Last Updated: October 2026 | Reading Time: 6 minutes | Author: Amazing Miles Editorial Team
Short answer: you can earn one Bilt card welcome bonus, ever. Bilt’s offer terms say welcome bonuses are only for people who don’t hold a Bilt Card 2.0, have never held one, and have never received a Bilt Card 2.0 welcome bonus. Since you can only be the primary cardholder on one Bilt card at a time, the card you apply for first is the bonus you get. Below we cover the current offers on the Bilt Blue, Obsidian and Palladium, how upgrades work, and what changed for former Wells Fargo cardholders.
The New Bilt Card Lineup
Bilt now offers three Mastercards, issued by Column N.A. and serviced by Cardless. They replaced the Wells Fargo-issued Bilt Mastercard on February 7, 2026. All three earn Bilt Points and, depending on the housing option you choose, Bilt Cash.
| Card | Annual fee | Current welcome offer |
|---|---|---|
| Bilt Blue | $0 | $100 Bilt Cash |
| Bilt Obsidian | $95 | $200 Bilt Cash |
| Bilt Palladium | $495 | 50,000 Bilt Points + Bilt Gold status after $4,000 in everyday spend within 90 days, plus $300 Bilt Cash |
Rent and mortgage payments don’t count toward the Palladium’s $4,000. Bilt says Blue and Obsidian Bilt Cash usually arrives around account opening, though it can take 6-8 weeks. You may be shown a different offer in the Bilt app or on its website, and those terms apply instead, so check before you apply.
A note on the launch promo: in February 2026, some applicants got a limited 5x points offer on everyday purchases, capped at 50,000 points. It ran February 7-12, 2026 and is no longer available.
Who Is Eligible for a Bilt Welcome Bonus?
Bilt’s card offer terms (updated September 18, 2026) limit welcome bonuses to people who:
- do not currently hold a Bilt Card 2.0,
- have never held a Bilt Card 2.0, and
- have never received a Bilt Card 2.0 welcome bonus.
Bilt doesn’t use the word “lifetime,” but that’s the effect: one welcome bonus per person across the Blue, Obsidian and Palladium. Bonuses go only to the primary cardholder, and Bilt lists applying for several cards to collect several bonuses as an example of abuse.
That makes your first choice important. If you want 50,000 points and can comfortably spend $4,000 on everyday purchases in 90 days, the Palladium has the most valuable offer. If you’d rather not pay an annual fee, the Blue’s $100 Bilt Cash is the trade-off.
Can You Hold Multiple Bilt Cards?
No. Bilt’s program overview says each member can have only one Bilt card at a time. Upgrades and downgrades replace your card rather than adding a second one. You can still be an authorized user on someone else’s Bilt account.
Upgrading or Downgrading: Upgrade Bonuses and Product Changes
- A product change doesn’t earn a welcome bonus. Some upgrades come with an Upgrade Bonus, shown in the Bilt app when you upgrade. For the Palladium, any 50,000 points and Gold status in an Upgrade Bonus require $4,000 in everyday spend within 90 days of the change.
- Each product’s Upgrade Bonus is once only. You can’t get it if you’ve already received the Upgrade or Welcome Bonus for that card or a higher-fee card.
- One voluntary change per rolling 12 months, plus one refund-and-revert.
- Upgrades are in phased beta (as of September 2026) and aren’t allowed before your first statement closes. Downgrades from Obsidian or Palladium go through Cardless Support.
- Watch downgrade timing. Downgrading within 30 days after an annual fee posts can reverse the previous card’s welcome bonus, which can leave your Bilt Points or Bilt Cash balance negative.
- Your Bilt Points carry over when you switch.
If you want the Palladium’s welcome bonus, apply for the Palladium directly rather than opening the Blue and upgrading later.
Adding Authorized Users
Each account can have up to five authorized users, who must be at least 13. AU fees are $0 on the Blue, $50 per user per year on the Obsidian and $95 per user per year on the Palladium. On the Palladium, AUs also get Priority Pass lounge access. By default, AU rewards go to the primary account, but the primary cardholder can redirect them. AUs follow the primary cardholder’s housing option and aren’t eligible for the welcome bonus.
Had the Old Wells Fargo Bilt Card? What Changed
The Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard stopped working on February 6, 2026. Cardholders who picked a new Bilt card by the January 30 deadline moved over without a hard pull and could earn that card’s welcome bonus. Those who didn’t were converted to a Wells Fargo Autograph card, which earns Wells Fargo Rewards rather than Bilt Points. Either way, existing Bilt Points stayed in the Bilt account, because points belong to your Bilt membership, not the card. For background, see what we expected before launch.
If you were converted to the Autograph and never opened a Bilt Card 2.0, you may still be eligible for a welcome bonus. Check Bilt’s current offer terms before you apply.
Strategic Considerations for Choosing Your Card
- Choose your card once. With one bonus per person and limits on product changes, pick the card you expect to keep. Time a Palladium application before a big planned expense.
- Pick your housing option. Bilt cards default to Housing-only: rent and mortgage payments earn 0.5x to 1.25x, depending on your everyday spending that month compared with your housing payment. The alternative, Flexible Bilt Cash, earns 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases, which you can use to unlock up to 1x on housing at $30 Bilt Cash per 1,000 points. You can switch once during your first statement period.
- Use transfer partners. Bilt Points are usually worth the most when transferred to airline and hotel partners. To compare with other transferable currencies, see Amex or Chase: which currency is best for travel.
FAQ
Can I get a Bilt welcome bonus more than once?
No. Bilt’s terms limit welcome bonuses to people who have never held a Bilt Card 2.0 or received one of its welcome bonuses.
Do I get a new welcome bonus if I upgrade from Blue to Palladium?
No. Some upgrades include a separate Upgrade Bonus shown in the Bilt app, and each product’s Upgrade Bonus can only be earned once.
Does rent count toward the Bilt Palladium’s $4,000 spending requirement?
No. Rent and mortgage payments don’t count; only everyday spend within 90 days of opening does.
Can I have a Bilt Blue and a Bilt Palladium at the same time?
No. You can hold only one Bilt card as primary cardholder, though you can be an authorized user on someone else’s account.
The Amazing Miles Verdict
Because you only get one Bilt welcome bonus, choose your first card carefully. The Palladium’s 50,000 points, Gold status and $300 Bilt Cash make it the strongest offer for travelers who can meet the $4,000 everyday spend and will use its hotel credits and lounge access. The Obsidian suits heavy dining or grocery spenders, and the Blue suits those who want no annual fee. If you’re new to credit, our best starter credit cards guide is a better place to start. Opening one card and upgrading later won’t get you a second welcome bonus, so apply for the card you actually want.
Once you have the card, Bilt Points can stack with other savings, like stacking Rakuten at Viator for tours and activities.
