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
May 19, 2025 | 12:31 pm
#1216
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,679
I didn't want to bother with BiltProtect any more so I called and requested a credit limit increase with the number on the back of the card. They asked for income and monthly housing payment and the call took about 25 mins. I requested a moderate increase from my original limit (less than $5k, also less than my rent amount) to around double. They called back a few hours later and it was approved without a hard pull on my credit as all my lines were frozen the whole time. Success!
May 19, 2025 | 12:46 pm
#1217
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,228
From Bilt or from WF? I called WF, and no mention of an offer was given.
May 19, 2025 | 12:48 pm
#1218
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 18,127
I didn't want to bother with BiltProtect any more so I called and requested a credit limit increase with the number on the back of the card. They asked for income and monthly housing payment and the call took about 25 mins. I requested a moderate increase from my original limit (less than $5k, also less than my rent amount) to around double. They called back a few hours later and it was approved without a hard pull on my credit as all my lines were frozen the whole time. Success!
May 19, 2025 | 12:56 pm
#1219
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,228
This is what I received from support. It definitely didn't work last month. Maybe it works this month? The UI seems to be okay (same as last month) but who knows if the payment will go through.
The "pay by bank not enabled" message should only appear when you select the bank account as the payment method, not when you select the Bilt MasterCard with Bilt Protect ON. Could you try to set it up the Bilt Protect feature again?
To enable BiltProtect on the Bilt Website once you have authorized a payment:
You'll know BiltProtect is enabled when the toggle turns green. To disable BiltProtect, tap the toggle again - The feature is disabled when the toggle turns gray.
To enable BiltProtect on the Bilt Website once you have authorized a payment:
- Head to the Pay rent tab
- Under BillPay for Rent click Edit
- Select Bilt Mastercard as your payment method and tap the ellipsis [⋮] to turn the BiltProtect Debit toggle 'On'
- Head to the Pay rent tab
- Under BillPay for Rent click into your authorized payment amount
- Then hit edit and enter in your authorized amount again
- Select Bilt Mastercard as your payment method and tap the ellipsis [⋮] to turn the BiltProtect Debit toggle 'On'
You'll know BiltProtect is enabled when the toggle turns green. To disable BiltProtect, tap the toggle again - The feature is disabled when the toggle turns gray.
May 19, 2025 | 1:08 pm
#1220
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 18,127
I guess I'll have to try again once it's closer to re-authorization/rent day.
May 25, 2025 | 4:59 pm
#1221
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,228
June promo announced from OMAAT:
Silver ain't that great haha
Accor Live Limitless (ALL) is one of Bilt’s transfer partners, and for the June 2025 Rent Day promotion, we’re seeing a transfer bonus. Exclusively on June 1 and June 2, 2025 (yes, it’s a two-day offer), Bilt is offering a 50-200% bonus if you transfer points to Accor Live Limitless. The size of the bonus that you get depends on your Bilt elite status. Specifically:
For those not familiar with Accor Live Limitless, it’s a revenue based loyalty program. Every 1,000 Accor points gets you €20 (~$23) toward the cost of an Accor stay. In other words, each point is worth exactly two cents, in euro. That means that with this promotion, Bilt Blue and Silver members can redeem their points for roughly 2.3 cents each toward an Accor stay, while Bilt Gold and Platinum members can redeem their points for roughly 4.6 cents each toward an Accor stay.
- Bilt Blue members can receive a 50% bonus
- Bilt Silver members can receive a 50% bonus
- Bilt Gold members can receive a 200% bonus
- Bilt Platinum members can receive a 200% bonus
For those not familiar with Accor Live Limitless, it’s a revenue based loyalty program. Every 1,000 Accor points gets you €20 (~$23) toward the cost of an Accor stay. In other words, each point is worth exactly two cents, in euro. That means that with this promotion, Bilt Blue and Silver members can redeem their points for roughly 2.3 cents each toward an Accor stay, while Bilt Gold and Platinum members can redeem their points for roughly 4.6 cents each toward an Accor stay.
May 28, 2025 | 5:04 pm
#1222
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: SoCal
Posts: 582
Recently got the AS visa, was going to pay rent with it this month to hit the sub.
I approved only what I would for the rent payment on the Bilt card (rent +some to cover the $5 handling fee). Got an two emails simultaneously (date and time are identical)
Switched back to the Bilt card to avoid NSF issues before the payment is tried again tomorrow. Will try again next month with the AS card and larger amount.
I approved only what I would for the rent payment on the Bilt card (rent +some to cover the $5 handling fee). Got an two emails simultaneously (date and time are identical)
- "There was an issue with your rent payment"
- "Your BillPay rent payment has processed"
- the body of this email says "your payment [...] is processing"
Switched back to the Bilt card to avoid NSF issues before the payment is tried again tomorrow. Will try again next month with the AS card and larger amount.
Jun 1, 2025 | 4:03 pm
#1223
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,365
Does anyone know how long a transfer to Accor takes? I made a transfer about 10 hours ago and points still haven't appeared in my Accor account, even though I received a confirmation email for a "successful" transfer from Bilt shortly after the transfer.
