Scotiabank is one of the top five banks in Canada. So, it’s no wonder many Canadians not only trust Scotiabank with their savings but also with their spending. They offer a wide selection of credit cards that feature rewards, cash back, low balance transfers, and a full suite of insurance coverages, as well as a variety of complimentary services.
For your benefit, we’ve compiled a list of the top six Scotiabank credit cards in Canada.
Our top picks
| Credit card | Great features | Annual fee | First-year value* |
|---|---|---|---|
|
$120 (First year waived) | $1,194 | |
|
$120 (First year waived) | $717 | |
|
$0 | $368 | |
|
$0 | $256 |
See below for details.
1. Scotiabank® GM®* VISA* Infinite Card
The Scotiabank® GM®* VISA* Infinite Card offers GM, GMC, Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac fans the chance to earn money off the purchase price or lease down payment of their next vehicle. Although this card is exclusive to these five brands, it earns money quickly at a rate of 5% on everything you buy up to the first $10,000 annually. Plus, there are no earning caps or redemption limits. It also offers a full suite of travel insurance options.
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian will see a whopping $1289.00 in GM Earnings in the first two years.
Credit score requirement for approval:
Good: You’ve had a credit card or loan for at least six years. You've had good credit for the last seven years (no bankruptcies or no defaults on credit as a result of failing to pay debts back to creditors). You haven't opened a new credit card account, loan, or line of credit in the last nine months. You've made the minimum payments on my existing credit cards for the past three months.
Annual fee:
$79
Each additional supplementary card has a $39 annual fee.
Limited time offer/bonus:
- Scotiabank will waive the annual fee for the primary ($79) and secondary ($39) cardholders for the first year.
Sign-Up Bonus Expiry Date: March 1, 2020
Rewards:
- Earn up to 5% in GM Earnings on the first $10,000 of everyday purchases annually.
- Earn 2% on eligible everyday purchases after the $10,000 spend cap.
Earning potential:
How does this card stack up to other rewards credit cards? We crunched the numbers using our Best of Finance methodology to see how much an average Canadian could earn over a 24-month period.
Rewards earned over a 24-month period = $1368.00 GM Earnings
Annual fee (x2 for 24-month period) = $79
Total earned over a 24-month period (rewards minus annual fee) = $1,289.00
*Annual fee is waived for the first year.
You can redeem your points for:
- Money toward the purchase price or lease down payment on a Chevrolet, Buick, GM, GMC, or Cadillac vehicle
Insurance:
- Travel emergency medical insurance
- Trip interruption
- Flight delay
- Delayed and lost baggage
- Up to $500,000 common carrier travel accident insurance
- Rental car collision/loss damage insurance
- Purchase security
- Extended warranty
- Feel reassured (optional)
Other perks:
- Save on rental cars at Avis and Budget locations across the U.S. and Canada.
2. Scotiabank®* Gold American Express® Card
The Scotiabank®* Gold American Express® Card is great for travellers looking to use their rewards to book their next vacation or make purchases abroad. This card is one of the few to offer no foreign transaction fees. So, you won’t get dinged for making purchases on your trip (the foreign exchange rate still applies). Earn five times the rewards at the grocery store, when you dine out or make entertainment purchases. Collect three times the rewards at the gas station, on public transit, rideshare, or streaming services. Make one point per dollar on everything else.
Based on our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian can earn $1,141.59 in Scotia Rewards points within the first two years of card membership.
Credit score requirement for approval:
Good: You’ve had a credit card or loan for at least six years. You've had good credit for the last seven years (no bankruptcies or no defaults on credit as a result of failing to pay debts back to creditors). You haven't opened a new credit card account, loan, or line of credit in the last nine months. You've made the minimum payments on my existing credit cards for the past three months.
Annual fee:
$120
Each supplementary card has a $29 annual fee.
Limited time offer/bonus:
- Earn 20,000 bonus Scotia Rewards points when you spend $1,000 in the first three months.
Sign-Up Bonus Expiry Date: March 1, 2020
Rewards:
- Earn five times the rewards on eats, including grocery, restaurant, fast food, food delivery, select food subscriptions, and at drinking establishments, as well as on entertainment purchases such as movies and tickets.
- Earn three times the rewards on rides and select streaming services, including gas, public transit, taxis, rideshare, Netflix, and more.
- Earn one point per dollar on everything else.
Earning potential:
How does this card stack up to other rewards credit cards? We crunched the numbers using our Best of Finance methodology to see how much an average Canadian could earn over a 24-month period.
Rewards earned over a 24-month period = 138,158.72
Monetary value = $1,381.59
Annual fee (x2 for 24-month period) = $240.00
Total earned over a 24-month period (rewards minus annual fee) = $1,141.59
You can redeem your points for:
- Travel
- Experiences
- Merchandise
- Gift cards
- A statement credit
- Converted to SCENE points
Insurance:
- Travel emergency medical insurance
- Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance
- Flight delay insurance
- Delayed and lost baggage insurance
- Travel accident insurance
- Rental car collision loss/damage insurance
- Hotel/motel burglary insurance
- Purchase security
- Extended warranty
- Scotia Credit Card Protection (optional)
Other perks:
- Access all that American Express Invites has to offer, including special access to offers and events, tickets, and deals.
