Oct 7, 2023, 1:25 pm
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
Dec 26, 2024 | 1:56 pm
#1081
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: AS; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Gold; NEXUS
Posts: 1,175
January rent day benefits are out, the largest of which appears to be an Accor status match:
I know nothing about Accor... is their status worth anything?
a. Bilt Blue members can activate your Accor Silver status request in the Rewards tab of the
Bilt app or website.
b. Bilt Silver members can activate your Accor Silver status request in the Rewards tab of
the Bilt app or website or can activate your Accor Gold status request with a transfer of
5,000 Bilt points to ALL Reward points in the Rewards tab of the Bilt app or website.
c. Bilt Gold members can activate your Accor Silver status request in the Rewards tab of
the Bilt app or website or can activate your Accor Gold status request with a transfer of
2,000 Bilt points to ALL Reward points in the Rewards tab of the Bilt app or website.
d. Bilt Platinum members can activate your Accor Silver status request in the Rewards tab
of the Bilt app or website or can activate your Accor Gold status request with a transfer
of 2,000 Bilt points to ALL Reward points in the Rewards tab of the Bilt app or website or
can activate your Accor Platinum status request with a transfer of 5,000 Bilt points to ALL
Reward points in the Rewards tab of the Bilt app or website
Bilt app or website.
b. Bilt Silver members can activate your Accor Silver status request in the Rewards tab of
the Bilt app or website or can activate your Accor Gold status request with a transfer of
5,000 Bilt points to ALL Reward points in the Rewards tab of the Bilt app or website.
c. Bilt Gold members can activate your Accor Silver status request in the Rewards tab of
the Bilt app or website or can activate your Accor Gold status request with a transfer of
2,000 Bilt points to ALL Reward points in the Rewards tab of the Bilt app or website.
d. Bilt Platinum members can activate your Accor Silver status request in the Rewards tab
of the Bilt app or website or can activate your Accor Gold status request with a transfer
of 2,000 Bilt points to ALL Reward points in the Rewards tab of the Bilt app or website or
can activate your Accor Platinum status request with a transfer of 5,000 Bilt points to ALL
Reward points in the Rewards tab of the Bilt app or website
Dec 27, 2024 | 7:47 am
#1083
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 1,752
Dec 27, 2024 | 8:53 am
#1084
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: AS; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Gold; NEXUS
Posts: 1,175
Dec 28, 2024 | 6:22 am
#1085
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 35K|BA Silver|Marriott Plat|HH Diamond|Hyatt Globalist|ALL Plat
Posts: 2,814
Denied CLI by WF for "insufficient experience" with the card. My CL got slashed hard going from Evolve to WF, 22k down to 10k, and given the cost of my rent the card is basically at full utilization all the time because why pay off what I can float, but it means I can't put any other spend on the card which I'd think Bilt and WF would want me to be doing.
Dec 28, 2024 | 7:27 am
#1086
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,229
Dec 28, 2024 | 10:57 am
#1087
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, B6 Mosaic 2, AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 873
In the same boat, moved from Evolve, asked for a CLI, got denied. My CL on the WF Bilt is 25% of my next lowest one, inclusive of cards I got when I was a student - it's a bit of a joke. My SO originally got the WF Bilt, and after a year was able to get a whopping...$500 CLI.
As for the Accor status, it feels fine in a vacuum (no different from the plethora of AMEX cards giving out Hilton Silver), but my bigger gripe is probably the total deval of the loyalty tiers. I really have no idea what the point of them is anymore. I get the exact same thing as someone at the base tier, with the "opportunity" to burn 2K points.
As for the Accor status, it feels fine in a vacuum (no different from the plethora of AMEX cards giving out Hilton Silver), but my bigger gripe is probably the total deval of the loyalty tiers. I really have no idea what the point of them is anymore. I get the exact same thing as someone at the base tier, with the "opportunity" to burn 2K points.
Dec 28, 2024 | 5:34 pm
#1088
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 1,752
it is only bad if your overall credit utilization is high, not per card. you can also choose to pay off before the statement closing to lower the utilization.
for WF, i feel that how much credit you currently have is the major factor when deciding the CL they will give. my friend got a higher CL despite a lower credit score and income. but he only has 1 other credit card
Denied CLI by WF for "insufficient experience" with the card. My CL got slashed hard going from Evolve to WF, 22k down to 10k, and given the cost of my rent the card is basically at full utilization all the time because why pay off what I can float, but it means I can't put any other spend on the card which I'd think Bilt and WF would want me to be doing.
