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
#931




Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,228
Here's the link: https://thepointsguy.com/news/interv...lt-rewards-vp/
> For example, only 15% of Bilt Rewards members also carry our cobranded Bilt credit card, and we found an incredibly small percentage of them were consuming a disproportionate amount of resources, taking away from what we could offer to the broader base.
> We discovered that bonus points on tax payments during promotions accounted for 20% of our bonus category costs, yet only 0.8% of cardmembers (or 0.12% of our total members) use the card for taxes.
I will report back that I did my Bilt Soulcycle class and it was pretty fun.
> For example, only 15% of Bilt Rewards members also carry our cobranded Bilt credit card, and we found an incredibly small percentage of them were consuming a disproportionate amount of resources, taking away from what we could offer to the broader base.
> We discovered that bonus points on tax payments during promotions accounted for 20% of our bonus category costs, yet only 0.8% of cardmembers (or 0.12% of our total members) use the card for taxes.
I will report back that I did my Bilt Soulcycle class and it was pretty fun.
#932
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 552
Here's the link: https://thepointsguy.com/news/interv...lt-rewards-vp/
> For example, only 15% of Bilt Rewards members also carry our cobranded Bilt credit card, and we found an incredibly small percentage of them were consuming a disproportionate amount of resources, taking away from what we could offer to the broader base.
> We discovered that bonus points on tax payments during promotions accounted for 20% of our bonus category costs, yet only 0.8% of cardmembers (or 0.12% of our total members) use the card for taxes.
I will report back that I did my Bilt Soulcycle class and it was pretty fun.
> For example, only 15% of Bilt Rewards members also carry our cobranded Bilt credit card, and we found an incredibly small percentage of them were consuming a disproportionate amount of resources, taking away from what we could offer to the broader base.
> We discovered that bonus points on tax payments during promotions accounted for 20% of our bonus category costs, yet only 0.8% of cardmembers (or 0.12% of our total members) use the card for taxes.
I will report back that I did my Bilt Soulcycle class and it was pretty fun.
If the transfer bonuses were guaranteed then you could see a value prop in getting the status. Otherwise you're just hoping for something that may never come.
#933

Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: PHL / SFO
Programs: free agent
Posts: 801
I used to spend a lot on the 1st - pre-pay all of the month's bills, buy gift cards etc. This plus the loss of AA - they just sock-drawered themselves for me.
#934
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,680
I won't deny that I've heard that their events are fun, as they should be since they're partly subsidized by Bilt. My partner and I attended a free Soul Cycle class and enjoyed it. I've heard good things about some of the dinners and other experiences. But, for most people, that and the occassional (capped now?) transfer bonuses are not incentive to spend $50k or earn 200k points on the card post-Rent day nerfs. I was counting on tax payments to maintain Platinum going forward. I have little incentive to earn 1x on my tax payments when I can earn 2.62% cashback on my BofA card, 2x on a Capital One Venture X, or 1x on my Hyatt or United card but have it help towards status that will definitely help me versus Bilt status that may or may not be useful.
If the transfer bonuses were guaranteed then you could see a value prop in getting the status. Otherwise you're just hoping for something that may never come.
If the transfer bonuses were guaranteed then you could see a value prop in getting the status. Otherwise you're just hoping for something that may never come.
#935


Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: TYS/BNA/ATL
Programs: UR, TYP, MR, C1, WF, AA, UA, WN, BA, AS, AV, AC, Choice, Hyatt, IHG, Hilton, Wyndham, Marriott
Posts: 2,371
#936
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 552
No, and that was part of the point of my original post. In the TPG Q&A, they say tax payments will no longer qualify for bonus points on 10/1. I can't find anywhere in their terms and conditions where it talks about tax payments. I would assume that bonus points means the rent day bonus points and that they would otherwise still earn 1x, but who knows. I don't see why they would care about giving out 1x on tax payments, though. If giving 1x for everyday spend, which should be the most profitable scenario for them, is something they want to curtail, something is seriously wrong.
#937
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS Plat, AA EP, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton Dia, Hyatt Glob, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 21,476
TPG posted a Q&A with Richard Kerr from Bilt. In it they mention that in addition to capping rent day bonus points at 1k (down from 10k), they are also removing tax payments from eligibility for bonus points. I actually scoured the email and the terms and conditions they currently have posted for rent day and for the card in general and don't see any mention of this. I'm surprised - I get that people (including me!) were using this to make large tax payments but it seems unnecessary to do this since they're capping the bonus points at 1k anyways.
I wonder if the change also applies to the 5X promotion when people get a new Bilt card. Tax payments would have been the way for me to rack up a ton of charges in the first five days.
#938
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,680
We discovered that bonus points on tax payments during promotions accounted for 20% of our bonus category costs, yet only 0.8% of cardmembers (or 0.12% of our total members) use the card for taxes.
I wonder if the change also applies to the 5X promotion when people get a new Bilt card. Tax payments would have been the way for me to rack up a ton of charges in the first five days.
I wonder if the change also applies to the 5X promotion when people get a new Bilt card. Tax payments would have been the way for me to rack up a ton of charges in the first five days.
#940
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS Plat, AA EP, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton Dia, Hyatt Glob, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 21,476
No idea. Maybe it was silently killed or cut back? WF would probably be thrilled if the card was less appealing if it helps curtail their losses.
#941




Join Date: May 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: HH Dia
Posts: 483
Bilt just raised $150 million in equity funding, according to Bloomberg. The gravy train just might continue.
Jain said the New York-based startup, which was profitable based on its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in 2023, is set to remain profitable in 2024, though he declined to provide specifics. Bilt has more than $400 million in cash and no debt on its balance sheet, he added.
The startup plans to add verticals such as health care, groceries and gas to its neighborhood merchant network, which has grown to over 21,000 restaurants from about 2,500 seven months ago, and 3,500 fitness studios from about 100 in January, Jain said.
Jain said members in all 50 US states are spending $30 billion on its platform annually, a 50% jump from the $20 billion figure Bloomberg News reported at the start of the year.
The startup plans to add verticals such as health care, groceries and gas to its neighborhood merchant network, which has grown to over 21,000 restaurants from about 2,500 seven months ago, and 3,500 fitness studios from about 100 in January, Jain said.
Jain said members in all 50 US states are spending $30 billion on its platform annually, a 50% jump from the $20 billion figure Bloomberg News reported at the start of the year.
#943

Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: DCA, IAD
Programs: Hyatt Globalist; AA Plat. Pro.
Posts: 249
Paid my $600 semi-annual car insurance bill yesterday, and realized this was the last time I'll even be able to get full Rent Day credit on that kind of purchase, to say nothing of the normal-priced meals I bought and the one Lyft ride I took. Maybe 10,000 points was an amount they could've cut down, but capping it at 1,000 points will absolutely disincentivize a lot of spend on my card; that insurance payment will never again be made on the Bilt card, for example.
#944
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 552
Paid my $600 semi-annual car insurance bill yesterday, and realized this was the last time I'll even be able to get full Rent Day credit on that kind of purchase, to say nothing of the normal-priced meals I bought and the one Lyft ride I took. Maybe 10,000 points was an amount they could've cut down, but capping it at 1,000 points will absolutely disincentivize a lot of spend on my card; that insurance payment will never again be made on the Bilt card, for example.