- Use the Scotia Rewards Travel Service for the Best Price Guarantee on airfare.
- Enjoy no foreign transaction fees on online purchases as well as abroad.
- Take advantage of the 24/7 complimentary concierge service.
- Receive a preferred discount on the Priority Pass membership and access 1200 VIP airport lounges around the world.
3. Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card
Apply for the Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card earn 10% cash back on all buys for the first three months, up to $2,000 in total purchases. After you reach the spend cap, earn 4% back on groceries, recurring bill payments, and subscription purchases. Collect 2% back on gas and daily transit, including buses, taxis, and rideshare services. Make 1% back on everything else. You could have an extra $849.86 in your wallet within 24 months, according to our Best of Finance methodology.
Credit score requirement for approval:
Excellent: You've had a credit card or loan for at least 10 years. You've had good credit for the last seven years (no bankruptcies or no defaults on credit as a result of failing to pay debts back to creditors). You haven't opened a new credit card account, loan, or line of credit in the last nine months. You've made the minimum payments on your existing credit cards for the past six months.
Annual fee:
$120
Each supplementary card has a $50 annual fee.
Limited time offer/bonus:
- Earn 10% cash back on all purchases in the first three months, up to a total spend of $2,000. Plus, Scotiabank will waive the annual fee for both the primary and secondary cardholders for the first year.
Sign-Up Bonus Expiry Date: April 30, 2020
Rewards:
- Earn 4% cash back on groceries, recurring bill payments, and select subscription purchases.
- Earn 2% cash back on gas and daily transit, including taxi, rideshare, and public transit.
- Earn 1% back on everything else.
Earning potential:
How does this card stack up to other rewards credit cards? We crunched the numbers using our Best of Finance methodology to see how much an average Canadian could earn over a 24-month period.
Rewards earned over a 24-month period = $969.86
Annual fee (x2 for 24-month period) = $120.00
Total earned over a 24-month period (rewards minus annual fee) = $849.86
*The annual fee is waived for the first year. Assumes the cardholder spends $20 a month on subscription purchases.
You can redeem your points for:
- Cash back can be deposited into a Scotiabank chequing or savings account in November of each year.
- Cash back can be added as a statement credit in November of each year.
Insurance:
- Mobile device insurance
- Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance
- Travel emergency medical insurance
- Flight delay insurance
- Delayed and lost baggage insurance
- Travel accident insurance
- Rental car collision loss/damage insurance
- Purchase assurance
- Extended warranty
- Scotia Credit Card Protection (optional)
Other perks:
- Save on rental cars from participating AVIS and Budget locations across the U.S. and Canada.
- Enjoy 24/7 concierge services for booking reservations, tickets, or trip preparation.
- Access the Visa Infinite Hotel Collection and the Visa Infinite Dining and Wine Country Program.
4. Scotiabank PassportTM Visa Infinite* Card
Apply for the Scotiabank PassportTM Visa Infinite* Card and receive 25,000 bonus Scotia Rewards points when you make your first $1,000 in purchases within the first three months. Earn two points per dollar on grocery, dining, entertainment, and daily transit purchases. Collect one point per dollar on everything else. Cardholders can also access an array of Visa Infinite exclusive offers and collections, as well as a full suite of travel services. Not only that, this card offers no foreign transaction fees and several complimentary memberships to help make travel more convenient and comfortable.
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian could see a return of over $556.82 within the first two years of card membership.
Credit score requirement for approval:
Excellent: You've had a credit card or loan for at least 10 years. You've had good credit for the last seven years (no bankruptcies or no defaults on credit as a result of failing to pay debts back to creditors). You haven't opened a new credit card account, loan, or line of credit in the last nine months. You've made the minimum payments on your existing credit cards for the past six months.
Annual fee:
$139
One free supplementary card. Each additional supplementary card has a fee of $50 per year.
Limited time offer/bonus:
- Earn 25,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 within the first three months.
Sign-Up Bonus Expiry Date: March 1, 2020
Rewards:
- Earn two Scotia Rewards points per dollar spent on grocery, dining, entertainment, and daily transit purchases, including taxis, rideshare services, and public transit. This earn rate is up to the first $50,000 spent annually. After, earn a regular rate of one Scotia Reward per dollar.
- Earn one Scotia Reward point everywhere else you shop.
- Earn 10,000 bonus points when you spend at least $40,000 on the card annually.
Earning potential:
How does this card stack up to other rewards credit cards? We crunched the numbers using our Best of Finance methodology to see how much an average Canadian could earn over a 24-month period.
Rewards earned over a 24-month period = 83,482 Scotia Rewards points
Monetary value = $834.82
Annual fee (x2 for 24-month period) = $278.00
Total earned over a 24-month period (rewards minus annual fee) = $556.82
*Assuming $20 a month is spent on entertainment.
