Without Gemini, Google's artificially intelligent bot, I might never have figured out how to get the most out of my new Bilt credit card. Gemini is a whiz at finance.

A Bilt card works like a virtual bank. Besides having its own routing number, it offers a virtual bank account number. This way you can earn points for charging your rent, mortgage or Home Owners Association fee without incurring a "convenience" fee. But you also need to make at least four other regular credit card transactions. "Could I buy a pack of gum four times?" I asked. Yes, Gemini said, but it wouldn't be ideal.

Here's a better way to go. I could use my Bilt virtual bank account to pay a $700 mortgage, rent or HOA dues. Then, if I also charged $85 at the grocery story each week, and $40 at a restaurant or gas station each month, I'd accumulate around 17,000 points by year's end. That would give me $300 in purchases at American Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada, Hyatt Hotels, Holiday Inn, Marriott and others. Choosing a cash reward instead would only get me $93.50, or .0055 times the number of points.

But that doesn't take into account Bilt's new multiplier effect, which is huge if your non-housing purchases equal or surpass the amount you........

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