You can apply for the Bilt Mastercard online through the Bilt Rewards website or app. The card is issued by Wells Fargo, but unlike most Wells Fargo cards, it follows its own set of rules when it comes to eligibility. Before you start the application, it helps to understand what you’ll need, what the approval process looks like, and how the card’s unique rent-payment feature works.
Where to Apply
The primary way to apply is through the Bilt Rewards website at biltrewards.com. You can also start the process through the Bilt Rewards app, available on both iOS and Android. Either route takes you through the same Wells Fargo credit application.
You may also see the card listed on Wells Fargo’s website, but Bilt’s own site is the most direct path and gives you a clearer picture of the card’s benefits before you apply. If you already have a Bilt Rewards account (some renters sign up for the loyalty program before getting the card), you can apply from within your existing account dashboard.
What You Need for the Application
The application asks for standard personal and financial information. Have the following ready:
- Full legal name and date of birth
- Social Security number
- Current home address (including whether you rent or own)
- Annual income, which can include salary, freelance earnings, investments, and other regular income sources
- Monthly housing payment
- Email address and phone number
Wells Fargo will run a hard inquiry on your credit report when you submit the application, which can temporarily lower your credit score by a few points. There’s no way to pre-qualify with a soft pull for this particular card.
Credit Score and Eligibility
The Bilt Mastercard is generally considered a card for applicants with good to excellent credit. Most successful applicants report scores in the mid-to-upper 600s or higher, though Wells Fargo doesn’t publish a specific minimum. Your income, existing debt, and overall credit history all factor into the decision alongside your score.
One notable advantage: the Bilt Mastercard is exempt from Wells Fargo’s six-month rule, which normally prevents you from being approved for a new Wells Fargo card if you’ve opened one within the last six months. This means you can apply for the Bilt card even if you recently got another Wells Fargo product, and getting the Bilt card won’t block you from applying for a different Wells Fargo card shortly after.
What Happens After You Apply
Many applicants receive an instant decision. If approved, you’ll typically see your credit limit and card details on screen right away. The physical card ships to your address and usually arrives within 7 to 10 business days.
Some applications go into manual review, which can take a few business days. If this happens, you can call the Wells Fargo reconsideration line to check the status or provide additional information that might help your case. Having a clear explanation of your income and how you plan to use the card can sometimes move a pending decision to an approval.
If you’re denied, Wells Fargo will send an adverse action letter explaining why. Common reasons include too many recent credit inquiries, a short credit history, or a high debt-to-income ratio.
Setting Up Rent Payments
The main reason most people want this card is to earn points on rent, which normally doesn’t earn credit card rewards. Once your physical card arrives and you activate it through the Bilt Rewards app, you can set up rent payments through the Bilt platform.
Activation requires the physical card in hand. Open the Bilt Rewards app or follow the instructions included with your card mailer to link everything. From there, you can add your landlord or property management company and schedule rent payments. Bilt handles the payment to your landlord (via ACH or check, depending on the property), and you pay your Bilt card like any other credit card purchase.
The card charges no transaction fees on rent payments, which is a significant perk. Most other methods of paying rent by credit card tack on a processing fee of 2.5% to 3%, which quickly wipes out any rewards you’d earn. With Bilt, you earn 1x points per dollar on rent (up to 100,000 points per year on rent payments) with no added cost.
Key Card Details Worth Knowing Before You Apply
The Bilt Mastercard has no annual fee. Beyond rent, you earn 3x points on dining, 2x points on travel, and 1x on everything else. There’s one requirement to keep in mind: you need to make at least five transactions per statement period to earn any points that billing cycle. These can be small purchases, like a coffee or a grocery run, but if you don’t hit five transactions in a given month, you won’t earn points on anything that month, including rent.
Bilt points transfer to a wide range of airline and hotel loyalty programs, which makes them unusually flexible for a no-annual-fee card. You can also use them toward a future home down payment through Bilt’s partnership program, though most cardholders find the travel transfer partners offer the best value per point.
The card also carries no foreign transaction fees, making it a reasonable option for international travel on top of its rent-payment utility.