You can redeem your points for:
- Travel
- Experiences
- Merchandise
- Gift cards
- A statement credit
- Convert to SCENE points
Insurance:
- Travel emergency medical insurance
- Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance
- Flight delay insurance
- Delayed and lost baggage insurance
- Travel accident insurance
- Rental car collision loss/damage insurance
- Hotel/motel burglary insurance
- Purchase security
- Extended warranty
- Feel reassured (optional)
Other perks:
- Cardholders can access the Price Protection Service. If an eligible item has a price drop within 60 days of your purchase, you can claim the price difference up to $100 an item and $500 a year. Other conditions apply.
- Take advantage of the “No FX Mark-Up” feature, also known as no foreign transaction fees. You will not see a foreign currency conversion mark-up typically charged by providers, although the exchange rate will still apply.
- Enjoy complimentarily Priority Pass Membership for airport perks and six free lounge visits per year.
- Receive a complimentary Avis Preferred Plus membership for discounts, upgrades, and special reservations.
- Benefits include the Visa Infinite Concierge services, Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, Visa Infinite Dining Series, and the Visa Infinite Wine Country Program.
5. SCENE®* VISA* Card
The SCENE®* VISA* Card rewards devoted moviegoers with free movies and merchandise when they make everyday purchases. Earn five SCENE points per dollar spent at Cineplex theatres and cineplex.com. Make one SCENE point everywhere else you shop.
Including the welcome bonus and according to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian can save $505.00 in SCENE points over the first two years. That is roughly 40 general admission tickets!
Credit score requirement for approval:
Good: You’ve had a credit card or loan for at least six years. You've had good credit for the last seven years (no bankruptcies or no defaults on credit as a result of failing to pay debts back to creditors). You haven't opened a new credit card account, loan, or line of credit in the last nine months. You've made the minimum payments on my existing credit cards for the past three months.
Annual fee:
$0
Limited time offer/bonus:
- Collect 2,500 bonus SCENE points when you spend $500 in eligible purchases in the first three months.
Sign-Up Bonus Expiry Date: March 1, 2020
Rewards:
- Earn one SCENE point per dollar spent on everyday purchases.
- Earn five SCENE points per dollar spent at Cineplex theatres and cineplex.com.
*A maximum of 300 points can be earned per transaction, up to a daily maximum of 600 points. When redeeming SCENE points at the theatre, additional SCENE points are earned, up to a maximum of one adult ticket and two child tickets per transaction and two transactions per day.
Earning potential:
How does this card stack up to other rewards credit cards? We crunched the numbers using our Best of Finance methodology to see how much an average Canadian could earn over a 24-month period.
Rewards earned over a 24-month period = 50,500 SCENE points
Monetary value: $505.00
Annual fee (x2 for 24-month period) = $0
Total earned over a 24-month period (rewards minus annual fee) = $505.00
*Assuming you spend $100 a month at Cineplex or Cineplex.com each month.
You can redeem your points for:
- Use 1,000 points to get $10 off at participating restaurants
- Redeem 1,250 points for a General Admission or 3D movie ticket in a regular auditorium
- Redeem 2,000 points for a free Enhanced movie ticket including UltraAVX, IMAX, DBOX, and the 3D versions of these experiences
- Redeem 2,500 points for a VIP Cinemas ticket
Insurance:
- Feel Assured Protection (optional)
Other perks:
- Get an additional supplementary card free of charge.
- Save on car rentals at participating AVIS and Budget locations across the U.S. and Canada.
6. No-Fee Scotiabank Value® VISA* Card
*This card is no longer available. Compare credit cards using the RATESDOTCA credit card marketplace to find your match.
For a limited time, the No-Fee Scotiabank Value® VISA* Card offers cardmembers a 3.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers made within the first six months. When the promotion expires, cardholders access a preferred interest rate of 16.99% on purchases, cash advances, balance transfers, and Scotia Credit Card Cheques. If used in combination, the introductory interest rate on balance transfers and the low preferred interest rate can be useful to those looking to consolidate their balances from higher interest rate credit cards.
Credit score requirement for approval:
Good: You’ve had a credit card or loan for at least six years. You've had good credit for the last seven years (no bankruptcies or no defaults on credit as a result of failing to pay debts back to creditors). You haven't opened a new credit card account, loan, or line of credit in the last nine months. You've made the minimum payments on my existing credit cards for the past three months.
Annual fee:
$0
Limited time offer/bonus:
- Take advantage of the 3.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first six months.
Sign-Up Bonus Expiry Date: March 1, 2020
Rewards:
Although there are no rewards points or cash back features on this card, it has a great introductory balance transfer interest rate, as well as a low-interest rate on purchases, cash advances, and Scotia Credit Card Cheques.
Insurance:
- Feel reassured (optional)
Other perks:
- Save on car rentals at participating AVIS and Budget locations across the U.S. and Canada.
