Bilt’s 3 New Cards Earn Rewards on Housing, But It’s Complicated

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Bilt’s 3 New Cards Earn Rewards on Housing, But It’s Complicated
By redeeming Bilt Cash, the company’s new currency, holders of the Bilt Blue, Obsidian and Palladium can earn rewards on rent and mortgages without the sting of a transaction fee. Kind of.
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Bilt began as a renter’s dream, and now it’s opening the door to homeowners, too.
The company’s long-awaited new credit cards — the Bilt Blue Card, Bilt Obsidian Card and Bilt Palladium Card — are available for pre-order as of Jan. 14, 2026. All three cards make it possible to earn rewards on rent payments and, now, mortgages as well, without having to pay processing fees.
Well … sort of.
Rent and mortgage payments on the new cards will include a 3% processing fee if you want to earn rewards on those payments. But the new cards come with a new rewards currency, called Bilt Cash, that can be used to cover that fee. Bilt Cash is earned on everyday purchases in addition to Bilt Points, the program’s valuable and flexible original currency. (You won’t earn Bilt Cash on housing expenses, though.)
If that sounds complicated, that’s because it is. Let’s dive in.
» MORE: Bilt Rewards: How the program works
The 3 new Bilt cards: Features and key points
The new Bilt cards replace the pre-existing Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card, which was issued by Wells Fargo and is being discontinued. Unlike that $0-annual-fee card, two of the three new Bilt cards will charge annual fees. But also unlike that card, the new versions — now issued by Column N.A. Bank and serviced by Cardless — feature welcome bonuses for new cardholders. (Customers who are upgrading from the older card are eligible for the bonuses.)
Starting Jan. 14, 2026, you can select which of the three cards you want in the Bilt app or at bilt.com/card. Bilt says you’ll receive the new card by Feb. 6, 2026, if you make your selection and are approved by Jan. 30, 2026. The cards will become usable on Feb. 7, 2026.
How the cards compare
Bilt Blue Card
NerdWallet Rating
NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Apply now
on Bilt’s website
Rates & Fees
Bilt Obsidian Card
NerdWallet Rating
NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Apply now
on Bilt’s website
Rates & Fees
Bilt Palladium Card
NerdWallet Rating
NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Apply now
on Bilt’s website
Rates & Fees
Annual fee
$0
$95
$495
Rewards on rent/mortgage payments
Up to 1x points.
Up to 1x points.
Up to 1x points.
Rewards on other spending
1x points + 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases.
3x points on your choice of dining or grocery + 4% back in Bilt Cash (on up to $25K in spending per year in the grocery category). Your choice category may be changed once a year.
2x points on travel + 4% back in Bilt Cash.
1x points + 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases.
2x points + 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases.
Welcome offer
$100 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved.
$200 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved.
50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash.
Anniversary bonus
None.
None.
Annual $200 Bilt Cash credit.
Additional perks
Multiple transfer partners.
Multiple transfer partners.
$100 Bilt Travel portal hotel credit, split semi-annually, per calendar year. (Minimum two-night stay required.)
Multiple transfer partners.
$400 Bilt Travel portal hotel credit, split semi-annually, per calendar year. (Minimum two-night stay required.)
Priority Pass airport lounge access. (Two guests allowed on every visit.)
Authorized user fee
$0.
$50.
$95.
APR
The ongoing APR is 26.74%-34.74% Variable APR
The ongoing APR is 26.74%-34.74% Variable APR
The ongoing APR is 26.74%-34.74% Variable APR
Foreign transaction fee
$0
$0
$0
» MORE: Dear Bilt Palladium: You’re welcome to move in, but you won’t pay the rent
Key points to know
There’s no cap on how many points you can earn from rent and mortgage spending.
All personal mortgages, regardless of the lender or servicer, are eligible to earn points.
Rent and mortgage payments don’t count against your Bilt card’s credit limit.
Five authorized users are allowed per Bilt credit card. (At this time, you can apply for just one Bilt card, but you can be an authorized user on one more.)
Unlike the previous Bilt credit card, the new Bilt cards do not require that you make a minimum of five transactions per billing cycle to earn meaningful rewards. However, to earn Bilt Cash to cover the processing fees on housing payments, you’ll need to use the card for spending besides your rent or mortgage. If you don’t, you’ll be paying that fee out of pocket — or you won’t earn rewards on housing. (See the next section.)
Win Private Travel Rewards Consultation ($250 value)
Get the ‘cheat codes’ to using travel points and miles so you can spend less cash. 📥 Sign up for our free newsletter before Jan. 30 and enter to win a 1:1 travel rewards coaching strategy session.
» MORE: Will the next Bilt credit card please stand up?
How Bilt Cash works
Bilt Cash is the key to earning rewards on rent and mortgage payments without feeling the sting of a 3% transaction fee. But wait, wasn’t Bilt’s brand originally built around rent payments with no fees? Yes, and it’s still possible to avoid paying the fees out of pocket. It’s just a lot more complicated than before, when no such fee existed.
Bilt Cash that you earn on non-rent/mortgage purchases (which, again, is new and separate from normal Bilt points) can be redeemed on a dollar-for-dollar basis toward a variety of options, including fitness classes, hotel bookings, Lyft rides, GoPuff orders and access to partner transfer bonuses. You can also effectively use Bilt Cash to