Dear Bilt Palladium Card,
Welcome to the block! The neighborhood is full of other successful premium travel cards, and you’re going to fit in well. Just not in the way you think.
Let’s be clear — I won’t use you to earn points for paying rent or a mortgage. The math doesn’t make sense. But as a traditional travel credit card, you might still make it to the top of my wallet.
These cards are currently available for preorder, and cardholders can start using them on Feb. 7.
You’re offering a solid 2 Bilt points for every dollar spent on the card, with no bonus categories to manage. In addition to those points, you’re also offering 4% back in Bilt Cash (a new rewards currency) on all purchases, excluding rent or mortgage payments.
I didn’t start 2026 expecting to get another premium travel card, but those benefits are why I’m choosing you to replace my Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card.
I’m a credit card optimizer to the core, but I’m not someone who likes babysitting a bunch of bonus categories. With you, the Bilt Palladium card, I’ll get both outsized rewards and simplicity by earning a flat 2 Bilt points per dollar plus 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases.
That makes you more generous than other established premium cards. Based on BW’s point values, here’s how those rewards stack up on $5,000 of non-bonus spend:
Your Bilt Cash can be redeemed at a 1:1 rate for purchases within the Bilt ecosystem, including hotel stays booked in the Bilt Travel portal, fitness classes, and Lyft rides — and that’s how I plan on using it.
Bilt Cash can also be used to offset the 3% fee you’ll pay to earn an uncapped 1 point per dollar spent when paying your rent or mortgage through Bilt.
Now, I have to be honest. I know you like to talk about how you can help people earn rewards on rent or mortgage payments. But you’re charging a 3% fee to earn 1 point per dollar spent on those housing payments. Sure, you can cover that fee with Bilt Cash, but that would only make sense if you could redeem each point for more than 3 cents apiece, and that’s a tall order.
Instead, using the Bilt Cash on expenses I’d otherwise pay for puts cash immediately back in my pocket.
As for the points, my plan is to stockpile Bilt points from everyday purchases until there’s a Rent Day transfer bonus I want to use.
While I considered switching to the Bilt Obsidian Card to earn 3x points on dining or groceries (up to $25,000 in grocery spend per year) and the same 4% back in Bilt Cash, that card only offers 1x points in non-bonus category spend. I’d rather get your extra travel benefits and not have to worry about tracking bonus categories or spending caps.
If I wanted to earn bonus rewards at the grocery store, I’d turn to the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, which has a $0 annual fee and earns 3% back at a wider range of merchants, including both grocery stores and restaurants.
First impressions are important, and sign-up bonuses are the easiest way to get my attention with an initial slug of miles and points. That’s one of the reasons I’m looking at you, Bilt Palladium Card.
Out of the three new Bilt cards, the Bilt Palladium Card stands out with its points-based welcome offer for new cardholders. By spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months, cardholders can earn 50,000 Bilt Points, Gold Status, and $300 of Bilt Cash.
Aside from the lucrative sign-up bonus, the Bilt Palladium Card offers annual $200 in Bilt Cash and $400 in hotel credits for booking a two-night minimum stay through Bilt Travel. These credits are issued as two $200 semiannual credits.
The $400 in hotel credits may require some optimization as they are split into $200 credits from January to June and another $200 from July to December. However, this process is relatively straightforward compared to other premium travel cards, and as a frequent traveler, I find these credits valuable.
The best transfer partners of any premium card
The Bilt Palladium Card offers a robust earning structure that allows for quicker accumulation of Bilt Rewards. These points can be transferred to premium travel partners like World of Hyatt and Atmos Rewards, enhancing their value. Additionally, Bilt’s Rent Day transfer bonuses provide up to a 100% bonus on select transfer partners each month, further maximizing the points’ potential.
The card I didn’t know I needed
The Bilt Palladium Card may have a more complex structure than some other cards, but its straightforward value proposition and strong transfer partners make it a valuable addition to my wallet. Despite requiring a bit more effort to utilize its benefits, the ability to earn points for valuable travel partners outweighs the extra effort.
After careful consideration of the costs and benefits, the Bilt Palladium Card seems like a perfect fit for my travel needs. I look forward to maximizing its rewards and enjoying its benefits. Welcome to my wallet, Bilt Palladium Card!
How to maximize your rewards
following sentence:
“Sam purchased a new car yesterday.”
Yesterday, Sam bought a new car.