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| This card makes it easy to earn big |
| by Brian Kelly |
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Hi everyone,
Bilt’s new card lineup and rewards revamp have definitely made headlines. It’s true that the new credit cards are more complex, and there’s a learning curve to figure out how to maximize them. Full disclosure: I’m a Bilt adviser and investor.
But maximizing the cards means you can win big, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. The Bilt 2.0 cards include the no-annual-fee Bilt Blue Card (see rates and fees), the midrange Bilt Obsidian Card (see rates and fees) and my personal favorite of the three: the top-of-the-line Bilt Palladium Card (see rates and fees).
In my mind, the welcome offer on the Palladium is a no-brainer. You’ll earn 50,000 bonus points and Bilt Gold status after $4,000 in non-housing purchases in three months, plus you’ll receive $300 in Bilt Cash* upon approval. The bonus points alone are worth at least $1,000 to me.
The benefits don’t stop there — I’m earning 2 points per dollar spent on everyday purchases, up to $400 in annual Bilt Travel hotel credit (up to $200 semiannually) and an extra $200 in annual Bilt Cash (*up to $100 in Bilt Cash earned rolls over to the next year).
But personally, I’m earning thousands of Bilt Points each month from spending on the Bilt Palladium Card (and by using some savvy tricks to earn points via other ways). Here’s how I’m maximizing the card to earn big.
I opted for the housing-only earning option
Although earning Bilt Cash can be valuable for some, I’ve opted for the housing-only rewards to focus solely on getting more Bilt points. This way, I can earn up to 1.25 points per dollar spent on my housing expenses instead of just 1 point. The TPG Bilt 2.0 Calculator can help you figure out the best option for you.
Paying my mortgage
I have two mortgages to pay, which can add up. Now, you can pay any rent or a mortgage through the platform (think: rent for your kids at college, parents, etc.) — it’s game-changing.
I can earn up to 1.25 points per dollar spent on housing payments, assuming I put enough in everyday spending on the card each month.
Note that for mortgage and rent payments, you don’t have to worry about credit cards being accepted. The mortgage payment will be processed as an automated clearing house transfer and will ultimately be debited from your bank account. Here’s how to pay your mortgage with Bilt.
Maximize everyday spending
It’s true that you’ll have to do a little math to figure out how much in everyday spending you have to reach to obtain the maximum amount of points for your housing payments. Still, the Palladium Card is relatively simple, as it doesn’t have several different bonus categories to keep track of.
The card offers an earning rate of 2 points per dollar spent on everything, which I love because I have a lot of random spending that doesn’t always fit into categories that traditionally have bonuses, like gas or groceries. I use this card to pay my accountant, to buy clothing and toys for my kids, and for pretty much anything.
Use Bilt Cash smartly
Although I opted for housing-only rewards, this card gave me a huge welcome offer of $300 worth of Bilt Cash as well as $200 of Bilt Cash annually (and 50,000 Bilt points), some of which I promptly exchanged for the ability to earn 3 points per dollar on everything for my next $5,000 in spending, which got me a return of around 6.6%, according to TPG’s March 2026 valuations.
I also use Bilt Cash to redeem up to $40 per month at my favorite fitness class at Barry’s. I use it as needed in the Bilt Travel portal toward hotel bookings, and soon it will be available to use with Blacklane and Blade.
Recently, Bilt Cash helped me obtain even bigger transfer bonuses — see my next point.
Take advantage of Rent Day
The first day of every month is Rent Day for Bilt (earn double points through Jan. 1, 2027), and it’s fast becoming my favorite day.
Because I have Gold status with Bilt, I get additional bonuses on certain transfers (this past month, I got a 75% bonus when transferring Bilt points to Japan Airlines). In February, Rent Day included an awesome 125% Accor Live Limitless bonus, and I was able to redeem some Bilt Cash to get an even better transfer ratio.
I also get 4 points per dollar spent on everyday purchases up to 1,000 points, so I’m always sure to spend big on the first day of each month. Be sure to bookmark our story on Rent Day, which is updated each month with the new offers.
Connect Rakuten with Bilt
My Bilt account is connected to Rakuten, so every time I shop, I make sure to check if I’ll earn additional points by clicking through this shopping portal. I can even shop in-store and get additional points through Rakuten. The shopping portal then transfers my earnings over to Bilt every quarter.
Use Bilt Dining
The Bilt Dining program includes local restaurants in my neighborhood — and good ones, too. It’s another way I’m earning even more points each month.
In fact, one of my favorite restaurants, The Corner Store in New York City, is part of the program. I can easily earn lots of points here, double-dipping by paying with credit cards that offer high bonuses on dining, as well as earning those Bilt points, too.
Try the Bilt 2.0 Calculator
The new TPG Bilt 2.0 Calculator can help you decide what you need to spend in order to maximize housing payments and earn the full amount of points on them. It’ll also help you figure out whether to opt for housing-only rewards or Bilt Cash, and show you which credit card from the Bilt 2.0 card lineup is right for you based on your spending.
My personal recommendation would be to get the best card for you and try it for a year. As with all new cards, I assess it after a year, and then if I decide it wasn’t as beneficial, I will downgrade a card.
Maximize with Bilt’s transfer partners
Bilt has 20-plus valuable transfer partners, including World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Accor Live Limitless, Air Canada Aeroplan, Iberia Club and Japan Airlines Mileage Plan. I consistently get at least 2.5% back on hotel spending, and sometimes more, which is higher than Chase Points Boost. Don’t discount those valuable hotel partners, especially on Rent Day.
You don’t need to carry a Bilt credit card to start earning rewards. Anyone can create a free Bilt Rewards account and begin collecting points.
If you’re new to the program or want to better understand how it works, start with our guide to Bilt Rewards — then compare the new Bilt 2.0 cards side by side to see how the latest options stack up.
Have a great weekend,
BK
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| Photo Credit: JONNO RATTMAN. |
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