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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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How good are Bilt's welcome offers? Earn up to 50,000 points
Summer Hull has been covering (and using) travel tips, rewards credit cards and loyalty programs for over a decade. She has flown close to a million miles, often on points and miles and with her family in tow.
August 19, 2026 • 12 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
A new lineup of rewards cards is available for renters and homeowners, offering welcome bonuses and the ability to earn valuable transferable points on housing payments.
The premium option features a substantial welcome offer, Gold status, and high-value benefits, making it appealing for those seeking maximum rewards and travel perks.
Mid-tier and entry-level cards provide alternatives with different bonus structures and benefits, catering to a range of spending habits and preferences.
Points earned can be transferred to a strong roster of airline and hotel partners, with TPG valuing these points at 2.2 cents each as of August 2026.
What to consider
Welcome bonuses vary by card, with the premium option offering the highest value and additional status benefits.
Bilt Cash awards expire 12 months after issuance, and changes to earning structures will affect new cardholders starting January 1, 2027.
To retain certain earning options, accounts must be opened by December 31, 2026, and specific actions are required before the first card anniversary.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of each card’s benefits, welcome offers, and which option best fits different types of renters or homeowners.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Bilt’s credit card lineup gives renters and homeowners a way to earn rewards on housing payments — but the cards’ welcome offers could provide an even faster way to earn Bilt Cash or build a stash of valuable Bilt Points.
The (see rates and fees), (see rates and fees) and (see rates and fees) cards each offer something different for new cardholders, with the Palladium standing out for its sizable welcome offer that gives new cardholders the chance to earn transferable points.
Below, we break down the current welcome offers on all three Bilt credit cards, what they’re worth and which one might make the most sense for you.
Bilt Palladium Card: First bonus ever for a Bilt credit card
The is Bilt’s most premium offering and the most compelling card in the lineup for anyone looking to earn a large number of valuable transferable points in a hurry.
Apply here to earn 50,000 bonus points:
With the current offer, new Bilt Palladium cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus points and Bilt Gold status (through the rest of the calendar year in which it was earned and the following calendar year) after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days from account opening.
Additionally, cardholders receive $300 in Bilt Cash upon approval. Each Bilt Cash award expires 12 months after you earn it, on the last day of that month.
THE POINTS GUY
According to TPG’s August 2026 valuations, 50,000 Bilt points are worth up to $1,100 on their own. When you add in the $300 in Bilt Cash, which can be used within the Bilt ecosystem, the total value of this offer comes in at up to $1,400.
That does not even factor in the added value of Bilt Gold status.
At more than $1,400 in total value, this welcome bonus easily lands among the most valuable card offers currently available.
*A maximum benefit amount and certain restrictions and limitations apply. Please review the Mastercard Guide to Benefits for more details.
And the card earns:
2 points per dollar spent on everyday spending
Up to 1.25 points per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments with the tiered spending system option, based on the amount of everyday spending you put on the card
Option to earn 4% Bilt Cash earned on everyday spending if you don't go the tiered spending route (every $30 of Bilt Cash used on a housing payment earns 1,000 points)**
Obsidian and Palladium cardholders who choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spending can also use $200 in Bilt Cash to activate a points accelerator, earning an additional 1 point per dollar spent on their next $5,000 in everyday purchases for the remainder of the calendar year, up to five activations per year.
**Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, new Bilt cardholders will only have access to the housing-only rewards option. Cardholders who open an account by Dec. 31, 2026, can retain the 4% Bilt Cash earning option by opting out of the new benefits before their first card anniversary.
Why you should apply for the Bilt Palladium
Two words explain the appeal of this card better than anything else: transfer partners.
That is because Bilt has 25 airline and hotel transfer partners, including programs like Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards, United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt, where points transfer at a 1:1 ratio. These partners consistently offer high-value redemptions, which is why Bilt points are currently valued at 2.2 cents each (per our valuations).
The closest everyday earning comparison among premium cards is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which earns at least 2 points per dollar spent on all purchases. However, Capital One miles are currently valued at 1.85 cents each (per our August 2026 valuations), giving the Bilt Palladium a clear edge on everyday spending.
