One card we haven’t discussed is the BILT credit card. The primary reason is that it doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus, and quite honestly, those make up the bulk of our points and miles. However, it makes sense for certain people, and we get questions about it.  Here is our review of the BILT card.

 

Pros of the BILT Card

It is the only card that allows you to pay rent and earn points without a finance charge. This card can make sense for people who rent, particularly those who pay high rent. If you pay $3,000/month on rent, you can earn 36,000 BILT points/year, which can then be transferred to some valuable partners. It also does not have an annual fee.

BILT offers some good transfer bonuses on the first of the month. There have been some phenomenal ones in the past, like up to a 150% transfer bonus to Air France. Your transfer bonus percentage will depend on the level of BILT status you have acquired. More on that status here.  These rent day bonuses can be quite good, though!

BILT offers 2x on travel, 3x on dining, 1x on rent (up to 100K points each calendar year), and 1x on everything else. These values double (with the exception of rent) on the first day of the month, so that would be a good time to book travel or dine out and earn more points.

The transfer partners, including Hyatt, United, Alaska Airlines, and many others, are good. Sadly, the valuable partnership with American Airlines is ending in June.

 

 

Cons of the BILT Card

It takes a valuable 5/24 spot, yet it doesn’t offer a traditional sign-up bonus. However, many people have received an email giving them 5x their spending (up to $10,000) within the first five days of receiving the card. That is essentially a 50K bonus if you can max it out—not the highest, but a bonus. There is no guarantee that you will receive this email, though.

You must use your BILT card at least five times per statement period to earn points for that period. No sticking it in the sock drawer!

The referral bonus is a mere 2,500 BILT points with a 10,000-point bonus when you hit your 5th referral. This is poor, in my opinion.

 

How to Pay Rent with the BILT Card

If your landlord is part of the Bilt Alliance, they will send your payment directly to the property management company.  If your landlord is not part of the alliance, you can mail them a check via the BILT app and still earn 1x BILT points (up to 100,000 points per calendar year). Here is more information about how all of that works.

 

 

 

Who Should Get the BILT Card

• Someone who pays rent
• Someone who is ok with it taking up a 5/24 spot

Currently, I am under 5/24 because I am having trouble getting approved for Chase cards.  I am taking a break from Chase. I also pay $3,000/month in rent and would like to get something for it.  BILT was not a card that I considered previously because I have wanted other welcome offers, and applying for a card without a sign-up bonus just didn’t work for me. With my current Chase situation, I decided to at least get points for paying my rent.

I was pleasantly surprised to get that email that let me earn 5x on any purchases (up to 50,000 points) during my first week. I paid $10,000 towards my estimated taxes and essentially earned a 50K BILT sign-up bonus.

Here is my referral code should you wish to get this card. It will definitely work for some people just as it currently does for me.

 

Bottom Line

When the BILT card first came out, I thought that I would never get it because it doesn’t have a sign-up bonus. Once I started paying rent vs. paying a mortgage, I realized it might be a good fit after all. The possibility of getting that initial bonus for spending $10,000 within the first five days convinced me to open the card. I know there is no guarantee that everyone gets that offer, but I think that most people do.

My review of the BILT card is mixed. Some things could be improved, like a real sign-up bonus and a larger referral bonus. However, if you rent, it could definitely make sense for you. I’ll tell you more about how this card worked for me in my yearly recap. What are your thoughts on this card?