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As of October 27, 2026. Bilt announced these changes today. I will update this guide as more details come out. Advertiser disclosure: Hawaii Reward Travel may earn a commission from some links on this site.
Quick overviewTap to expand
- Have a Bilt card? On your card anniversary, Bilt switches you to its new rewards unless you opt out in the Bilt app first.
- Opt out if you want to keep 4% Bilt Cash on everyday spending. Stay in if you want up to 1.25x points on rent or mortgage.
- No Bilt card? Starting January 15, 2027, paying rent through Bilt no longer earns guaranteed points.
- Bilt points still move 1:1 to Atmos Rewards for Alaska and Hawaiian flights.
Bilt just announced big changes for 2027. If you have a Bilt card, you have one decision to make before your card anniversary: keep 4% Bilt Cash, or switch to points on rent.
Here is the short version, what I am doing, and the dates that matter.
Scottie's Take
Bilt is still a power card for us in Hawaiʻi. Earning points on rent or a mortgage, the biggest bill most of our families pay, and moving them 1:1 to Atmos Rewards is hard to beat.
That said, I am honestly not sure I am keeping my Palladium. I want to see how the new setup plays out first, and I will decide by next year whether to downgrade. If I do, I will share what I chose and why.
For you, the move is simple. Open the Bilt app today, find your card anniversary, and decide before that date. And if you have Hyatt plans, move those points before December 31. Questions? Drop a comment or send me a message. A hui hou!
Scottie
What is Bilt changing?
Bilt is changing how its cards earn, how long Bilt Cash lasts, and how often you can use Bilt Cash on hotels. The points you earn on everyday purchases are not changing.
| What | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Your rewards setup | You chose 4% Bilt Cash or rent points | Rent points by default at your card anniversary, unless you opt out |
| Bilt Cash expires | Every December 31 | 12 months after you earn it |
| Palladium credits ($495 fee) | $200 Bilt Cash plus $400 hotel credit | $600 Bilt Cash a year |
| Obsidian credit ($95 fee) | $100 hotel credit | $100 Bilt Cash a year |
| Bilt Cash on hotels | Once a month | Twice a year, starting January 1, 2027 |
| Hyatt transfers | 1,000 Bilt to 1,000 Hyatt | 1,000 Bilt to 750 Hyatt, starting January 1, 2027 |
| Rent points without a Bilt card | Guaranteed points | Daily Rewards prizes instead, starting January 15, 2027 |
Do I need to do anything?
Only if you use 4% Bilt Cash today and want to keep it. In that case, opt out in your card settings in the Bilt app before your card anniversary. If you do nothing, Bilt moves you to rent points. Once you opt out, you cannot switch back and forth later.
Do This Now
Find your card anniversary in the Bilt app. That is your deadline. If you opened your card when the new Bilt cards launched, Thrifty Traveler reports your last day is February 6, 2027.
How many points will I earn on rent?
Up to 1.25x points on rent or mortgage. The more you spend on the card each month, the higher your rate. To get the top 1.25x, you spend about as much on the card as your rent, according to One Mile at a Time.
What if I pay rent through Bilt without a Bilt card?
Starting January 15, 2027, you stop earning guaranteed points on rent. Each on-time payment unlocks a Daily Reward instead, where you pick one of two prizes. Bilt has not shared the odds or full prize list yet.
Good to Know
Paying rent through Bilt with an Atmos Rewards card? Bilt has not said whether Atmos Rewards and United cardholders keep earning bonus miles on rent paid through Bilt. There is no sign it is ending, but it is not confirmed. I will update this when we know.
What are the key dates?
Why does this matter in Hawaii?
Rent and mortgage payments are some of the biggest bills island families pay, and Bilt is one of the few ways to earn points on them. Those points still transfer 1:1 to Atmos Rewards, plus Southwest, United and JAL.
Here is the move. If your rent is $2,500 and you hit the top rate every month, that is 37,500 points a year from rent alone, ready for Atmos Rewards flights. See what that is worth in my points and miles value guide, or run your own numbers in my Bilt calculator.
The ʻOhana Program
Want to earn more credit card points?
Hawaii Reward Travel has helped over 400 clients in Hawaiʻi build a card strategy that fits how their family actually spends. Free, one-on-one, and built for kamaʻāina.
Join the ʻOhana ProgramBilt 2027 changes FAQ
When do the Bilt changes start?
Most changes start on your card anniversary, when Bilt moves you to the new rewards. Hotel Bilt Cash limits and the new Hyatt transfer rate start January 1, 2027. Daily Rewards start January 15, 2027. The new Bilt Cash expiration, 12 months after you earn it, starts now.
How do I keep 4% Bilt Cash?
Open the Bilt app, go to your card settings, and opt out of the new benefits before your card anniversary. You keep 4% Bilt Cash and your eligible annual credits. You cannot switch back and forth afterward, so decide based on how you actually use the card.
Can new Bilt cardholders still get 4% Bilt Cash?
Only if they are approved by December 31, 2026, according to Frequent Miler and One Mile at a Time. Starting in 2027, new cardholders get the rent points setup. If 4% Bilt Cash is the main reason you want the card, check the terms before you apply.
When does my Bilt Cash expire now?
Bilt Cash now expires at the end of the month, 12 months after you earn it. Bilt's example: $100 earned in February 2026 expires February 28, 2027. There is no more December 31 deadline, so check your oldest Bilt Cash and use it before it runs out.
Can I still move Bilt points to Atmos Rewards?
Yes. Bilt points still transfer 1:1 to Atmos Rewards, the program for Alaska and Hawaiian flights. That means Hawaiʻi residents can keep turning rent and mortgage points into interisland and mainland flights from HNL.