To put that difference into real-world terms, transferring Bilt points to World of Hyatt can unlock substantial value. On some dates, as few as 63,000 points are enough for a three-night stay at the beachfront Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa. Most of those points could come directly from the welcome bonus alone.
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View from the Hyatt Regency Maui. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
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CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
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Hyatt Regency Maui. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Whether you are focused on maximizing everyday spending, earning points on rent or mortgage payments, or building a stash of transferable points for premium travel, the Bilt Palladium Card has the potential to become a long-term staple in many wallets.
There are two other Bilt cards available, in case the Palladium isn't the right fit for you.
Bilt Obsidian Card
If you want a lower annual fee, the (see rates and fees) sits squarely in the middle of the lineup, offering stronger bonus categories than the no-annual-fee Bilt Blue Card (see rates and fees) while keeping costs well below the Palladium Card.
Welcome offer: Receive $200 in Bilt Cash when you apply and are approved. Each Bilt Cash award expires 12 months after you earn it, on the last day of that month.
$100 annual Bilt Travel hotel credit (issued as $50 in statement credits biannually)
Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection*
*A maximum benefit amount and certain restrictions and limitations apply. Please review the Mastercard Guide to Benefits for more details.
As for the earning rates, the card earns you:
3 points per dollar spent on groceries (up to $25,000 each year, then 1 point per dollar) or dining
2 points per dollar spent on travel
Up to 1.25 points per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments with the tiered spending system option, based on the amount of everyday spending you put on the card
Option to earn 4% Bilt Cash earned on everyday spending if you don't go the tiered spending route (every $30 of Bilt Cash used on a housing payment earns 1,000 points)**
1 point per dollar spent on everyday purchases
The Obsidian Card is a solid choice for those who spend heavily on dining or groceries and want access to Bilt’s transfer partners without a high annual fee. Its high earning rates in key categories add up quickly, and it works well for renters or homeowners who want to earn points on housing payments without paying for premium perks.
**Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, new Bilt cardholders will only have access to the housing-only rewards option. Cardholders who open an account by Dec. 31, 2026, can retain the 4% Bilt Cash earning option by opting out of the new benefits before their first card anniversary.
Welcome offer: Receive $100 in Bilt Cash when you apply and are approved. Each Bilt Cash award expires 12 months after you earn it, on the last day of that month.
Up to 1.25 points per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments with the tiered spending system option, based on the amount of everyday spending you put on the card
Option to earn 4% Bilt Cash earned on everyday spending if you don't go the tiered spending route (every $30 of Bilt Cash used on a housing payment earns 1,000 points)**
1 point per dollar spent on everyday spending
The Blue Card is the easiest way to access Bilt with no annual fee (see rates and fees), letting you earn transferable points on rent or mortgage payments and take part in Rent Day promotions.
It can also work well as a long-term companion card for a primary travel rewards card. However, if you plan to use your Bilt card frequently and heavily for rent and everyday spending, you may come out further ahead with one of the higher-tier cards.
**Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, new Bilt cardholders will only have access to the housing-only rewards option. Cardholders who open an account by Dec. 31, 2026, can retain the 4% Bilt Cash earning option by opting out of the new benefits before their first card anniversary.
Apply here:
Comparison of Bilt credit card welcome offers
Card
Main welcome offer
Annual fee
Earn 50,000 bonus points and Bilt Gold status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. Additionally, cardholders receive $300 in Bilt Cash upon approval.
In a world of 100,000- and 200,000-point welcome bonuses, it would be easy to overlook just how meaningful a 50,000-point Bilt bonus really is.
But Bilt points are different. They are harder to earn at scale, they transfer to some of the most valuable loyalty programs available, and they are consistently worth more than 2 cents each when used with transfer partners.
When you combine that with the ability to earn points on rent and mortgage payments, this new lineup becomes genuinely compelling.
I am absolutely applying for the Bilt Palladium Card. Between the welcome bonus, the everyday spending earning rate and the ability to put my mortgage on the card for even more points, adding the card to my wallet is a no-brainer. The welcome bonus, plus other points-earning opportunities from the card, will bring me much closer to my next Hyatt stay, business-class flight or whatever tempting Rent Day transfer bonus Bilt rolls out next.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
