Bilt Expands Beyond Residential Rewards to Support Local Businesses and Sports Fans

Bilt, a company known for its residential payment rewards program, is broadening its reach into local communities with two new platforms aimed at enhancing customer engagement for neighborhood businesses and major sports franchises. This move extends the company’s technology beyond apartment rent and mortgage payments to support hospitality venues, retail stores, gyms, and sports organizations.

The first platform, called Neighborhood OS, uses artificial intelligence to help local businesses attract and retain customers through customized rewards and marketing campaigns. By integrating with existing systems such as reservations and payment processors, Neighborhood OS enables businesses to offer promotions that convert into repeat visits. For example, a nearby restaurant might offer a special incentive to a customer, and the platform will track that interaction to tailor future offers or services.

"We're helping local businesses tap into more commerce by being able to reach new customers and accept those rewards as currency to spend," said Ankur Jain, founder and CEO of Bilt. He explained that Neighborhood OS functions much like Shopify but is designed specifically for real-world businesses, allowing them to independently manage marketing and loyalty initiatives.

Initial partners working with Neighborhood OS include Altamarea Group, AM Parking, Lowe's, and Thumbtack. Overall, Bilt collaborates with around 50,000 merchants where users can redeem Bilt rewards. The system is flexible enough to work alongside existing loyalty programs, giving small and mid-sized retailers access to sophisticated AI tools that were previously out of reach.

Businesses can use the platform to create offers that target residents living in buildings on the Bilt network. Examples include rewarding a customer with a free drink on their tenth visit or organizing local sports watch parties to draw fans. Jain highlighted that offline commerce, dominated by mom-and-pop shops, represents a market six times larger than online spending but is often hindered by fragmented marketing efforts and manual processes. Neighborhood OS aims to level the playing field by providing these businesses with tools to compete with large online companies.

The second new platform is a membership-based solution designed for organizations that already have a loyal customer base, such as sports teams, property management firms, hotels, and financial institutions. This platform allows these organizations to retain their branding and direct customer relationships while connecting their loyalty programs to Bilt's network of merchants, expanding the benefits available to their members.

Among the initial members of this program are the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Related Companies, Hyatt, Constellation Brands, and Bozzuto. Toby Bozzuto, president and CEO of Bozzuto, emphasized the value of neighborhood connections, stating, "We believe the neighborhood is one of the greatest amenities we can offer our residents. Through our partnership with Bilt, we have an opportunity to make that amenity an even more meaningful part of their everyday lives."

For professional sports teams, this approach offers a way to engage fans beyond stadium events. Teams can create branded experiences that combine loyalty rewards, fan passes, concierge services, and neighborhood commerce. This could mean fans earning rewards at local restaurants or retail stores, or participating in branded events near the arena, enhancing the overall fan experience outside of game days.

Bilt originally launched in 2021 as a rewards program focused on rent and mortgage payments, allowing tenants to earn loyalty points and build credit scores. Since then, it has expanded its offerings to include credit cards and now serves 8.2 million members. The company claims to support one out of every four apartment buildings in the United States, highlighting its significant presence in the residential property market.

This latest expansion into local business and sports franchise loyalty programs reflects a broader trend in community-focused commerce and digital rewards integration. As neighborhoods and local economies seek new ways to engage residents and customers, Bilt's platforms aim to provide accessible technology solutions that support both small businesses and large organizations.