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Bilt Card 2.0: Complete Guide to the New Blue, Obsidian & Palladium Cards (2026)
July 1, 2025
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What Changed? Bilt Card 1.0 vs 2.0
Bilt just overhauled their entire credit card lineup, replacing the single Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard with three distinct cards: Blue, Obsidian, and Palladium. The biggest change? Bilt Cash, a new currency that replaces Milestone Rewards and fundamentally changes how you earn points on rent and mortgage payments.
Old system (Bilt 1.0): Earn 1X Bilt Points on rent automatically, capped at 50,000 points per year.
New system (Bilt 2.0): Earn 4% Bilt Cash on all non-rent purchases, then redeem $30 in Bilt Cash to unlock 1,000 Bilt Points on rent or mortgage—with no annual cap. You can even earn across multiple properties.
The transition is happening now. Current Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard holders can select their new Bilt Card 2.0 by January 30, 2026, to receive their card by February 6th. All Bilt Card 2.0s activate on February 7, 2026.
The New Bilt Card 2.0 Lineup: Blue, Obsidian, Palladium
Bilt Blue Card: The No-Fee Gateway
Annual Fee: $0
Earn Rate: 1X Bilt Points + 4% Bilt Cash on everyday purchases, up to 1X points on rent/mortgage
Welcome Offer: $100 Bilt Cash
Best For: Rent payers who want to test the Bilt ecosystem without commitment
The Bilt Blue Card removes the barrier to entry. With no annual fee, it's a risk-free way to start earning on your largest monthly expense. Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points, then watch the 4% Bilt Cash accumulate to unlock rent rewards.
What stands out: No annual fee, straightforward earning structure, and access to Bilt's 50,000+ Neighborhood Benefits merchants where you earn bonus points.
Bilt Obsidian Card: The Mid-Tier Powerhouse
Annual Fee: $95
Earn Rate: 1X Bilt Points + 4% Bilt Cash on everyday purchases, 3X points on your choice of grocery (up to $25K/year) OR dining, 2X points on travel, up to 1X points on rent/mortgage
Welcome Offer: $200 Bilt Cash
Travel Credit: $100 Bilt Travel Hotel credit (two $50 credits annually)
Best For: Foodies or grocery shoppers who want category bonuses and occasional hotel savings
The Obsidian Card adds category multipliers that can supercharge your Bilt Cash earnings. Choose 3X points on groceries if you spend heavily at supermarkets (earning up to 75,000 bonus points annually), or pick dining if you eat out frequently. The 2X travel rate applies to flights, hotels, and rental cars.
You select your 3X category (grocery or dining) once per year in January. For migrating customers, you can make this selection on February 7, 2026, when you activate your card.
What stands out: The $100 annual travel credit (applied as two $50 statement credits for Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings) effectively reduces your annual fee to $0 if you book one hotel night per half-year through Bilt.
Bilt Palladium Card: The Premium Travel Card
Annual Fee: $495
Earn Rate: 2X Bilt Points + 4% Bilt Cash on everyday purchases, up to 1X points on rent/mortgage
Welcome Bonus: 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after $4,000 spend in first 3 months + $300 Bilt Cash
Travel Credit: $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit (two $200 credits annually)
Annual Bilt Cash: $200
Premium Perks: Priority Pass membership ($469 value), Gold Status (after meeting spend requirement)
Best For: Frequent travelers with high rent or mortgage payments who want premium perks
The Palladium Card doubles your everyday earning to 2X Bilt Points (plus 4% Bilt Cash), making it the most lucrative option for non-category spending. The $200 annual Bilt Cash benefit (awarded at account creation and annually thereafter) gives you instant redemption power.
For year one, Palladium cardmembers receive $500 in Bilt Cash total: $300 welcome offer + $200 annual benefit at account creation.
Break-even analysis: Spend $2,000 per month on non-rent purchases to earn $80 Bilt Cash monthly. That's $960 annually—enough to unlock 32,000 Bilt Points on rent. Combined with the $400 travel credit and Priority Pass access, the $495 annual fee pays for itself if you travel even moderately.
What stands out: The Priority Pass membership alone justifies a significant portion of the annual fee. Gold Status (earned after $4,000 spend in 3 months) accelerates your path to higher Bilt elite tiers, which unlock transfer bonuses and exclusive experiences.
Understanding Bilt Cash: The Key to Rent Rewards
Bilt Cash is the engine behind the new rent earning system. Here's how it works:
Earning: Get 4% back in Bilt Cash on all non-rent card purchases (no cap).