Jun 1, 2025 | 8:13 pm
#1224
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: NYC <> SFBA
Programs: AA PlatPro, FB Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 466
Transferred all my points to ALL - the 200% bonus/1:2 is too good, coming at ~4.6cpp guaranteed for all cash rates. And if I want to speculatively transfer later, functionally acted as 1:1 from Bilt to JAL or Korean, and 1:2.5 for Qantas.
Point transfer was instant.
Point transfer was instant.
Jun 3, 2025 | 8:32 am
#1225
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,365
I still haven't received my Accor points... Contacting Bilt about this issue is a royal pain in the a**!
Jun 3, 2025 | 11:45 am
#1226
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,228
Bilt was broken again so I could not pay rent with Bilt in May either. The bank account numbers that they generate are not marked correctly as authorized for debit payments by Stripe, so I can't connect it to my portal to pay rent.
Sent in another ticket using the method in #1212. This is the second month it's been broken and I just have to pay manually with my own bank account. Starting to lose patience with this company.
Sent in another ticket using the method in #1212. This is the second month it's been broken and I just have to pay manually with my own bank account. Starting to lose patience with this company.
Jun 3, 2025 | 12:25 pm
#1227
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: 4,587
My experiences using Bilt to pay HOA fees since I got the card almost 2 years ago have been different, but equally annoying and I lost patience with them almost as soon as I opened my account. No problems with the actual payments with old process or new process (of the past few months). But, the worrying about the new process was infuriating and to me completely avoidable (by Bilt). For payments via ACH withdrawal, which Bilt made a big confusing issue of, other than payment required within 5 days of (auto) authorization and different routing/account numbers, nothing has changed. Bilt could have worded and enacted the change MUCH more simply and smoothly and efficiently.
Please note new account and routing numbers effective next month, please note ACH payments now must be withdrawn within 5 days of authorized date. Go here for authorization information, including auto-authorization.
And of course that Bilt truncates points, instead or rounding off or rounding up, continues to be annoying. Not a big deal on any 1 or 2 occasions, but over time were talking real points. Kinda like an airline using cashew pieces instead of whole cashews, very tightwadish*.
I still dont trust Bilt as far as I can spit, certainly far less than all other loyalty programs, still transfer Bilt points as soon as I get to the minimum required.
(* What does tightwad mean slang? Cheapskate Meaning of tightwad in English a person who is not willing to spend money)
Please note new account and routing numbers effective next month, please note ACH payments now must be withdrawn within 5 days of authorized date. Go here for authorization information, including auto-authorization.
And of course that Bilt truncates points, instead or rounding off or rounding up, continues to be annoying. Not a big deal on any 1 or 2 occasions, but over time were talking real points. Kinda like an airline using cashew pieces instead of whole cashews, very tightwadish*.
I still dont trust Bilt as far as I can spit, certainly far less than all other loyalty programs, still transfer Bilt points as soon as I get to the minimum required.
(* What does tightwad mean slang? Cheapskate Meaning of tightwad in English a person who is not willing to spend money)
Jun 9, 2025 | 7:01 am
#1228
Formally known as eddie1973
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: D/FW
Programs: DL 1MM/Gold; UA Gold ; Hilton Gold; Marriott Gold; Avis Pref+,IHG Plat,Hertz PC
Posts: 1,213
I paid for a hotel in Portugal with the Bilt card. Unfortunately, my flight was diverted to Spain and was charged for the one-night. I contacted the hotel directly but was refund was refused. I have the flight diversion and delay document with me but don't know if the travel interruption insurance would cover such event. Any advice is appreciated.
Jun 9, 2025 | 8:03 am
#1229
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 1,752
I paid for a hotel in Portugal with the Bilt card. Unfortunately, my flight was diverted to Spain and was charged for the one-night. I contacted the hotel directly but was refund was refused. I have the flight diversion and delay document with me but don't know if the travel interruption insurance would cover such event. Any advice is appreciated.
If a Trip is cancelled or interrupted for a covered reason (See Whats Covered), You are eligible for reimbursement for the cost of nonrefundable Common Carrier tickets.
To be eligible for coverage under this benefit, Your Covered Card and/or Bilt Rewards program associated with Your covered Account must be used to purchase the entire cost of the Covered Travelers Common Carrier fare less redeemable certificates, vouchers, or coupons.
To be eligible for coverage under this benefit, Your Covered Card and/or Bilt Rewards program associated with Your covered Account must be used to purchase the entire cost of the Covered Travelers Common Carrier fare less redeemable certificates, vouchers, or coupons.
Jul 1, 2025 | 6:52 pm
#1230
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,228
I didn't want to bother with BiltProtect any more so I called and requested a credit limit increase with the number on the back of the card. They asked for income and monthly housing payment and the call took about 25 mins. I requested a moderate increase from my original limit (less than $5k, also less than my rent amount) to around double. They called back a few hours later and it was approved without a hard pull on my credit as all my lines were frozen the whole time. Success!
Bilt was broken again so I could not pay rent with Bilt in May either. The bank account numbers that they generate are not marked correctly as authorized for debit payments by Stripe, so I can't connect it to my portal to pay rent.
Sent in another ticket using the method in #1212. This is the second month it's been broken and I just have to pay manually with my own bank account. Starting to lose patience with this company.
Sent in another ticket using the method in #1212. This is the second month it's been broken and I just have to pay manually with my own bank account. Starting to lose patience with this company.