old Oct 7, 2023, 1:25 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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.

Links to 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.
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Old Jul 5, 2024 | 8:08 pm
  #871  
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Originally Posted by edealinfo12345
Does anyone know how to set up "autopay" that allows you to pay the "entire credit statement balance" when it is due? I didn't see that option.
Thanks.
Set up an account on Wells Fargo website and you can do it from there
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Old Jul 6, 2024 | 3:30 pm
  #872  
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Originally Posted by gudugan
Set up an account on Wells Fargo website and you can do it from there
Yup - that's the only way I found to do it.
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Old Jul 6, 2024 | 4:24 pm
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Originally Posted by gudugan
Set up an account on Wells Fargo website and you can do it from there
Aaaah; you have to FIRST select payment of "monthly", and ONLY then, it reveal sub options to how much to pay including paying off the full balance.
Many thanks as I wouldn't have checked that unless you told me.
Best regards.
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Old Jul 6, 2024 | 4:27 pm
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Originally Posted by josephstern
Yup - that's the only way I found to do it.
By the way, after receiving my credit card, I got a message offering 5X on all charges) (except rent) from date of receipt of card. Isn't that cool!
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Old Jul 6, 2024 | 5:29 pm
  #875  
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Originally Posted by edealinfo12345
By the way, after receiving my credit card, I got a message offering 5X on all charges) (except rent) from date of receipt of card. Isn't that cool!
Yup! That's a great deal - up to $12,500 in charges. Not everyone gets it, but if you do, you've got to push some charges through there.
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Old Jul 11, 2024 | 10:08 am
  #876  
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Just received an email that all Bilt Mastercards are getting cancelled 12/31/2024.

New product is as Bilt World Elite Mastercard that you need to re apply for. As an existing Bilt member you get a 10k sign up bonus.

... but why... unnecessary extra hard pull.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "To continue earning 1X points on rent without the transaction fee1*, up to 100,000 bonus points each calendar year, and access new features including tap-to-pay and pay balance with points, apply and get approved for the Bilt World Elite Mastercard issued by Wells Fargo.*Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
Plus, apply before 8/15/2024 and well add 10,000 bonus points to your account just for applying (regardless of approval). Terms apply
Hey Smiley90

As an early adopter of Bilt, you have the original beta Bilt Mastercard, issued by Evolve Bank & Trust. As the program has grown, weve launched a new and improved Bilt World Elite Mastercard, issued by Wells Fargo, N.A.

To ensure the best experience for our Members, the time has come to retire the original beta Bilt Mastercard and offer a transition opportunity to apply for the Bilt World Elite Mastercard.

Next steps for your beta Bilt Mastercard

  • On 12/31/2024, Bilt will be retiring your Bilt Mastercard issued by Evolve Bank and Trust (beta card), and you will no longer be able to use it.
  • You will remain responsible for paying any outstanding balances on your beta card by your scheduled due date.
  • You will still have access to pay and manage your beta card in the Wallet tab of your Bilt account.

What if I dont get the Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard?

Youre still a Bilt Member, so you can continue earning rewards and benefits on rent and in the neighborhood at local restaurants, fitness studios, on rideshare, and more with any debit or credit card linked to your Bilt account.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please reply to this email.

Thank you again for your continued support. "






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Old Jul 11, 2024 | 10:22 am
  #877  
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OK - so you have the original Evolve one, not the Wells Fargo version. Kinda makes sense. Sorry you got stuck in that situation, but it won't apply to most of us.

This definitely doesn't apply to all Bilt Mastercards.
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Old Jul 11, 2024 | 10:23 am
  #878  
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Originally Posted by Smiley90
Just received an email that all Bilt Mastercards are getting cancelled 12/31/2024.

New product is as Bilt World Elite Mastercard that you need to re apply for. As an existing Bilt member you get a 10k sign up bonus.

... but why... unnecessary extra hard pull.
It's only the original Evolve portfolio that is affected by this. Wells has issued the card since March of 2022. I suspect the two issuers simply failed to reach agreement on Wells acquiring the older card portfolio, thus necessitating a new credit application if one wants the Wells-issued card.
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Old Jul 11, 2024 | 10:29 am
  #879  
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Originally Posted by josephstern
OK - so you have the original Evolve one, not the Wells Fargo version. Kinda makes sense. Sorry you got stuck in that situation, but it won't apply to most of us.

This definitely doesn't apply to all Bilt Mastercards.
... well I'll be damned.
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Old Jul 11, 2024 | 11:13 am
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Not only is it a hard pull, but it's not even a pre-approval. All approval decisions will lie with WF, and while I imagine they'll approve broadly, it feels a little silly that for Bilt's earliest customers (I got mine within months of public launch), they don't make a cleaner pathway to WF.
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Last edited by skydelt; Jul 11, 2024 at 11:14 am Reason: typo
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Old Jul 11, 2024 | 11:24 am
  #881  
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Originally Posted by skydelt
Not only is it a hard pull, but it's not even a pre-approval. All approval decisions will lie with WF, and while I imagine they'll approve broadly, it feels a little silly that for Bilt's earliest customers (I got mine within months of public launch), they don't make a cleaner pathway to WF.
Further, if you care about Chase 5/24 status, this can be a problem there also.
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Old Jul 11, 2024 | 12:59 pm
  #882  
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Apparently we get the 10'000 points even if WF denies us on the application though, which is kind of funny.
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Old Jul 11, 2024 | 1:51 pm
  #883  
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Originally Posted by Smiley90
Apparently we get the 10'000 points even if WF denies us on the application though, which is kind of funny.
I wonder if you'd get the 5x for 5 days offer, if approved.
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Old Jul 12, 2024 | 9:16 am
  #884  
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Originally Posted by skydelt
Not only is it a hard pull, but it's not even a pre-approval. All approval decisions will lie with WF, and while I imagine they'll approve broadly, it feels a little silly that for Bilt's earliest customers (I got mine within months of public launch), they don't make a cleaner pathway to WF.
I'm not sure Wells intend to approve broadly. If you're losing lots of money on a portfolio, you don't want to add to that portfolio, do you? Wells probably figured out that Bilt's earliest customers are even savvier than the later customers, and its loss (per customer) would be even greater with this group of customers.
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Old Jul 12, 2024 | 9:19 am
  #885  
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Originally Posted by tth6133
I'm not sure Wells intend to approve broadly. If you're losing lots of money on a portfolio, you don't want to add to that portfolio, do you? Wells probably figured out that Bilt's earliest customers are even savvier than the later customers, and its loss (per customer) would be even greater with this group of customers.
I bet that this is all up to underwriting at WF and that profitability of a customer isn't a factor.
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