Redeeming: Use Bilt Cash three ways:
- Unlock rent/mortgage points: Every $30 in Bilt Cash unlocks 1,000 Bilt Points on rent or mortgage payments (no minimums, no increments required)
- Dollar-for-dollar credits: Redeem in the Bilt network (Lyft, hotel bookings, fitness classes, mobile dining, GoPuff deliveries, Bilt Collection items)
- Status upgrades: Unlock one-time transfer bonuses or early access to member experiences
Expiration: Bilt Cash expires December 31st each year. You can roll over $100 into the next year. Palladium cardholders who roll over $100 start January 1st with $300 total ($100 rollover + $200 annual benefit).
Example: Spend $1,500 per month on your Bilt card. Earn $60 Bilt Cash monthly ($1,500 × 0.04 = $60). After 12 months, you've accumulated $720 in Bilt Cash. Redeem this to unlock 24,000 Bilt Points on your rent payments throughout the year.
Rent & Mortgage Payments: No More Earning Caps
Bilt 2.0 removes the old 50,000-point annual cap on rent and mortgage earnings. Now you can earn unlimited points by spending more on your card to accumulate Bilt Cash.
How it works:
- No transaction fees when using Bilt Cash to unlock points
- Pay rent or mortgage without using your credit line (no preset spending limit on housing)
- Earn up to 1X points per home across multiple properties
- Use Mastercard's billpay services (embedded in Bilt app), check, or in-network mortgage providers
Two payment options:
- No-fee option: Redeem Bilt Cash at $30 per 1,000 points. If your monthly rent is $2,000 and you've earned $60 in Bilt Cash, you unlock 2,000 Bilt Points on your rent payment—no fees.
- Full 1X option: Want to earn the full 1X points but don't have enough Bilt Cash? Pay a 3% transaction charge on the difference. If your rent is $3,000 but you only have $60 Bilt Cash (enough for 2,000 points), you can pay $30 to unlock the remaining 1,000 points.
Who this helps: Homeowners with large mortgages or renters in high-cost cities. If you pay $4,000/month in rent, you can now earn 48,000 Bilt Points annually just on housing—nearly the value of a domestic round-trip flight when transferred to airline partners.
Should You Apply? Decision Framework by Profile
"I'm a renter with a $1,500-2,000 monthly rent payment"
Recommendation: Bilt Blue Card
With $0 annual fee, the Blue card lets you earn on rent without risk. If you spend $1,000/month on the card, you'll earn $40 Bilt Cash monthly. Over a year, that's $480 in Bilt Cash—enough to unlock 16,000 Bilt Points on rent.
Apply if: You want to start earning on rent with zero commitment and don't need category bonuses.
"I spend $800+ monthly on groceries or dining"
Recommendation: Bilt Obsidian Card
The 3X category multiplier is powerful for high spenders in grocery or dining. Spend $800/month at supermarkets, earn 2,400 Bilt Points monthly (28,800 annually) plus $32 Bilt Cash. The $100 travel credit offsets the $95 annual fee if you book one hotel stay.
Apply if: You consistently spend in a single category (grocery OR dining) and want to maximize those purchases while earning Bilt Cash for rent.
"I travel frequently and have a $2,500+ mortgage"
Recommendation: Bilt Palladium Card
The 2X everyday earning combined with $200 annual Bilt Cash makes this ideal for high spenders. Spend $3,000/month on non-housing expenses, earn 6,000 Bilt Points + $120 Bilt Cash monthly. That's 72,000 points + $1,440 Bilt Cash annually—enough to unlock 48,000 rent points on a $4,000 mortgage.
Add in the $400 hotel credit and Priority Pass, and you're getting tremendous value for $495.
Apply if: You spend $2,500+ monthly on non-housing expenses, travel internationally or domestically multiple times per year, and want premium perks.
Comparing Bilt 2.0 to Other Rent Cards
Bilt remains the only major credit card that lets you earn rewards on rent without transaction fees (when using Bilt Cash). Other options require fees or workarounds:
- Credit cards with 3% transaction fees: Any card that accepts rent payments through services like Plastiq charges 2.85-3% fees, eroding your rewards value.
- Bilt advantage: Use Bilt Cash to cover transaction fees dollar-for-dollar, effectively earning rewards fee-free.
For mortgage payments, Bilt now supports all personal mortgage holders and servicers through Mastercard's billpay services or checks—no more restrictions.
How to Maximize Bilt Cash Earnings
1. Front-load spending early in the year
Bilt Cash expires December 31st (with $100 rollover). Concentrate spending in Q1-Q3 to accumulate cash before year-end expiration.
