Bilt Card 2.0: The 2026 Timeline Hawaiʻi Renters & Homeowners Need to Know
Photo courtesy of Bilt Rewards
Bilt Card 2.0 launches in February 2026 with three new cards, new earning possibilities (rent & mortgage points), and a clear timeline for upgrades. Here’s what Hawaiʻi residents should know and how to get ready.
Why Bilt Matters More in Hawaiʻi
In Hawaiʻi, where rent and housing costs are among the highest in the U.S., a rewards card that actually pays you back for those payments isn’t just nice to have, it’s a mayjah game changer for personal finance and travel planning.
Bilt Rewards has built a loyal following because it lets cardholders earn points on rent without typical credit-card transaction fees. That alone made the original Bilt Mastercard a favorite among renters, condo owners, and even those paying HOA dues through rent-like systems.
Now, in 2026, Bilt is rolling out a major evolution of its credit card program, and Hawaiʻi Reward Travel wants you ready before everyone else.
What IS Bilt Card 2.0? (The Facts You Need)
Bilt Card 2.0 isn’t a single card, it’s a suite of three new credit cards launching in early 2026. These will replace the existing Bilt Mastercard and offer richer rewards and options for different kinds of spenders.
Here’s what has been officially confirmed by Bilt:
📅 January 14, 2026: Full details of the new cards are revealed. Pre-orders open.
📅 January 30, 2026: Deadline to select your new Bilt Card 2.0 for a seamless transition.
📅 February 7, 2026: New Bilt Card 2.0 cards arrive and launch officially.
No action is required today if you already have the old Bilt Mastercard, it continues working until February 6.
New Earning Potential: Earn points on your Mortgage
Bilt 2.0 is confirmed to allow earning points on eligible mortgage payments — regardless of servicer. This is huge for Hawaiʻi families and homeowners.
That means:
Rent isn’t the only big monthly housing spend that earns points anymore.
Homeowners and soon-to-be homeowners can benefit, not just renters.
(Note: Exact earning rates and details will be confirmed on January 14.)
What We Still Don’t 100% Know … Yet
Lower-level facts like welcome bonuses, bonus earning rates, and annual fees haven’t been officially confirmed by Bilt in public announcements, but leaks on Reddit and insider site reporting suggest: *DISCLAIMER: THESE ARE RUMORED LEAKS, NOT OFFICIAL INFO FROM BILT.
There may be a no-fee version
A mid-tier card
A premium card with elevated travel benefits
Here’s the 3 “suspected cards” based off of reddit leaks.
Bilt Blue Card
$0 annual fee
Welcome bonus: $100 Bilt Cash
Earning structure: 1 point per dollar spent on rent, mortgage and everyday spending
4% Bilt Cash awarded on everyday spending; you can use Bilt Cash to waive rent and mortgage payment transaction fees
No foreign transaction fees
2. Bilt Obsidian Card
$95 annual fee
Welcome bonus: $200 Bilt Cash
Earning structure: 3 points per dollar spent on dining or groceries (up to $25,000 per year), 2 points per dollar spent on travel and 1 point per dollar spent on rent, mortgage and everyday spending
4% Bilt Cash awarded on everyday spending; you can use Bilt Cash to waive rent and mortgage payment transaction fees
$100 annual Bilt Travel hotel credit ($50 available biannually)
Cellphone protection
3. Bilt Palladium Card
$495 annual fee
Welcome bonus: 50,000 Bilt points plus Gold elite status after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months; $300 in Bilt Cash
Earning structure: 2 points per dollar spent on everyday spending and 1 point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments.
4% Bilt Cash awarded on everyday spending; you can use the Bilt Cash to waive rent and mortgage payment transaction fees
$400 in annual Bilt Travel hotel credit ($200 available biannually)
$200 in Bilt Cash awarded annually
Priority Pass membership
However, some leaks also suggest potential changes to how rent and mortgage points could work (possible fee offsets instead of free points), but those are NOT confirmed by Bilt yet.
We’ll update as soon as Bilt announces the official lineup on January 14, 2026.
