What Bilt Cardholders Need to Know as Wells Fargo Exits the Program
A major shake-up in the Bilt Rewards program could affect your credit card, rent rewards and points strategy heading into 2026.
If you’re a Bilt cardholder, you’ve probably seen the headlines about the company’s breakup with Wells Fargo, and maybe wondered what it actually means for your points, your rent rewards and your credit card going into 2026. The truth is, this transition is a pretty big deal, not just for renters who love earning points on monthly payments, but for anyone who’s built Bilt into their rewards strategy.
Over the next few months, the original Wells Fargo-issued Bilt Mastercard will wind down, a brand-new lineup of Bilt cards will roll out and every current cardholder will need to make a choice about how they want to move forward. The good news? Your points are safe. The catch?
You’ll want a clear plan before the February deadline so you don’t accidentally end up with a completely different credit card, or lose out on earning opportunities you’ve come to depend on.
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Why Bilt and Wells Fargo are parting ways
If you’ve been using the Bilt Mastercard to earn points on rent, you may have noticed some big changes brewing. Bilt and Wells Fargo are parting ways after several years of running the card together. Wells Fargo handled the card issuing, while Bilt focused on its rewards program and partnerships.
Behind the scenes, this partnership turned out to be expensive for Wells Fargo. Industry reporting suggests the bank was losing money on the portfolio, thanks in part to rich rewards and high customer incentives.
At the same time, Bilt’s plans were getting bigger. The company wants to expand beyond renters and eventually let homeowners earn points on mortgage payments.
To make this happen, Bilt is moving to a new issuing partner (Cardless, backed by Column Bank). With that, the card itself is getting an overhaul under something Bilt calls "Bilt Card 2.0."
The result is one of the biggest reward-card overhauls in years, and cardholders will soon have choices to make.
Key dates and the transition timeline
The timeline is tight, so Bilt members should mark their calendars now.
Wells Fargo stopped accepting new Bilt card applications on November 5, 2025, effectively freezing the old program. Existing Wells Fargo-issued Bilt cards will keep working normally through February 6, 2026.
On February 7, two things happen: the Wells Fargo Bilt card becomes inactive and Wells Fargo automatically converts accounts into a Wells Fargo Autograph Visa, unless a cardholder opts into the new Bilt Card 2.0 beforehand.
If you do nothing, you’ll simply wake up to an Autograph Visa, meaning you’ll no longer earn Bilt points on purchases. But the credit line and account history will remain with Wells Fargo.
What happens to your points
The good news is that your Bilt Rewards points are safe. Points are tied to your Bilt Rewards membership and not to your Wells Fargo-issued credit card. So balances will stay intact throughout the transition.
You’ll continue managing and redeeming your points exclusively through the Bilt app, not through Wells Fargo. Whether you switch to a Bilt 2.0 card or keep the new Autograph Visa, your existing points remain available to access through your Built app for travel partners, rent-payment redemptions, shopping portals and Bilt Experiences.
What changes is how you earn new points: only Bilt’s next-generation cards will continue rewarding rent and mortgage payments.
Your options as a cardholder
When the dust settles, you’ll have three main paths to choose from.
Option 1: Move to Bilt Card 2.0
Bilt is launching three new cards: a no-fee card, a mid-tier ($95), and a premium version ($495). These will continue earning Bilt points and will eventually plug into Bilt’s expanded rent-and-mortgage rewards program.
If staying within the Bilt ecosystem matters to you, especially if you’re interested in the future mortgage-rewards idea, this is the option to explore.
Option 2: Stick with the Wells Fargo Autograph Visa
If you don’t opt in to the new Bilt lineup, Wells Fargo will hand you an Autograph Visa. It’s a solid everyday rewards card, but it earns Wells Fargo Rewards, not Bilt points and it won’t give rewards for rent.
This could be a good option if you want to keep your Wells Fargo account open and don’t need Bilt-specific perks anymore.
Option 3: Close the account
You can close your account entirely, though you’ll want to think through how that affects your credit, especially account age and available credit. If you go this route, make a clean exit: redeem any Wells Fargo Rewards and ensure all autopays are moved elsewhere.
New rewards opportunities
One of the most interesting parts of Bilt’s evolution is its goal to reward mortgage payments, not just rent. For renters, nothing really changes. You’ll still be able to earn points on rent with no fees. But for homeowners, this could be a big deal, since mortgage payments are one of the few major expenses that typically don’t earn rewards.
Bilt hasn’t revealed all the details yet, but the direction is clear: the company wants to grow into a more all-purpose rewards platform rather than just “the rent card.” If you’re planning to buy a home in the next few years, this could be something worth keeping on your radar.
Practical tips for managing the transition
A little prep now can save headaches later.
- Max out your current Bilt earnings before Feb. 6. Use your card for rent and your usual purchases to collect any last-minute points.
- Review the Bilt 2.0 card options in early January. This is when you’ll be able to compare perks, fees, travel benefits and potential mortgage rewards to decide what fits your lifestyle.
- Expect new card numbers. Whether you shift to Bilt 2.0 or get rolled into the Autograph Visa, your credit-card details will change. That means updating your recurring bills, streaming subscriptions, digital wallet and your rent platform.
- Monitor February statements closely. Transition months always cause a little friction, so be on the lookout for duplicate charges, declines or missing payments.
Credit score and account management considerations
Cardholders worried about credit score impacts can breathe easier. Bilt says no hard inquiry is required to move into the Bilt 2.0 lineup.
If you keep the Autograph Visa, your credit line stays with Wells Fargo and your account age remains intact. That’s helpful because account age makes up an important part of your credit score.
The only scenario that could ding your credit is closing accounts or opening additional new cards without a plan. Think through how each choice affects your utilization and long-term strategy.
What cardholders should do now
This transition isn’t as scary as it sounds, but it does require a little attention. Your points are secure, you won’t lose your Bilt membership and you have multiple paths forward depending on your goals.
If you love earning rewards on rent payments(or hope one day to earn them on mortgage payments), exploring Bilt’s new card lineup will likely give you the most continuity. If you’d prefer to keep things simple with Wells Fargo, the Autograph Visa will handle your everyday purchases without much disruption.
For now, the best move is to keep earning points through early February, review your options in January and make a thoughtful choice before the automatic switch kicks in.
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