2. Use the right card for each purchase
If you have multiple Bilt cards (you can be primary on one, authorized user on another), route grocery/dining purchases through Obsidian's 3X category, everyday spending through Palladium's 2X rate, and rent through whichever card you've accumulated Bilt Cash on.
3. Leverage Bilt Neighborhood Benefits
Bilt's network of 50,000+ merchants offers bonus earning (details vary by merchant). Check the Bilt app before making purchases—you might earn 2X, 3X, or more at participating locations.
4. Redeem strategically
Dollar-for-dollar Bilt Cash redemptions in the Bilt network (Lyft, hotels, fitness) can offer better value than unlocking rent points if you were planning those purchases anyway.
5. Track the 5-transaction requirement
Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points. Automate small recurring charges (subscriptions, coffee) to hit this threshold without thinking.
Transfer Partners & Redemption Options
Bilt Points transfer 1:1 to 18+ airline and hotel partners, including:
Airlines: United MileagePlus, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Air Canada Aeroplan, TAP, Southwest, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, Alaska Airlines, Avianca LifeMiles
Hotels: Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards
Other redemptions:
- Future rent or mortgage payments
- Lyft rides
- Statement credits
- Student loan payments
- Down payment on a home
The transfer flexibility makes Bilt Points valuable beyond just rent rewards—you're building a travel currency.
Application Process & Eligibility
Credit requirements: Bilt doesn't specify minimum credit scores, but approval odds improve with good to excellent credit (670+).
Pre-qualification: You can check pre-qualification on Bilt's site without affecting your credit score (soft pull). If you accept an offer, a hard inquiry will be made.
For current Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard holders:
- Select your new Bilt Card 2.0 by January 30, 2026
- Receive your card by February 6, 2026
- Activate on February 7, 2026
Your Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard remains active through February 6, 2026. After that, you can access statements and make payments at wellsfargo.com or by calling 1-833-404-2272.
Credit limit transfers: Credit limits will be determined by the new issuing bank (not automatically transferred from Wells Fargo). Expect a review of your credit profile.
Authorized users:
- Bilt Blue: $0 per authorized user
- Bilt Obsidian: $50 per authorized user
- Bilt Palladium: $95 per authorized user (includes Priority Pass)
You can add up to five authorized users directly in the Bilt app.
Who Should Avoid Bilt 2.0?
You won't benefit if:
- You don't pay rent or a mortgage
- You already earn high rewards on everyday spending with other cards (2%+ cash back)
- You won't spend enough to accumulate meaningful Bilt Cash for rent redemptions
- You prefer simplicity over optimizing multiple redemption currencies
Better alternatives:
- Cash back simplicity: Citi Double Cash® Card or Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card earn flat-rate cash back without Bilt Cash complexity
- Travel rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offer straightforward travel earning without rent focus
Bilt shines when rent or mortgage payments represent a significant portion of your monthly expenses and you're willing to engage with the Bilt Cash system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hold multiple Bilt 2.0 cards?
You can only be the primary cardholder on one Bilt Card 2.0. You may be an authorized user on another account.
Does Bilt Cash ever expire?
Yes—Bilt Cash expires December 31st each calendar year. You can roll over $100 into the next year. Palladium cardholders start each year with $300 total ($100 rollover + $200 annual benefit).
What's the minimum spend to unlock rent points?
No minimum—you can redeem any amount of Bilt Cash for rent points. Example: $43 in Bilt Cash unlocks 1,433 points on a $1,433 mortgage (no increments required).
Can I upgrade or downgrade between Bilt cards?
Not in the first year. Bilt will not support upgrading/downgrading of card products during the first year of the Bilt Card 2.0 program.
How does the Obsidian 3X category choice work?
The Obsidian card defaults to dining. After approval, you have 30 days to switch to grocery in the Bilt app. You can change your selection once per year in January. Migrating customers can adjust on February 7, 2026, at activation.
Bottom Line: Which Bilt Card 2.0 Is Right for You?
The Bilt Card 2.0 lineup transforms rent and mortgage payments from dead money into travel rewards currency—but only if you engage with the Bilt Cash system.
Choose Bilt Blue if you're dipping your toes into rent rewards with no annual fee commitment.
Choose Bilt Obsidian if you spend heavily in groceries or dining and want category bonuses plus a small travel credit.
Choose Bilt Palladium if you're a frequent traveler with high non-housing spending who wants premium perks and the fastest path to elite status.
The math works in your favor if rent or mortgage represents $1,500+ monthly and you can direct $1,000+ in everyday spending to the card. Run your own numbers using the 4% Bilt Cash earning rate and $30 = 1,000 points redemption ratio to see if Bilt 2.0 fits your wallet strategy.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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