Award News

Some serious Bilt card intel just dropped, and it sounds like they might be expanding their offerings beyond the current card! A user dove into the website's code and found some interesting clues. There are codenames for three different cards: Tahoe (likely no annual fee), Vail (probably a $95 annual fee), and Aspen (maybe a $495 annual fee). The Vail card might let you pick 3x points on either dining OR groceries. Aspen could have even better earning rates on both. What does this mean for you? Well, if you're a Bilt user (or considering it), this could open up a whole new world of point-earning possibilities. Imagine racking up even MORE points on everyday spending or earning serious rewards for those who use the card for rent payments. The potential for a premium Bilt card with boosted rewards could really shake up the travel rewards game. There's also mention of something called "Obsidian Exclusive," possibly a super-elite status tier, maybe for corporate employees. Keep an eye out for a possible pre-January incentive to apply, and potential partnerships with United MileagePlus and balance transfers. It’s worth keeping an eye on this if you want to maximize your Bilt Rewards.

Heads up, awardtrail readers! American Express is running a targeted Amex Offer that can save you some serious cash on prepaid hotel bookings through Expedia. Check your Amex account for an offer to earn 10% back as a statement credit when you use your enrolled card at expedia.com/amex, using the "pay now" option. Some lucky cardholders are even seeing 15% back! The maximum cashback is typically capped at $100-$150. This deal is valid until February 2nd, 2026! Why is this exciting? Because who doesn't love saving money on travel? Just remember, this offer is only valid for prepaid hotel bookings, meaning you need to pay when you book, not when you check out. Also, make sure you're booking through the specified Expedia link (expedia.com/amex) to ensure the offer triggers. While the terms say to use the Amex link, historically, similar offers have worked even when going through a shopping portal for extra rewards! It's worth a try, but no guarantees. As always, terms and exclusions apply (flights, car rentals, etc. are excluded), so read the fine print before booking. Happy travels (and savings)!

Verizon customers, listen up! You might be able to snag a free hour of Topgolf game play thanks to a new offer from Verizon Access. This is a super simple perk if you're already a Verizon customer. Just check the Verizon Access section in your app (or online) and see if the offer pops up for you. If it does, boom – free Topgolf! Why does this matter? Well, it's a fun, free activity! Plus, it's a good reminder to keep an eye on the Verizon Access perks; you never know what other freebies they might be dishing out.

TradeUp brokerage is throwing a party for new customers with a bunch of stackable bonuses, and it keeps getting better! If you're looking to move some investments around, listen up. Here's the deal: If you transfer assets from another brokerage to TradeUp (using ACATS), you can snag a 2% cashback bonus (up to $1,000), plus an *additional* 1% match (also up to $1,000) if you keep those assets parked there for a year. And that's not all. Depending on how much you deposit, you'll also get free stocks – up to 5 shares for a $100,000 transfer. Keep an eye out for special affiliate links that might even throw in a share of NVDA (Nvidia stock)! The free stock bonus has evolved too! Now called CRCL shares, the tiers have been sweetened with some high value levels. For example, transferring $50,000 gets you 10 shares and transferring $1 million will get you 100 shares. There's also an IRA version of the deal that gives you a few shares of SGOV on top, but be warned: there's a longer holding period for that bonus. Just remember there's a $50 fee if you decide to transfer *out* your entire account later, and these bonuses are for *new* customers only making their *first* ACAT transfer to TradeUp. But if you're planning a move anyway, this could be a seriously lucrative way to do it!

Heads up, SoFi credit card users! Some folks are getting an unwelcome email about a new $10 monthly fee hitting their accounts starting February 23, 2026. SoFi claims this is to maintain current card benefits, but it stings, especially since there's no clear reason *why* some cardholders are targeted and others aren't. Customer service reps say it's only hitting a small segment, but it's worth checking your inbox! Why should you care? Well, a $10 monthly fee essentially wipes out a chunk of your rewards, especially if you don't spend a ton. The article mentions an alternative: upgrading to SoFi Plus for the same $10 monthly fee. This could allow users to earn 2.2% cash back. If you find yourself targeted, you've got a decision to make. Either close the card before the fee kicks in, or explore SoFi Plus to potentially squeeze more value from your spending. Keep a close eye on your email and consider your spending habits to see if the upgrade makes sense.