Bilt 2027: 4% Bilt Cash ends for new cardholders, hotel credits become Bilt Cash, hotel redemptions drop to twice a year
Bilt is retiring its 4% Flexible Bilt Cash mode for new cardholders from 1 January 2027, turning the Palladium and Obsidian hotel credits into Bilt Cash, and limiting Bilt Cash hotel redemptions to twice a year. Existing cardholders can keep 4% by opting out before their card anniversary.
In this article
Bilt published its 2027 program changes on 27 October 2026. The headline: the option that made the new Bilt cards worth carrying for everyday spend, 4% back in Bilt Cash, is closing to new cardholders. Existing cardholders can keep it, but only if they act.
Update, 3 November 2026
We re-read Bilt's newsroom post. Two details it states that this post did not carry before:
- Rental car status matches in 2027. Bilt Platinum members can unlock matches to SIXT ONE Platinum and Hertz President's Circle; Gold and Silver members can unlock SIXT ONE Gold and Hertz Five Star.
- Annual credits move to your anniversary. Palladium and Obsidian annual Bilt Cash credits now land on the card account anniversary, not on 1 January.
Some outlets also report that housing-mode cardholders gain access to Point Accelerator. Bilt's post only says Palladium and Obsidian cardholders on the new benefits can still redeem Bilt Cash for Point Accelerator, so we are not repeating the wider claim.
What changed
Bilt's own newsroom post, One Mile at a Time and Doctor of Credit agree on the figures below.
| Change | Before | From 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday earn option for new cardholders | Choice of 4% Flexible Bilt Cash or housing mode | Housing mode only: up to 1.25x points on rent or mortgage |
| Bilt Cash expiry | End of the calendar year, with a rollover | End of the month, 12 months after it was earned |
| Palladium annual credits | $200 Bilt Cash plus a $400 hotel credit | One $600 Bilt Cash credit |
| Obsidian annual credit | $100 Bilt Travel hotel credit | $100 Bilt Cash |
| Bilt Cash hotel redemptions | Monthly | Twice a year, from 1 January 2027 |
Bilt's example for the new expiry rule: $100 of Bilt Cash earned in February 2026 expires on 28 February 2027. Bilt's newsroom post confirms the annual Bilt Cash credits on Palladium and Obsidian are deposited on the card account anniversary instead of 1 January.
The new hotel redemption limits
From 1 January 2027 Bilt Cash can be redeemed against a hotel stay only twice a year. The two-night minimum stays.
| Bilt status | Per redemption | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Blue or Silver | up to $50 | $100 |
| Gold or Platinum | up to $100 | $200 |
| Palladium cardholders | up to $200 | $400 |
Doctor of Credit calls this "a big negative" for anyone who used Bilt Cash on hotels every month.
Who keeps 4% Bilt Cash
- Existing cardholders: Bilt's post says you may opt out of the new benefits in your card settings before your card anniversary date. Do that and you keep 4% Flexible Bilt Cash and your eligible annual credits. One Mile at a Time notes you cannot switch back and forth between the two modes afterwards. Doctor of Credit describes a 31 December 2026 opt-in; we follow Bilt's own wording, so check the date shown in your app.
- New cardholders: One Mile at a Time and Doctor of Credit both report that cardholders approved through 31 December 2026 can still choose 4% Bilt Cash. From 1 January 2027, housing mode is the default.
Bilt also says a new Daily Rewards feature starts on 15 January 2027.
What it means for you
- You hold a Bilt card and use 4% Bilt Cash? Open the card settings now and opt out of the new benefits before your anniversary. Missing the window moves you to housing mode.
- You redeem Bilt Cash on hotels every month? Plan for two redemptions a year from January, and use what you hold before it expires under the new 12-month rule.
- Thinking about applying? Applying before 31 December 2026 is the only way to start with 4% Bilt Cash. Do not apply for a card you would not otherwise keep just to lock in an option Bilt is already winding down.
Want to see whether a different card earns more on your spend? Run Polo Match, or compare where your points can go on the transfer partner explorer.
Sources
Every claim on this page is backed by a primary or reputable source.
Card figures on CardPolo come from our catalog, each with an issuer source and a verified date where we have checked it. Spot something out of date? Tell us at [email protected].
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