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Rakuten Cut the Bilt Payout in Half: What to Do Before August 15

1 min read

Rakuten cut the Bilt payout rate in half.

If you have standard Blue status with Bilt, you'll earn 500 Bilt points per $10 in cash back starting with the August 15 payout. Down from 1,000.

If you have Silver, Gold, or Platinum status with Bilt, you keep the 1,000 Bilt points per $10 rate.

American Express is still doing 1,000 Membership Rewards points for every $10 in cash back you earn.

The New Payout Rates by Status

Bilt + Rakuten: Before vs After August 15
Bilt StatusOld RateNew RateChange
Blue (default)1,000 pts per $10500 pts per $10-50%
Silver / Gold / Platinum1,000 pts per $101,000 pts per $10No change

How Amex Compares

Rakuten Payout: Amex vs Bilt by Status
Payout DestinationEarn Rate
Amex Membership Rewards1,000 MR per $10
Bilt (Blue)500 Bilt per $10
Bilt (Silver / Gold / Platinum)1,000 Bilt per $10
Bilt Obsidian Card

Bilt Obsidian Card1

$95 Annual Fee · Personal Credit Card
Welcome offer: $200 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved. Up to $100 of Bilt Cash earned rolls over to the next year.
✦ Max's TakeThe Bilt mid-tier credit card lets you earn 3X points on groceries or dining (choose one or the other annually, and your category choice remains in effect for the entire calendar year). Note that there is a $25,000 annual cap for earning 3X points on grocery purchases, after which you earn 1X in that category.

What to Do

If you only have Blue status, maybe consider switching your payout back to American Express before August 15. That's the next Rakuten payout.

If you do have status, maybe stay put and don't change anything. Bilt points are super valuable. I think they're more valuable than American Express points, and at 1,000 per $10 you're getting the same rate either way.

Want to keep the full rate without status? The Bilt Palladium Card unlocks Gold status through January 16, 2028 after you hit the minimum spend.

Bilt Palladium Card

Bilt Palladium Card1

$495 Annual Fee · Personal Credit Card
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. Up to $100 of Bilt Cash earned rolls over to the next year.
✦ Max's TakeThe premium Bilt card that earns 2X points on everyday spend, plus up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee. A simplified high-value card that can rack up a lot of valuable Bilt Points.

How to Switch in 30 Seconds

  1. Log into Rakuten (web or app).
  2. Account Settings -> Payout Method.
  3. Pick Amex Membership Rewards (or Bilt, if you're keeping it).
  4. Save.
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Rakuten Payout Options

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Max — founder of Max Miles Points

Written by Max

Founder of Max Miles Points. I help people travel the world in business & first class using credit card points. Learn more

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