Bilt Rewards cardholders, it’s activation day.
If you applied for the Bilt Palladium Card, the Bilt Obsidian Card, or the Bilt Blue Card by February 1, you should have it in hand now.
If you haven’t applied for a new Bilt card yet, you can still apply for any of these cards now. However, February 1 was the last date for those who held the Wells Fargo-backed Bilt Mastercard® to opt for a “seamless transfer” to one of the three new options.
The information for the Bilt Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you have your new card, it’s time to activate it so you can start earning points.
Not a member? Join Bilt Rewards now to start earning and redeeming Bilt Points.
Here is what you need to do to activate your new Bilt card.
How to set up your Bilt 2.0 card account
Assuming you have your new card, open your Bilt Rewards app or scan the QR code that came with your card in the mail.
Scanning this QR code will take you to the activation page.
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If you’re using the app, tap “Activate card” in the “Wallet” tab.
If you haven’t confirmed the bank account for rent and mortgage payments, this will come up in the activation process. Remember, your housing payments will now be debited directly from your linked bank account via Automated Clearing House (ACH).
Previously, housing payments were made against your credit limit, but this has changed with Bilt 2.0.
Next, you’ll be prompted to either place your phone on the back of your card to activate or select “Enter CVC instead” to activate through that method.
After following these steps, you’ll see a screen while your card is being verified.
Once this is complete (it took just a few seconds for me), your card will be officially activated. You’ll receive a message confirming the activation.
You’ll also get a confirmation email.
After activating your card, Bilt will prompt you to add it to your Apple Wallet.
Current cardholders transitioning to the new card might not have the option to add their card to Apple Pay immediately. Bilt has noted the transition could take some time.
However, new cardholders setting up their first Bilt card should have no issue with Apple Pay.
After activating your digital wallet, you’ll choose your housing rewards structure. Your selection can be changed later, but initially, you can earn 4% Bilt Cash on all purchases or earn up to 1.25 points per dollar spent on rent or mortgage, depending on nonhousing purchases each month.
You can discover more about the options for earning rewards on housing purchases here.
TPG tip: If you are spending heavily on the card relative to your rent or mortgage payment while trying to maximize your welcome offer, “Flexible Bilt Cash” may be a wise selection to begin with.
That’s the final step to get it all started. Your new card should now be activated and ready for purchases.
Expect to see the Bilt Cash from your welcome offer already in your account upon activation. Some redemption options won’t be available until March, but a few options are ready for you to utilize right away.
TPG has tried out some Bilt Cash, redeeming $10 in Walgreens credit.
Bilt Cash options for redemptions.
This showed up as a gift card ready for use in the app moments later. To find it, go to the Rewards button, then click on “Everyday rewards.” From there, scroll to the “Gift cards” button, and you’ll see it under “Your gift cards.”
Frequently asked questions
Here are some common questions that may come up on activation day.
When will I receive TPG’s exclusive Bilt offer?
The TPG exclusive offer for eligible Bilt Palladium, Bilt Obsidian and Bilt Blue cardholders started today, February 7.
This offer was available for a limited time for those who applied through TPG’s link on a TPG page during the qualifying period (noon EST on January 14 through noon EST on January 15). It provides 5 Bilt points per dollar spent on all eligible purchases for the first five days (up to 50,000 points; offer is no longer available). The timeframe for using this offer begins today, and the last day to earn those points is February 12. Contact Bilt Support if your transactions aren’t earning the expected number of points.
TPG tip: Eligible cardholders should have received an email from Bilt confirming their enrollment for this offer on February 6. Those who think they are eligible but did not receive that email can reach out to [email protected].
When will I earn my Bilt card’s welcome offer?
This depends on the card you selected.
Bilt Palladium Card: Earn 50,000 Bilt points and Gold status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first three months. Plus, receive $300 of Bilt Cash upon approval.
Bilt Obsidian Card: Receive $200 of Bilt Cash upon approval.
Bilt Blue Card: Receive $100 of Bilt Cash upon approval.
If you selected the Bilt Palladium, your three-month period to meet the spending requirement starts today, February 7. The Bilt Cash portion of these offers should be available for use immediately upon card activation. Remember, only $100 of Bilt Cash rolls over each year.
What if I didn’t transition to a new Bilt card?
The Wells Fargo-backed Bilt Mastercard stopped functioning on February 6, the last day to service that card through your Bilt account.
If you did not select a new Bilt 2.0 card or close your Wells Fargo account, your Bilt Mastercard transitioned into a no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph® Card.
For more information about this card, check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph.
If you have more questions about the transition from Bilt 1.0 to Bilt 2.0, head to our FAQ.
Bottom line
The three new Bilt cards should now be ready for purchases as soon as you activate them. With valuable Bilt points ready to earn, it’s an exciting day for cardholders.
To learn more about the new Bilt cards, read our full reviews of the Bilt Palladium, the Bilt Obsidian, and the Bilt Blue.
Related: Are you eligible for a new Bilt Rewards card welcome offer? Your biggest Bilt card questions answered.