How the Transition Works (For Current Bilt Cardholders)
Bilt has outlined a seamless transition process:
✔️ Pre-order your new card between Jan. 14–30
✔️ Keep your same card number (no updating autopay or subscriptions)
✔️ Digital wallets auto-update
✔️ No hard credit inquiry required
✔️ Receive your card by Feb. 6 for launch on Feb. 7
If you do not opt in by Jan. 30, your old Bilt Mastercard will still work through Feb. 6, but after that date it will be deactivated and converted to a Wells Fargo Autograph® Card if you don’t pick a new Bilt card.
Why Hawaiʻi Reward Travel Cares (And You Should Too)
In Hawaiʻi, your housing spend is massive— rent, mortgage, condo fees, HOA dues, etc. turn into thousands of dollars per year. If even a fraction of that spend can earn transferrable points:
You can turn everyday housing costs into free flights, hotels, and experiences.
You build travel currency that works for Hawaiʻi trips year-round.
You boost your credit profile with consistent payments.
Compared to other cards (with foreign transaction fees, limits, or restrictive bonus categories), Bilt’s focus on housing and flexible redemption is uniquely valuable for local residents.
What You Should Do Now? Hawaii-First Strategy
Here’s the 2026 HRT playbook before the BILT cards go live:
Mark Your Calendar
Jan 14: Full details & pre-orders open
Jan 30: Transition deadline
Feb 7: Launch day
Sign Up for Bilt Updates
Sign up at biltrewards.com/card to be first notified when full details drop.
Think Ahead for 2026 Travel
Consider how rent/mortgage points can fuel Hawaiʻi flights, neighbor-island hotels, and bucket-list trips.
Plan Your Application
Once cards launch, we’ll provide HRT referral links and breakdowns for each card tier.
OHANA MEMBERS: If you are wanting to apply for this card, please LMK. This card isnt for “everyone”, but may be a great addition to the card you already have.
This Is a Milestone for Hawaiʻi Point Earners
For years, Hawaiʻi renters and homeowners paid some of the highest housing costs in the nation. Bilt Card 2.0 represents one of the first rewards products that tries to turn that spending into real points value, and that should matter to our community.
Come January 14, we will break down:
Which card is best for Hawaiʻi renters
Which card suits homeowners
How to optimize everyday spend (groceries, travel, dining) alongside housing points
This is not just credit card news. It’s money strategy that can help Hawaiʻi residents travel more while spending smarter.
Stay tuned, it’s going to be one of the biggest rewards card shifts of 2026.
Scottie’s Take
If the rumored details around Bilt Card 2.0 turn out to be true, I expect some initial disappointment — especially from longtime Bilt users who loved truly fee-free rent payments with minimal effort. That reaction makes sense. Any time a value proposition shifts, especially around housing costs, emotions run high.
That said, I’ve always assumed the economics would change in a Bilt 2.0 world. Personally, I’m not surprised, and I’m not in the “this ruins Bilt” camp either.
The way I see it, Bilt isn’t trying to be a one-trick rent card anymore. They’re positioning themselves as a primary everyday spending ecosystem, and if that’s the case, the rumored structure actually starts to make sens, especially at the higher tiers.
Bilt points remain one of the most valuable transferable currencies out there, particularly for programs that matter to Hawaiʻi travelers like World of Hyatt and Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards. If a premium card truly earns 2 points per dollar on everyday spending, that’s meaningful, especially when paired with Bilt Cash that can help offset housing payment fees.
For a Hawaiʻi household, where expenses like groceries, kids’ activities, insurance, medical bills, and services add up quickly, shifting more spend onto a strong everyday-earner isn’t a burden, it’s an opportunity. If that spend unlocks fee-offset housing payments and earns points on rent or mortgages, you’re effectively stacking value where none existed before.
Yes, a $495 annual fee is real money. But between a potential welcome bonus, hotel credits, Bilt Cash, and strong earning rates, I’m far more interested in the net value than the headline fee. And if the math doesn’t work long-term, the mid-tier option may end up being the smarter play.
Bottom line: this isn’t “old Bilt with tweaks.” It’s a different strategy. And for Hawaiʻi residents willing to think beyond just rent and look at total household spend, Bilt 2.0 could still be very compelling, just in a more grown-up, ecosystem-driven way.
