I Used the Bilt Palladium Card for 5 Months. Here’s My Review.

When Bilt announced earlier this year that it was moving its credit card program from Wells Fargo to Cardless, existing cardholders had a decision to make. We could keep our existing card or choose from Bilt’s new lineup.

Since I write about Bilt regularly and wanted to keep earning Bilt Points on my monthly mortgage payments without paying for transaction fees out of pocket, I decided to upgrade to the Bilt Palladium Card (rates & fees), the premium option in the new lineup. I figured the best way to see whether it was worth the hype was to use it as normal for a few months before giving it a permanent spot in my wallet.

Now, 5 months later, I have a clearer idea of how this card fits into my wallet. It hasn’t entirely changed the way I earn points, but it has surprised me in a few ways. Here’s what I’ve learned — and whether I think the Palladium Card is actually worth the hype.

Bilt Palladium Card Overview

Before getting into my experience, here’s a quick overview of what the Palladium Card offers.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Bilt Palladium Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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Bilt Palladium Card

Welcome Offer

Subject to approval: 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.

Subject to approval: 50,000 points + $300 Bilt Cash

Annual Fee

$495

Why We Like This Card

The Bilt Palladium Card is a premium card option for those who want to earn up to 1.25x Bilt Points on their rent and mortgage payments, but also want premium perks like airport lounge access.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2x points and the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases
• Up to 1.25x points on rent and mortgage payments
• $400 annual Bilt Travel hotel credit, split into 2 semiannual credits (requires a 2-night stay)

Cons

• Charges a $495 annual fee
• You’ll need to redeem Bilt Cash to unlock rewards for rent and mortgage payments

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Card Highlights

• Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee.
• 2X points on everyday spend
• $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
• $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
• Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
• Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
• Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
• Earn additional points through Bilt Neighborhood Benefits™ when you use your card at Bilt’s network of 50,000+ merchant partners.

Financial Snapshot

• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

The card carries a $495 annual fee (rates & fees) and earns an uncapped 2 points per $1 and the option to earn 4% Bilt Cash on eligible everyday purchases. Arguably, its most impressive feature is that it earns rewards on mortgage payments and rent, helping minimize or even eliminate transaction fees — a feature that’s still unique in the credit card world.

The card also comes with up to $400 in annual hotel credits through the Bilt Travel Portal (applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits), Priority Pass airport lounge access, and access to one of the strongest collections of airline and hotel transfer partners available from any transferable rewards program.

But as with most premium credit cards, the real question isn’t whether the perks look impressive on paper. It’s whether they actually become part of your everyday routine after the excitement of getting a new card wears off.

How I Actually Use the Palladium Card

After 5 months, I’ve realized the Palladium Card hasn’t become my go-to card in my wallet — and I don’t think it has to be. Instead, it’s carved out a specific role that makes the annual fee worthwhile for me — at least for the first year.

Earning Points on My Mortgage

My mortgage payment is about $3,500 a month, and for years, it was just another bill. That’s ultimately what drew me to Bilt, and it’s still the main reason I keep the Palladium Card in my wallet.

Instead of earning additional housing points, I opted for Flexible Bilt Cash, which I use to offset the 3% fee for paying my mortgage with a credit card through Bilt (up to $100 of Bilt Cash earned rolls over to the next year). I’ll admit it takes a little math to make the strategy work, but once I figured it out, it’s been pretty easy to stick to.

Since Flexible Bilt Cash earns 4% back on eligible everyday purchases, I know I need to generate enough Bilt Cash each month to cover the following month’s mortgage fee. My $3,500 monthly mortgage payment earns roughly $105 in Bilt Cash, which requires about $2,625 in eligible spending. I then redeem that Bilt Cash toward the next month’s fee and start the cycle over again.

That’s why I primarily use the Palladium Card for all nonbonus spending, which earns 2 points per $1 or 4% Bilt Cash on everyday purchases. While the card also offers better rewards on certain travel, dining, and Lyft purchases, I typically use other cards that better fit my spending strategy in those categories.

Some months, I don’t hit that $2,625 spending target because I’m working toward a welcome offer or maximizing bonus categories on another card. When that happens, I simply use Bilt Cash from previous months to cover future mortgage payment 3% fees. So far, that’s worked well, and it’s made earning rewards on one of my biggest monthly expenses fairly easy.

