
The card introduces a novel rent‑payment rewards model to the premium credit‑card market, potentially reshaping how high‑income renters capture value from everyday spending.
The Bilt Palladium Card marks a strategic expansion of Bilt’s rent‑payment ecosystem into the ultra‑premium credit‑card segment. By allowing members to earn points or cash back on rent and mortgage payments, Bilt tackles a long‑standing gap where traditional cards offer no reward for the largest monthly expense. The card’s dual‑track reward architecture—flexible Bilt Cash at 4 % back or a tiered points system that scales with the proportion of rent paid—gives financially disciplined renters a way to monetize housing costs, a feature that few competitors provide.
From a value‑proposition standpoint, the Palladium’s $400 hotel credit and $200 annual Bilt Cash offset part of its steep annual fee, which sits between Capital One’s $395 Venture X and Amex’s $895 Platinum. The flat 2X points on everyday spend is competitive, but the true upside lies in the welcome bonus—$300 cash plus 50,000 points and accelerated Gold status after $4,000 spend. However, the complexity of the housing‑only tier and the year‑end expiration of Bilt Cash demand disciplined tracking; otherwise the net return can fall short of the fee.
The card is best suited for high‑income renters who can meet the spend thresholds to unlock the maximum 1.25 X housing points and who travel frequently enough to leverage the hotel credit. Users who prefer simplicity may gravitate toward Bilt’s zero‑fee Blue Card or conventional travel cards. As Bilt refines its cash‑back rollover and expands transfer partners, the Palladium could evolve into a more compelling alternative to legacy premium cards, provided the rewards structure remains user‑friendly.
Bilt’s latest lineup of credit cards includes a new high‑end option, the Bilt Palladium Card. The card leans heavily on the Bilt Rewards ecosystem — particularly its housing payment structure — to justify its premium annual fee.
From earning Bilt Points on housing payments to 2X points on everyday spending, this card offers a compelling lineup of benefits. But is it right for your wallet, and how does it stack up against other premium credit cards? Let’s dig into all the details in our review of the Bilt Palladium Card.
2X Bilt Points on all eligible purchases
Earn Bilt Points on housing payments by meeting requirements or redeeming Bilt Cash
Access to Bilt’s transfer partners
No foreign transaction fees
Bilt Cash expires at the end of the year
Tax payments (and other large purchases) don’t earn points
High annual fee will take optimizing to justify
With a high annual fee, the Bilt Palladium Card offers an impressive buffet of benefits for cardholders. Here are some of the highlights.
While this benefit is available to all Bilt cardholders — not just Palladium members — Bilt says you will not be charged a transaction fee when paying rent or a mortgage through Bilt. That does not mean, however, that all housing payments automatically earn rewards.
Instead, you must choose between two reward structures:
Flexible Bilt Cash – Earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spending. Bilt Cash can be used across the Bilt ecosystem, including to unlock up to 1X points on housing payments.
Housing‑only rewards – Earn points directly on housing payments through a tiered structure that increases based on how much you spend on the card each billing cycle, up to 1.25X.
If you use the Flexible Bilt Cash option to earn points on housing payments, you’ll need to apply Bilt Cash to unlock points. The effective rate is roughly 3% of your housing payment (e.g., $30 in Bilt Cash to earn 1,000 Bilt Points on a $1,000 housing payment).
If you select the housing‑only tiered structure, your earning rate is based on monthly spending:
| Points on Housing Payment | Minimum everyday spend as a % of monthly rent/mortgage |
|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| 0.5X Points | ≥ 25% of monthly rent |
| 0.75X Points | ≥ 50% of monthly rent |
| 1X Points | ≥ 75% of monthly rent |
| 1.25X Points | ≥ 100% of monthly rent |
The card includes $400 of hotel credits each year booked through the Bilt Travel Portal, split into two $200 increments (January 1 – June 30 and July 1 – December 31). Credits must be used on two‑night bookings (or more) and are delivered as a statement credit. They can also be used with Home Away From Home.
Each account anniversary, cardholders receive $200 in Bilt Cash. Bilt Cash can be used across the Bilt ecosystem, including to unlock Bilt Points on housing payments or toward select travel, dining, fitness, and other partner offers. Up to $100 of unused Bilt Cash can roll over into the next calendar year.
