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
#1156


Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,365
Bilt is making it more complicated to pay your rent. Starting 4/29, rent payment needs to be pre-authorized each month before actual payment. An extra step may deter, or even prevent, some from using the card to pay their rents.
#1157




Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,228
We're updating how you pay rent through Bilt with an even more secure and scalable system. Your current Rent Rewards account will expire on April 29, but don't worry your rewards aren't changing, just how you submit your monthly payment at non-Bilt properties.
Introducing BillPay by Bilt
Bilt has grown tremendously, now serving as the payments and rewards platform at one in four apartment buildings nationwide. While we continue expanding our partner property network, we remain equally committed to members living elsewhere like yourself.
Our revamped BillPay by Bilt system is designed for members who don't live at Bilt partner properties, ensuring everyone can earn valuable rewards on rent using their payment method of choice. This updated system creates a more seamless and secure payment process while building the foundation for new features - including our mortgage rewards program launching this year, and other future bill types.
Your updated rent payment process
Going forward, follow these steps to continue earning rewards on your rent:
1. Pre-authorize your payment in the Bilt app (before you pay rent)
2. Submit your rent payment as usual
We recognize this update changes your monthly routine by shifting from post-payment verification to pre-payment authorization. This new approach enhances security by ensuring the system only processes payments you've specifically approved through the Bilt app.
This is an essential step as we expand our platform capabilities and scale paving the way for new payment categories like our upcoming mortgage rewards program and other future bill payments.
We're committed to continuously investing in the BillPay experience to make it more seamless and secure for you. We're proud to be the only platform offering rewards on rent payments at any property nationwide. While Bilt partner properties offer our most integrated experience, BillPay ensures all members can earn valuable rewards on housing payments regardless of where they live.
Important timeline
Your old Rent Rewards account will expire on April 29. After that date, you'll need to use the new BillPay system to continue earning rewards on rent. We'll send reminder notifications as we approach this deadline to ensure you have time to make this transition.
Thank you for being a valued Bilt member. We're excited to continue building a more rewarding way to pay your rent, and more.
The Bilt Team
Introducing BillPay by Bilt
Bilt has grown tremendously, now serving as the payments and rewards platform at one in four apartment buildings nationwide. While we continue expanding our partner property network, we remain equally committed to members living elsewhere like yourself.Our revamped BillPay by Bilt system is designed for members who don't live at Bilt partner properties, ensuring everyone can earn valuable rewards on rent using their payment method of choice. This updated system creates a more seamless and secure payment process while building the foundation for new features - including our mortgage rewards program launching this year, and other future bill types.
Your updated rent payment process
Going forward, follow these steps to continue earning rewards on your rent:
1. Pre-authorize your payment in the Bilt app (before you pay rent)
- Each month, pre-authorize your rent payment from the Bilt app, up to 5 days before paying rent
- Select your rent amount and payment method
- Use your Bilt Mastercard for your usual rewards and waived fees, or;
- Use any other credit/debit card to earn both Bilt Points AND your card's rewards
- First time only: you'll receive new BillPay by Bilt routing and account numbers. Add these to your property's payment portal, replacing your old Rent Rewards account details.
2. Submit your rent payment as usual
- Pay your rent through your property's portal using your new BillPay by Bilt account
- When your property processes this payment, Bilt automatically charges the card you selected during authorization
- You'll earn all the rewards you were shown during the authorization step
- Important: Submit your payment each month within 5 days of authorizing in the Bilt app
We recognize this update changes your monthly routine by shifting from post-payment verification to pre-payment authorization. This new approach enhances security by ensuring the system only processes payments you've specifically approved through the Bilt app.
This is an essential step as we expand our platform capabilities and scale paving the way for new payment categories like our upcoming mortgage rewards program and other future bill payments.
We're committed to continuously investing in the BillPay experience to make it more seamless and secure for you. We're proud to be the only platform offering rewards on rent payments at any property nationwide. While Bilt partner properties offer our most integrated experience, BillPay ensures all members can earn valuable rewards on housing payments regardless of where they live.
Important timeline
Your old Rent Rewards account will expire on April 29. After that date, you'll need to use the new BillPay system to continue earning rewards on rent. We'll send reminder notifications as we approach this deadline to ensure you have time to make this transition.
Thank you for being a valued Bilt member. We're excited to continue building a more rewarding way to pay your rent, and more.
The Bilt Team
#1158
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 1,752
saw this email too. not too sure i buy into their security reason since rent and mortgage are recurring payments
#1160
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 18,127
So what happens if I forget to pre-authorize one day? This seems pretty dumb.
#1161




Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Kettle Class
Posts: 1,051
Quite possible, especially since Evolve Bank (the bank they use to process rent payments) has been caught in all sorts of (public) regulatory and legal issues and has had other "fintech" clients end their relationship with them.
#1162




Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold 1.2MM (BIS), AA LT Plat (SUBs, BD/Bask), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 4,589
Color me confused. Many unanswered questions:
Many of us do not have a property portal, we make payments via an ACH debit based on account and routing number provided by hardcopy paper form to our property management.
For those who make payments by the above method, the actual ACH debit date varies from month to month, by several days, thus making “within 5 days” impossible to predict. We give the management company the account and routing numbers, exactly when THEY choose to process the ACH debit is their choice.
Any fees involved with using “any other credit card”?
“Each month, pre-authorize” seems like a big step backwards, like writing a check every month, compared to all the automated procedures now in effect.
It’s possible Bilt is making things more difficult and complicated in an effort to decrease usage for rent, for which they lose money.
OTOH, if “earn both Bilt Points AND your card's rewards” (with no fees) turns out to be true, this might be a beneficial change.
Many of us do not have a property portal, we make payments via an ACH debit based on account and routing number provided by hardcopy paper form to our property management.
For those who make payments by the above method, the actual ACH debit date varies from month to month, by several days, thus making “within 5 days” impossible to predict. We give the management company the account and routing numbers, exactly when THEY choose to process the ACH debit is their choice.
Any fees involved with using “any other credit card”?
“Each month, pre-authorize” seems like a big step backwards, like writing a check every month, compared to all the automated procedures now in effect.
It’s possible Bilt is making things more difficult and complicated in an effort to decrease usage for rent, for which they lose money.
OTOH, if “earn both Bilt Points AND your card's rewards” (with no fees) turns out to be true, this might be a beneficial change.
#1163




Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,228
There's some interesting things in the FAQ here https://support.biltrewards.com/hc/e...ewards-Account
With credit card payments there is a 3% transaction fee, with a minimum fee of $3. Debit card payments have a fixed fee of $9.95
You can make housing related payments for up to one residential property per month, these may include: security deposits, HOA fees, college housing, utilities or internet.
You confirmed this transaction on 03/02/2025.
Payment submitted Feb, 27 2025 PM
Bank account charged Mar, 01 2025 AM
Vaccount payment complete Mar, 02 2025 AM
#1164



Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: EWR
Programs: UA: Platinum, Hyatt: Globalist and Marriott: Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,346
Mine says Column Bank as the payment provider
#1166
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 18,127
The Bilt reddit post with the announcement now has an FAQ that added that they're adding an "auto-authorize" feature you can activate. Good. That should alleviate most concerns.
#1167




Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: New York
Programs: Navy A-4 Skyhawk, B727 FE/FO, S80 FO, B757/767 FO, B737 CA
Posts: 1,416
I'd like to confirm my interpretation if anyone else here is in a Bilt building like we are. I didn't receive an email about the change and from what I read, it says those living in Bilt buildings don't have to worry about the change.
Does that sound correct?
Does that sound correct?
#1168



Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: OAK
Posts: 4,259
How does one make multiple payments moving forward?
#1170
Join Date: Mar 2025
Posts: 1