In the same boat, moved from Evolve, asked for a CLI, got denied. My CL on the WF Bilt is 25% of my next lowest one, inclusive of cards I got when I was a student - it's a bit of a joke. My SO originally got the WF Bilt, and after a year was able to get a whopping...$500 CLI.
Last edited by Caspavio; Dec 28, 2024 at 5:46 pm
Dec 28, 2024 | 7:46 pm
#1089
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 35K|BA Silver|Marriott Plat|HH Diamond|Hyatt Globalist|ALL Plat
Posts: 2,814
Additionally though, the Bilt card is such a low limit compared to my other cards that having it maxed out all the time doesn't make much of a dent in my total utilization percentage. My FICO is over 800 either way.
No hard pull, but the DP's I've seen for how WF handles the CL increase requests are all over the place.
Dec 29, 2024 | 8:46 am
#1090
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,229
Hit Silver from rent spend. Dont think I will ever hit a higher tier. The milestone rewards dont look that great
5k points to next status - useless
Double points on neighborhood dining for 7 days - decent, but Im traveling outside of the US lol
2x at grocery for 30 days - have other cards
2x at gas for 30 days - have other cards
2x at sports and concerts for 30 days - ok
1k points for Bilt collection - hmm
5k points to next status - useless
Double points on neighborhood dining for 7 days - decent, but Im traveling outside of the US lol
2x at grocery for 30 days - have other cards
2x at gas for 30 days - have other cards
2x at sports and concerts for 30 days - ok
1k points for Bilt collection - hmm
Dec 29, 2024 | 11:36 am
#1091
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PacNW (SEA)
Programs: AS, IHG and post-loyal
Posts: 615
Have two (milestone rewards) I can't be bothered about... Assume these have low caps on them too anyway.
Sorry if that's not much help
Sorry if that's not much help
Dec 29, 2024 | 4:14 pm
#1092
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,684
Hit Silver from rent spend. Dont think I will ever hit a higher tier. The milestone rewards dont look that great
5k points to next status - useless
Double points on neighborhood dining for 7 days - decent, but Im traveling outside of the US lol
2x at grocery for 30 days - have other cards
2x at gas for 30 days - have other cards
2x at sports and concerts for 30 days - ok
1k points for Bilt collection - hmm
5k points to next status - useless
Double points on neighborhood dining for 7 days - decent, but Im traveling outside of the US lol
2x at grocery for 30 days - have other cards
2x at gas for 30 days - have other cards
2x at sports and concerts for 30 days - ok
1k points for Bilt collection - hmm
Dec 29, 2024 | 5:18 pm
#1093
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,229
I posted about this upthread but the status qualification is not designed very well.
I spend about 50k a year in rent (ouch!). Instant silver status. I spend basically nothing on the card otherwise.
To get Gold, I need 75k more points from non-rent spend which is 1x/2x/3x. I could shift my dining spend to Bilt but I dont think its $25k.
Alternatively I need to spend 25k on the card which doesnt count my rent spend at all. After the rent day 2x nerf, I dont think this is a good use of spend.
I spend about 50k a year in rent (ouch!). Instant silver status. I spend basically nothing on the card otherwise.
To get Gold, I need 75k more points from non-rent spend which is 1x/2x/3x. I could shift my dining spend to Bilt but I dont think its $25k.
Alternatively I need to spend 25k on the card which doesnt count my rent spend at all. After the rent day 2x nerf, I dont think this is a good use of spend.
Dec 29, 2024 | 5:57 pm
#1094
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,684
I posted about this upthread but the status qualification is not designed very well.
I spend about 50k a year in rent (ouch!). Instant silver status. I spend basically nothing on the card otherwise.
To get Gold, I need 75k more points from non-rent spend which is 1x/2x/3x. I could shift my dining spend to Bilt but I dont think its $25k.
Alternatively I need to spend 25k on the card which doesnt count my rent spend at all. After the rent day 2x nerf, I dont think this is a good use of spend.
I spend about 50k a year in rent (ouch!). Instant silver status. I spend basically nothing on the card otherwise.
To get Gold, I need 75k more points from non-rent spend which is 1x/2x/3x. I could shift my dining spend to Bilt but I dont think its $25k.
Alternatively I need to spend 25k on the card which doesnt count my rent spend at all. After the rent day 2x nerf, I dont think this is a good use of spend.
Dec 29, 2024 | 10:24 pm
#1095
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,229
If you spend 50k on rent, you arent incentivized to do anything else. If you dont spend anything on rent, the spend fast track to status is exactly the same. The former method is actually harder than the latter method as only dining spend is 3x and rent day doesnt help anymore. You really need to be spending near the rent cap (100k) to make Gold status easy to reach. I think this is their ideal customer though, someone in NYC spending 8.3k on rent