Cards

Bilt Rewards: Everything You Need to Know

Irina Tsymbaliuk
UPD:
Bilt Rewards

Using a card that helps you earn rewards is always a bonus. If you are a renter, paying for your apartment is likely the largest spending category. The good news is that using a Bilt card allows you to earn rewards not only when you shop but also when you pay rent.

If you have been looking through Bilt card reviews, here is what you should know about the card, its rewards, and limits. Check out what it has to offer.

Bilt Card at a Glance

Issued and maintained by Wells Fargo Bank under the Mastercard license, the Bilt card is a versatile financial management tool with unique features and benefits.

To start our Bilt credit card review, let’s answer the first question — how does Bilt work? On a basic level, it functions pretty much like a traditional credit card, allowing users to make purchases, pay bills, and access credit up to a predetermined limit. A cardholder can use it for online shopping and to purchase goods or products in offline stores as well.

Bilt Card at a Glance

What makes it stand out, though, is a compelling rewards program and charge-free rental payments. Cardholders earn points for every eligible transaction, which can be redeemed for various benefits, including cash back, travel rewards, or contributions towards rent payments for Bilt-managed properties.

The card gives users a chance to enjoy tangible Bilt credit card benefits for their everyday spending. With Bilt, you can gain bonuses not only for rent payments but also for travel, fitness, dining, and other common purchases. Furthermore, those Mastercard rewards are transferable. You’ll be able to use your premium points to offset your travel expenses with the bank’s established travel partners.

While the rewards program is appealing, users may find the redemption options somewhat limited compared to other credit cards on the market. Besides, the Bilt card calls for a good to excellent credit history to be approved.

Pros

Cons

  • No annual fee;
  • Fee-free rent transactions;
  • Trip and travel protection reimbursements;
  • Exclusive reward options;
  • Added perks for elite-status cardholders;
  • Phone insurance;
  • Special promotions.
  • Limited bonus categories as compared to other cards of this type;
  • The lack of an entry bonus;
  • Available only for users with a decent credit rating.

Rewards Points and How To Get Them

So, how does Bilt card work in terms of its reward program? Earning rewards can be a valuable aspect of your financial strategy when holding this card. By understanding the various ways to accumulate points and being mindful of requirements and limitations, you can make the most of this bonus program. So, here is a quick review of rewards from Bilt.

Earning Points

  • Normally, you’ll get one bonus point from each dollar spent on rent. The same is true for other regular purchases.
  • Bilt has established partnerships with some vendors, ensuring higher rewards on certain expenses. For example, take 3 rides in one calendar month to get a $5 Lyft credit with your Bilt Mastercard.
  • You’ll receive 3 points per dollar on dining expenses and 2 points per dollar on travel purchases from retailers with a “Travel” merchant code from Mastercard.
  • The first day of each month is the so-called Rent Day, when your Bilt Mastercard doubles all your bonus point earnings except rent payments.
  • If your rewards exceed 25,000 points annually, you’ll obtain an elite loyalty status that unlocks added benefits and enables you to earn 10% to 50% interest on your points. Your status is automatically updated once you hit the required number of points. The interest will be credited to your rewards account on a monthly basis.
Earning Points

Limitations

  • To gain points, you need to meet the requirement of Bilt minimum transactions—no fewer than five per month. Should you fail to match this minimum, you’ll be credited a fixed rate of 250 points on your monthly rental.
  • The maximum annual Bilt credit card limit for earning on rent payments is 100,000 points, which means higher rent payers are limited to a certain extent.
  • The number of additional bonus points you can get during the Rent Day is capped at 10,000. Once you hit this mark, you’ll be returned to your normal reward rates.

Making Bilt Points Work For You

Technically, you can not cash out your earned rewards. Yet, the card offers several redemption options that will be very useful to you.

  • Rent and Downpayment: You can use your Bilt bonuses to either pay your monthly rent or accumulate points to settle a downpayment for your property. For rentals, the value of points usually varies by the landlord.
  • Travel: Avid travelers will benefit from the opportunity to cover their travel costs with rewards from Bilt when booking directly from an airline, hotel, car rental, etc. For a list of partners and more details on exchange rates for the points, you can check the Bilt travel portal.
  • Fitness Classes: Spend your bonuses on the most popular fitness classes from the Bilt partner list.
  • Bilt Collection: You can use your points toward exclusive home decor items and art pieces from seasonal collections that are available to Bilt members only.

Final Thought

To recap, in the realm of personal finance, the Bilt card is a valuable proposition for various users and a real find for those who pay rent. By understanding its features, leveraging its rewards program, and managing it responsibly, you’ll make the most out of it.