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October 28, 2026

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More Bilt changes are coming

by Summer Hull, Senior Director of Content

One of my favorite ways to earn rewards is changing – but only for those who don’t act in time.

Bilt has become one of my favorite rewards programs this year. Between earning valuable transferable points when I pay my monthly mortgage and unlocking up to 3 points per dollar on everyday purchases with my Bilt Palladium Card, it's made a really big difference in how I earn points.

Now, Bilt has announced program updates coming in 2027, and the changes mean that getting a Bilt card may be something you want to do ASAP. (I have this one — and frequently recommend it to others.)

First, some genuinely good news from these announcements: Bilt Cash will no longer expire at the end of the year. There will also be changes to annual Bilt card credits, how frequently you can redeem Bilt Cash toward hotel bookings and a new Daily Rewards feature with some really good grand prizes.

But there's one change in particular I want to make sure you know about.

Starting Jan. 1, 2027, new Bilt cardholders will not have the option to choose the 4% Bilt Cash earning system. Instead, the up-to-1.25-points-per-dollar housing rewards option will become the standard for new cardholders.

Why does that matter?

Because many of us at TPG — myself included — really love the 4% Bilt Cash option.

It lets you earn 4% Bilt Cash alongside your regular Bilt points, which you can then use to unlock a points accelerator and earn up to 3 points per dollar on everyday purchases with the Bilt Palladium Card (see rates and fees), among other great uses of Bilt Cash, such as unlocking higher periodic transfer bonuses.

And if you don't use Bilt for housing payments, that option may be especially worth considering since getting 1.25 points per dollar on your housing payment won’t help you.

The good news is that as long as you are approved and accept a Bilt Card offer by Dec. 31, you can get grandfathered into the current 4% Bilt Cash program.

There are plenty of nuances here, so I'd start with our full breakdown of the upcoming Bilt changes to understand what they mean for you. And here’s how to opt out of the housing-only rewards system, which you need to do before your cardmember anniversary date to keep the 4% Bilt Cash system.

If you've already been considering a Bilt card, it's worth reviewing the current welcome offers before January, as your card needs to have been approved and accepted by Dec. 31 to use the 4% Bilt Cash pathway:

Bilt Palladium Card (see rates and fees): Earn 50,000 bonus points and Bilt Gold status after spending $4,000 in the first 90 days. Plus, you’ll receive $300 Bilt Cash.
Bilt Obsidian Card (see rates and fees): Earn $200 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved.
Bilt Blue Card (see rates and fees): Earn $100 Bilt Cash.

As always, the right choice depends on how you spend and which benefits you'll actually use. But I know how much value I've gotten from this particular earning option, and I wanted to make sure it was on your radar while it's still available to choose.

Want to know more? We're answering your questions on Substack, so come ask away! The chat is for subscribers only, and it's free to join.

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Photo Credit: MARIA KORNEEVA/GETTY IMAGES.

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