The Valuable Hotel Credit

One benefit I wasn’t sure I’d get much value from was the card’s up-to-$400 annual hotel credit, applied as $200 semiannual credits, for bookings of 2 nights or more made through the Bilt Travel Portal. As someone who typically books directly with Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, or IHG to earn elite nights and take advantage of promotions, I didn’t think I’d have many opportunities to use it.

As it turns out, I was wrong. I recently needed a 2-night stay when visiting Zurich and didn’t care about chasing elite credit or being loyal to a particular hotel brand. I just wanted a convenient location and a comfortable place to sleep before flying home to Miami. Using the hotel credit through the Bilt Travel Portal was incredibly easy, and it knocked a meaningful chunk off my stay’s cost.

Will I book every hotel through the portal? Absolutely not. But for times when I’m simply looking for the best stay and hotel loyalty isn’t part of the equation, I can see myself using this credit every year. In my case, it also helped offset a portion of the annual fee much sooner than I expected.

Why the Palladium Card Hasn’t Replaced My Everyday Cards

When I upgraded to the Palladium Card, I expected to reach for it every day. However, that hasn’t happened. It’s not because I don’t like the card. In fact, the more I’ve used it, the more I’ve appreciated what Bilt has created. The reality is that my wallet already has many cards with defined roles suited to my lifestyle.

My American Express^® Gold Card still handles most of my grocery and dining purchases, since it earns 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide for up to $50,000 per calendar year, and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x thereafter). I use this as my workhorse card for food purchases.

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

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Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $2,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points per dollar on prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App
• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Pay It^® lets you tap in the American Express^® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It^® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
• Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express^® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• New! As an American Express^® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star^® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
• Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
• Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express^® service and support. Only for American Express^® Card Members.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

My Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is back in the rotation after its recent refresh, earning me 3x points on gas, EV charging, and vacation rentals, including Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar platforms. I drive my car daily around South Florida and book plenty of Airbnbs annually, so the new gas category and vacation rental boost earning rate make it even more practical.

BEST FIRST TRAVEL CARD

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, gas, EV charging, vacation homes, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance and emergency evacuation. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation homes (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation and more
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 – a value of $156.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for 12 months when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
• Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The reality is, anyone who’s deep into points and miles is constantly weighing bonus categories, transferable points, and welcome offers before deciding which card to pull out.

That’s why the Palladium Card isn’t really competing with the other cards in my wallet — it’s filling a gap none of them do. I already have plenty of cards that earn rewards for everyday purchases. What I didn’t have was a practical way to earn valuable transferable points on my monthly mortgage payment.

Is the Palladium Card Worth the Hype?

After 5 months as a cardholder, do I think the Palladium Card lives up to the hype? For me, yes — but not in the way I originally expected.

It hasn’t become my everyday card, and I don’t think it will. Instead, it’s found a specific role in my wallet that complements the rest of my points and miles strategy. For me, that’s been enough to justify it.

That doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for everyone. If you prefer keeping things simple with 1 or 2 cards, I think it’s much easier to make the Palladium Card the centerpiece of your wallet. But if you’re like me and constantly juggling cards from different issuers, working on minimum spending requirements on new welcome offers, or maximizing bonus categories, it could end up serving a more specialized purpose.

I’m still unsure whether I’ll renew after the first year. So far, I’ve gotten solid value from the card, but I’ll wait until I’ve had it for a full year before deciding if it’s worth paying the annual fee again. That said, I really like earning about 3,500 Bilt Rewards Points each month just for paying my mortgage. That alone might be enough to convince me to keep the card for another year.

Final Thoughts

I’m glad I applied for — and ultimately decided on — the Palladium Card. It’s given me the chance to experience the best Bilt has to offer, and so far, I’ve really enjoyed using it. I love earning points on my mortgage, but I also love earning Bilt Cash, helping offset the fee for making those mortgage payments in the first place.

I honestly don’t know whether I’ll renew it yet. But right now, I’d say it’s a compelling option for anyone who wants to earn rewards on one of their biggest monthly expenses. If you’re already paying a mortgage and can make use of the travel perks and Bilt’s transfer partners, the value can add up quickly.