Empower Rebrands to Tilt, Debuts Three Credit Cards

Empower has retired its Petal card products line and introduced three new products under its new Tilt brand. The move heralds a new direction in consumer credit card policy, specifically intended for applicants with limited credit history or nontraditional financial profiles.

Tilt Engage, Tilt Motion, and Tilt Essentials are unsecured credit cards that continue Petal’s legacy of using cash-flow data to evaluate applications. All three cards are issued by WebBank and are designed for consumers who don’t qualify for FICO-based credit cards.

Tilt Engage has a $59 per year fee and provides 1%–10% cash back at participating merchants. Tilt Motion has the same reward program with no annual fee. Tilt Essentials sacrifices wider rewards in exchange for 3% cash back on gas stations and groceries (with autopay enrollment), with its annual fee at zero.

APRs for all three cards are between 28.99% and 33.99%, in line with other unsecured cards designed for people with fair credit or who are rebuilding credit.

Petal card members will be switched to Tilt-branded accounts without new account history or new credit checks. The Petal name will remain in credit reports with Tilt throughout the transition.

While Petal was known as a credit-building option, Tilt is positioned as a broader solution for fair credit access, offering cash back rewards and multiple card options to fit different needs. The rebrand broadens the card’s appeal to a wider segment of consumers while it maintains continuity in underwriting.

Tilt targets applicants who don’t necessarily have a great credit history but manage their finances responsibly. It uses bank account details to consider how borrowers handle their money, including deposit history, payment of bills, and spending behavior.

That could make Tilt a smart option for applicants who were previously denied access to mainstream cards or are new to credit. Also, because the cards are unsecured, borrowers won’t need to put down a security deposit as they would with a secured card.

Choosing between Tilt Engage, Motion, and Essentials depends on a person’s credit goals and spending habits.

For those looking to earn higher cash back and don’t mind paying an annual fee, Tilt Engage may offer the most value over time — especially if cardholders shop frequently with eligible merchants. Tilt Motion provides the same cash back potential without the fee, making it a strong middle-tier choice for everyday users. 

Meanwhile, Tilt Essentials is designed for practical rewards, offering targeted cash back on gas and groceries for those who automate payments and prefer a simpler card with no broader perks.

Since all three cards use the same alternative underwriting model, the choice comes down to how much a cardholder spends, where they spend, and how much value they want from a no-deposit unsecured card.

Tilt’s arrival gives users more ways to build credit without relying on limited-feature cards. Unlike many credit-building cards that skip rewards or charge high fees, Tilt offers cash back, fair terms, and multiple tiers to choose from.

If you’ve struggled to qualify for traditional cards or want a step up from secured cards, these new offerings could bridge the gap — especially for people who want features and flexibility without getting stuck paying too much in interest or fees.

For issuers, these products target a valuable segment often overlooked by traditional underwriting — consumers ready to move beyond secured cards but not yet served by prime offers.

These card offerings deliver competitive features and flexibility without burdening cardholders with excessive interest or fees. And they can capture long-term loyalty while expanding market share in a growing niche.

The union of cash-flow-based authorization along with mainstream card functionality makes Tilt an interesting new player in the dynamic credit card market.