Bilt Tests Card Upgrade Offers With Welcome Bonuses
Bilt appears to be testing a significant change to its card upgrade policy, with some existing cardholders reportedly receiving upgrade offers that include signup bonuses.
One reported offer for upgrading to the Bilt Palladium Card includes 50,000 Bilt Points plus $100 in Bilt Cash after spending $4,000 within 90 days.
Check out the new terms below.
Product Upgrades
Eligible Bilt Cardholders may be able to upgrade their Bilt Card. Below you’ll find answers to common questions about upgrading your Bilt Card, from eligibility and timing to fees, rewards, and what happens to your account.
As of September 18, 2026, product upgrades are in Beta to select cardholders and are rolling out in phases. We’ll notify Bilt Members as soon as they’re widely available.
How do I know if I’m eligible to upgrade?
Log in to your Bilt account and navigate to your Bilt Card settings. Under the ‘Account’ section, you may see an option to upgrade your card. From there, you’ll see the Bilt Cards you can upgrade to and can select the one you want.
Eligibility is specific to each card, so an offer may be available for one card and not another. If you select a card and there’s no offer available for it at that time, it means you’re not eligible to upgrade to that card right now. Eligibility is reviewed regularly, so it’s worth checking back.
Please note, upgrades are not permitted before your first statement closes.
Can I upgrade my Bilt Card without closing my current Bilt Card account and reapplying?
Yes. You can upgrade to a different Bilt Card while keeping your existing account. You do not need to cancel your current card and apply for a new one. Your account history stays intact, so you keep the credit history you’ve built, and there’s no new hard credit inquiry on your credit report.
Which cards can I upgrade to?
If you currently have the Blue Card, you may be eligible for an upgrade to the Obsidian or Palladium Card. If you currently have the Obsidian Card, you may be eligible for an upgrade to the Palladium Card.
Can my authorized user request an upgrade?
Only the primary cardholder can request a product change. Authorized users move to the new card automatically when the primary makes the change.
Do I need to submit a new application?
No. Upgrading your Bilt Card does not require a new application. You may be asked to verify your information. Your Bilt account, all the points you’ve previously earned, and your credit history will all carry over to your new card.
How do I upgrade my card?
Navigate to your Bilt Card settings and select the upgrade option. Choose the card you want to move to, then review its benefits, annual fee, and terms. If you are eligible for that card, you can confirm the change request, and we’ll process it and let you know when it’s complete.
What happens to my authorized users?
When you upgrade your card, your authorized users are upgraded too. They’ll receive new cards and the benefits of your new tier, and any applicable authorized user fees are adjusted to match the card you upgrade to.
If you’d prefer not to bring an authorized user to your new card, remove them before you upgrade. You can do this in the Wallet tab under Manage authorized users.
How long does the upgrade take?
Most upgrades are processed the same day. You’ll see a pending status in the Bilt app while it’s in progress, and you’ll be notified once it’s complete via email.
Can I cancel my upgrade while it’s processing?
Once you’ve confirmed the upgrade, it can’t be cancelled mid-processing. If you change your mind after it completes, you can reverse it by reaching out to Cardless Support at (888) 533-5576.
Will my credit limit change when I upgrade?
At this time, your credit limit stays the same when you change cards. Your limit may still be reviewed and adjusted separately as part of our normal account reviews.
How often can I change my card?
You can make one upgrade in a 12-month period, measured from the date of your last change.
Will I get a new physical card and card number?
Yes. A new card will be issued and mailed to you automatically when your upgrade is complete. Your new physical card will have the same number as your old card with a different expiration date and CVV.
Can I still use my current Bilt Card while the new one is on the way?
Yes. Your current card keeps working until you activate your new one. Once you activate your new physical card, your previous physical is automatically deactivated.
This applies to your physical card only, and your virtual card number stays the same and keeps working without interruption.
Can I start using my new card benefits right away?
Yes. Your new benefits are active as soon as the upgrade is complete. You don’t need to wait for the new physical card to arrive. Keep using your current card and you’ll earn your new benefits on it in the meantime.
What happens to my annual fee when I upgrade?
You’ll see two separate line items on your statement: 1) the full annual fee for your new card, and 2) a separate refund (full or prorated) of your old card’s annual fee. Both post approximately 45 days after your upgrade is complete.
The refund amount depends on when you upgrade:
- If within 30 days of your current card’s fee posting, you get a full refund of that fee. For example if your current card’s annual fee is posted on March 28th and you upgrade on April 10th, you will receive a full refund.
- After 30 days, you get a prorated refund for the unused portion of your year. For example if your current card’s annual fee is posted on March 28th and you upgrade on April 29th, you will receive a prorated refund based on the time remaining in your current card year.
See <a class=”relative pointer-events-auto a
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cursor-pointer” href=”https://legal.cardless.com/schumer/bilt/rates_and_fees.pdf” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener nofollow ugc”>Rates & Fees.
Does my card anniversary date change when I upgrade?
Yes. The anniversary date of your card is updated to the end of the statement cycle that follows your new card’s annual fee posting date. Your card anniversary date is your new annual fee billing date, and your annual fee will renew each year from that new date.
I already got a welcome bonus. Do I get an upgrade bonus for my new card?
When you upgrade to another Bilt Card, you are eligible to receive an upgrade bonus as indicated in the Bilt app or website at the time of your upgrade. The exact bonus depends on which card you upgrade to and is subject to the <a class=”relative pointer-events-auto a
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cursor-pointer” href=”https://www.biltrewards.com/terms/bilt-card-offer-terms” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener nofollow ugc”>Bilt Card Offer Terms.
I have the Obsidian Card. What happens to my Bilt Hotel credits?
You receive the difference in credits when you upgrade to the Palladium Card right away, less anything already received under your Obsidian Card during the same period. Because these credits are distributed semi-annually, the difference is based on the current period’s amount, not the full annual total.
For example, say you’ve already received your $50 Obsidian hotel credit for the current period. When you upgrade to Palladium, on which the credit for that same period is $200, you receive the $150 difference rather than the full $200 on top of what you already received. Going forward, you’ll receive your full Palladium hotel credit each period.
Will upgrading my Bilt Card interrupt any autopay (rent or card payments) that I have set up on my existing Bilt Card?
No. Your autopay settings carry over when you upgrade. Your scheduled card payments and any housing payments you’ve set up through Bilt continue as normal, with no action needed from you. Once your upgrade is complete, we recommend checking your autopay settings in the app to confirm everything is in place.
Do I need to update recurring payments or digital wallets?
When your new card is ready, it’s worth reviewing any recurring payments or saved card details to make sure everything’s up to date. Your card in mobile wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay will continue to work.
If you have payments saved directly with a merchant, check that your card information is current so those payments aren’t interrupted.
What happens to pending transactions, returns, disputes, and existing balances?
Nothing changes. Your pending transactions, returns, disputes, and balances all stay with your account. Everything continues right where it is, with no action needed from you.
What if my upgrade request is declined?
If you select a card and there’s no offer available for it at that time, it means you’re not eligible to upgrade to that card right now. Eligibility is reviewed regularly, so it’s worth checking back.
