Bilt’s Authorized User Strategy Doubles Transfer Bonus Caps And 3X Spending—Here’s How My Wife And I Use It

I receive compensation for content and many links on this blog. Be aware that websites may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. Citibank is an advertising partner of this site, as is American Express, Chase, Capital One, and others. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by my advertising partners. I do not write about all offers that are available -- instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same). Terms apply to the offers and benefits listed on this page.After mentioning my authorized user play with the Bilt cards, I had a couple of reader questions about it so I’m going to lay out my plan and how it works. My wife has an authorized user card on my Bilt Palladium Card (See rates and fees) account. The card has a $495 annual fee. It earns up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee. And it earns 2X points on everyday spend. The initial bonus offer is 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash. Benefits include a $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings. You also receive $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire. Priority Pass ($469/year value). (See Guide to Benefits.) One of the ways that I can spend Bilt Cash with my status is points accelerator, to earn an extra point per dollar spent up to 5,000 points, and this can be done up to 5 times. That makes the card up to a 3x earner, aside from earning for my mortgage payment. However I’ve maxed out those 5 accelerators already. Often they only bonus transfers up to 100,000 Bilt Points for a monthly Rent Day bonus. But my wife can use her own accelerators and she has her own 100,000 point transfer bonus cap. So I’ve now chosen to credit points from her card spend to her account instead of mine, and the Bilt Cash earned from her card spend to her account instead of mine. She’s earning Bilt status, will use those 5 accelerators, and max out a transfer bonus or two in addition to my doing so. Bilt Has New Authorized User Tools The ability to control authorized user activity with Bilt is actually pretty cool, and goes beyond deciding granularly who gets the rewards for spending on the card separately for points and for Bilt Cash (if you’ve opted into that). Add authorized users starting at age 13. Is it weird I can’t wait for my daughter to hit 13? They offer full parental controls with monthly and per-transaction limits, choose which merchant categories are accessible, and see all purchases in real time. (This feature hasn’t rolled out to all users yet.) Each card has its own card number. People like this, I admit I prefer the same card number because I like having my wife’s card numbers memorized (when they’re the same as mine). In fairness though this means that if someone’s card is lost or needs to be replaced, that doesn’t mean having to get new numbers for everyone on the account. Virtual cards for 18+. Any authorized user 18 or older can generate a virtual card, add it to their digital wallet, and shop online without sharing physical card details. (This feature hasn’t rolled out to all users yet.) Per transaction and monthly limits. This is really useful whether you’re limiting what your irresponsible teenager can do or giving a card to a babysitter for dinner. Choose who gets the rewards. Authorized users earn Bilt Points as they spend. For adults 18 and up, you choose whether those rewards go to you or to them. Teens (13-17) crediting earning to your account. Specify valid merchant categories. You can limit the card to use at grocery stores while banning liquor stores. Heh. (This feature hasn’t rolled out to all users yet.) Bilt says that later this year, authorized users 18 and older will be able to build credit history through their Bilt Card activity. What I Want To Do Next My next authorized user play will be to get my wife the Bilt Obsidian Card (See rates and fees). This $95 annual fee card earns 3X points on your choice of grocery (up to $25K/year) or dining. (Your 3X category choice remains in effect for the entire calendar year.) It also earns 2X points on travel and 1X points on everyday spend but we won’t use it for those. I’ll have the primary Bilt Palladium Card She’ll have the primary Bilt Obsidian Card. We’ll each have authorized user cards on each other’s primary card. Topics on this page Editorial note: any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Comments made in response to this post are not provided or commissioned nor have they been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any bank. It is not the responsibility of advertisers Citibank, Chase, American Express, Barclays, Capital One or any other advertiser to ensure that questions are answered, either. Terms and limitations apply to all offers.