Bilt and Rakuten Team Up to Help Shoppers Stretch Their Dollars This Holiday Season

Bilt and Rakuten Join Forces to Enhance Holiday Shopping Experience

As the holiday season approaches, Bilt and Rakuten have teamed up to bring shoppers a unique opportunity to maximise their spending power. These two companies, each offering rewards for spending in their own way (cash back and points that can be used for various benefits), have come together for the first time to offer consumers an innovative way to make the most out of their shopping experiences.

Bilt, known for being the first loyalty program that allows renters to earn points on their rent payments, has partnered with Rakuten, the popular cash-back shopping platform. This collaboration aims to enable users to earn and redeem points that can be utilised for a wide range of purposes, from travel expenses to rent payments. Ankur Jain, the founder and CEO of Bilt, emphasises the significance of this partnership, especially during these economically uncertain times and the upcoming holiday season.

According to Jain, the collaboration between Bilt and Rakuten offers users a valuable opportunity to save money and make their shopping more rewarding. With Bilt points being ranked as the most valuable in the country for two consecutive years, valued at over two cents per point, users shopping on Rakuten with any debit or credit card can now earn highly valuable and flexible rewards while making online purchases.

The concept is straightforward: members of either platform can link their accounts through the Bilt App, starting from November 6. By doing so, Rakuten cash back can be converted into Bilt points, which can then be used towards various expenses such as rent payments, savings for a down payment, or even settling student loans. Additionally, in 2026, they plan to introduce points on mortgage payments as well.

Consumers stand to benefit significantly from this collaboration. For instance, a shopper receiving 10% cash back on Rakuten could potentially enjoy over 20% back in value through Bilt points. This can then be utilised for a range of purposes like flights, hotels, or rent payments. During the initial six months, all Bilt members will experience a 1:1 conversion rate, translating to 1,000 Bilt Points for every $10 in Rakuten Cash Back they receive.

Wendy Burke, Chief Marketing Officer of Rakuten, acknowledges the current economic challenges faced by consumers and highlights how this partnership with Bilt can help individuals make their money go further. She emphasises that both Rakuten and Bilt are committed to assisting people in achieving financial progress and making smarter financial decisions.

With Rakuten boasting 17 million members and Bilt steadily growing with 5 million members, this collaboration has the potential to impact tens of millions of Americans positively. By offering rewards that truly add value to consumers’ lives, this partnership aims to revolutionise the shopping and rewards experience for individuals across the country.

In conclusion, the partnership between Bilt and Rakuten represents a significant step towards empowering consumers to make informed financial decisions and maximise the benefits of their everyday spending. This innovative collaboration is set to redefine the way consumers shop, reward themselves, and manage their finances, promising a more rewarding and financially secure future for all parties involved.