The Bilt Palladium Card is a World Legend Mastercard, unlocking enhanced benefits such as:
Priority Pass membership – Free access for the cardholder and up to two guests per visit (additional guests $35 each). Airport restaurants and non‑lounge experiences are excluded.
Theft and fraud protections – ID theft monitoring, fraud purchase protection, and 24‑hour assistance for lost or stolen cards, including emergency worldwide delivery.
Concierge services – Assistance with hard‑to‑obtain restaurant reservations, travel bookings, and more.
Cellular protection – Up to $800 per occurrence (max $1,000 per 12‑month period) for damage or theft of a cellphone paid for with the card; $50 deductible per claim.
Purchase protection & extended warranties – Up to $1,000 per occurrence (max $50,000 per year) for damage or theft within 90 days; extended warranty up to 24 additional months (limited to the lesser of item cost, repair cost, replacement cost, or $10,000).
Price‑drop protection – Up to $250 per claim (minimum $25), usable up to four times per 12‑month period.
Rental car coverage – Secondary insurance for rentals of 31 days or less; exclusions apply.
Trip delay, cancellation, and interruption insurance – Coverage when the full trip cost is charged to the card; includes delay (≥ 6 hours), interruption (illness/injury), and cancellation (covered reasons).
Lost, damaged, and delayed luggage insurance – Up to $1,500 per incident (max two claims per year) for loss/damage; up to $250 per claim for delayed luggage (max two claims per year).
$300 in Bilt Cash upon approval
50,000 Bilt Points after meeting the spend requirement
Bilt Gold status after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases (excluding rent or mortgage) in the first three months
The $300 Bilt Cash can be used within the Bilt ecosystem, including to unlock points on housing payments or for Bilt Neighborhood purchases.
2X Bilt Points on eligible purchases (gift cards, tax payments, etc., are excluded).
Flexible Bilt Cash option – 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spending.
Housing‑only rewards – Tiered points on housing payments (see table above).
Bilt awards $50 in Bilt Cash for every 25,000 qualifying Bilt Points earned toward elite status, allowing Palladium cardholders to reach milestones faster.
Note: If you are a sole proprietor or small business owner planning to make tax payments with your Bilt credit card, consider using a different card to earn rewards on those payments.
Only one Bilt card type per primary cardholder (authorized users may have multiple).
One Bilt sign‑up bonus per lifetime.
Cardless issues Bilt credit cards and limits approvals to one new Cardless card every 60 days; declined applicants must wait 45 days before reapplying.
The card offers a straightforward 2X earning rate and a competitive welcome bonus. The first‑year value can be strong if you maximize the welcome offer and leverage Bilt Gold status for enhanced Rent Day transfer bonuses. World Legend Mastercard status adds stronger purchase protections than other Bilt cards.
However, the housing‑payment earning structure is more complex than previous versions, and Bilt Cash expires at year‑end (only $100 can roll over). Active management of redemptions is required to avoid losing value.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $395
$300 travel credit (split $150 × 2)
10X miles on hotels/rental cars via Capital One Travel, 5X on Capital One Entertainment, 5X on flights via Capital One Travel, 5X on vacation rentals, 2X on other purchases.
American Express Platinum Card®
Annual fee: $895
Up to 175,000 Membership Rewards points (varies by offer) after $12,000 spend in first 6 months.
5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel, 5X on prepaid hotels via Amex Travel, 5X on Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection bookings.
Bilt Blue Card (lower‑fee alternative)
Annual fee: $0
Up to 1X points on rent/mortgage payments
1X points + 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases
$100 Bilt Cash welcome bonus
Overall, the Bilt Palladium Card can make sense for the right cardholder. The welcome offer is strong, making the first year especially compelling for those who fully leverage the bonus and housing benefits. The flat 2X earning rate on eligible purchases is appealing for non‑bonused spending.
Bilt Cash provides broader redemption options than housing payments alone, but many categories have caps, and the cash expires annually, requiring active management. Long‑term value will depend on how usable Bilt Cash remains and whether the housing rewards structure evolves toward a more consumer‑friendly model.
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