In the Ring: Scotiabank Gold American Express Card versus Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

This article has been updated from a previous version.

The Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card and the Scotiabank Passport^TM Visa Infinite^* Card jump “In the Ring” to battle for the title of Top Travel Rewards Card from Scotiabank.

We analyze each round, breaking down the true everyday value of some of the best travel credit cards in Canada. Click on the categories, like “Annual fee” or “Earn rates,” to go to a specific section.

*The RATESDOTCA Best of Finance methodology assumes the cardholder spends an average of $2,000 a month on their card to determine the first-year value. The calculation includes all welcome bonuses and promotional offers at the time of publishing.

Annual fee

Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card

Both the Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card and the Scotiabank PassportTM Visa Infinite^* Card offer annual fee waivers for the primary and supplementary cardholders for the first year. As a result, you can save more than $100 in fees with either card.

However, you must pay the annual fee after the first year, which matters if you plan to use the card long-term. While the Scotiabank®* Gold American Express® Card has a slightly cheaper annual fee of $120, it costs $29 annually to add a supplementary cardholder. With one additional user, you’d pay $149 each year.

The Scotiabank PassportTM Visa Infinite* Card, on the other hand, provides one free supplementary card, so you’d continue to pay $150 per year with an authorized user. Adding an authorized user to your account can help you earn rewards faster and have other perks, too. For this reason, the Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express® Card wins this round.

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Welcome bonus

Winner: Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card

For a limited time, get a $200 cash bonus from RATESDOTCA upon approval for either the Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card or Scotiabank PassportTM Visa Infinite^* Card until December 16, 2022.

The Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card offers up to 45,000 Scotia Scene+ points in the first year. That is a travel value of up to $450. According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian spends roughly $2,000 a month on their credit card. In this case, it would take only one month to obtain the 25,000 Scene+ points and under four months to get the additional 20,000 points — a generous welcome offer.

The welcome offer for the Scotiabank PassportTM Visa Infinite* Card is of a lesser value and more difficult to acquire for the average person. In the first year, you can earn up to 40,000 Scotia Scene+ points, a travel value of up to $400. However, according to RATESDOTCA’s Best of Finance methodology, the average person would not earn the additional 10,000 bonus points, spending roughly $24,000 annually, or about half of what is required. Therefore, the average Canadian would earn only 30,000 points — a travel value of up to $300, which is $150 less than the Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card.

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Earn rates

Winner: Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card

The Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card is a clear winner here, offering far more rewards for everyday purchases than its counterpart (see the chart below).

The Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express® Card offers three more points per dollar for eligible grocery, dining, and entertainment purchases, one more point per dollar for daily transit purchases, and an equal value for all other purchases. Additionally, it provides more accelerated earning categories than the Scotiabank PassportTM Visa Infinite* Card, rewarding cardholders for their gas purchases and select streaming services, too.

Cardholders of either card will earn an accelerated rate until $50,000 is spent annually. For example, earn five points for every $1 spent on groceries, dining, and entertainment — up to $50,000 in total purchases in these categories. After, earn one point for every $1 spent on the card.

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Reward redemption

It’s a draw!

Cardholders earn Scotia Scene+ points for making everyday purchases. Currently, members can cash in points for flexible redemption options like travel, merchandise, and statement credits — travel options are of the highest value, and cash equivalent options are generally worth the least.

However, the loyalty program offers a wide selection of redemption options to choose from.

• Rewards for the Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card and Scotiabank Passport^TM Visa Infinite^* Card are the same. Since these cards are part of the same program, this category is a draw.

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Perks

Winner: Scotiabank Passport^TM Visa Infinite* Card

The Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card features Scotiabank and American Express benefits — a fantastic combo and some of the best in the business.

This credit card provides the following perks:

• Pay no foreign transaction fees on foreign currency purchases made online or abroad.
• Access American Express Invites^® for special offers and exclusive access to tickets and curated events.
• Score tickets or reservations with the complimentary concierge services.
• Receive a preferred discount on the Priority Pass™ membership and access airport lounges worldwide.
• Get the Best Price Guarantee on airfare through the Scotia Scene+ Travel Service, an exclusive travel agency.

However, the Scotiabank Passport^TM Visa Infinite^* Card offers more to travellers. Firstly, as part of the Visa Infinite tier, cardholders can access a variety of benefits:

• Visa Infinite Concierge. Get help planning trips or booking reservations with this 24/7 service.
• Visa Infinite Wine Country Program. Receive exclusive benefits at more than 95 participating wineries across Canada, including complimentary tastings.
• Visa Infinite Dining Series. Access exclusive gourmet events with renowned chefs, or have multi-course meals delivered straight to your home.
• Visa Infinite Entertainment Access. Get exclusive access to tickets and events.
• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection. Get seven premium benefits at more than 900 participating properties worldwide, including free Wi-Fi and breakfast or room upgrades.
• Visa Infinite Troon Rewards. Get golf benefits and save 10% on golf fees, merchandise, and lessons at 150+ courses globally.

This card also includes:

• Pay no foreign transaction fees, which are typically around 2.5% of foreign currency purchases.
• Get a complimentary Priority Pass™ membership with six free passes annually. Lounge visits cost US$32 per person after that.
• Access the Scotia Scene+ Travel Service to book your trip.

While the Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card offers great lifestyle perks with a sprinkle of travel benefits, like no foreign transaction fees, the Scotiabank PassportTM Visa Infinite* Card provides all that and then some. The Scotiabank PassportTM Visa Infinite* Card features a complimentary Priority Pass™ membership with free annual lounge passes, whereas the Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card only offers a preferred discount. That means the Scotiabank Passport^TM Visa Infinite* Card wins this round.

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Insurance coverage

Winner: Scotiabank Passport^TM Visa Infinite* Card

*Insurance coverage is subject to change. Refer to your insurance certificate or contact your credit card issuer for full terms and conditions.

With at least 11 types of travel and shopping insurance each, the Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express® Card and the Scotiabank Passport^TM Visa Infinite* Card are nearly tied in this category.

Both cards offer up to three days of emergency medical term insurance for those aged 65 and older. Many insurance policies provided by credit cards exclude senior travellers as they are at a higher risk of making a claim.

However, the Scotiabank PassportTM Visa Infinite* Card offers up to $1,000 more in trip interruption coverage. Apart from these minor details, the cards are almost identical insurance-wise.

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Recommended credit score

Winner: Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card

The Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card requires a good credit score, whereas the Scotiabank Passport^TM Visa Infinite^* Card recommends an excellent score to be eligible.

The average Canadian has a good credit score, making the Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card more attainable. But that is not to say the Scotiabank Passport^TM Visa Infinite^* Card is out of reach. With time, patience, and responsible financial habits, anything is possible.

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Interest rates

It’s a draw!

This round is a draw. The Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card and Scotiabank Passport^TM Visa Infinite^* Card feature standard annual interest rates of 20.99% on purchases. No one card is better than the other here.

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Income requirements

Winner: Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card

The Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card requires a minimum personal income of $12,000 to be eligible, far less than the $60,000 needed for the Scotiabank PassportTM Visa Infinite* Card.

The Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card offers the great travel insurance and perks you expect from a travel rewards card with fair eligibility requirements. It’s the winner of this round.

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First-year value

Winner: Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card

*Based on the RATESDOTCA Best of Finance methodology.

According to the RATESDOTCA Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian spends about $2,000 a month on their credit card. After buying gas, groceries, and miscellaneous purchases, their credit card rewards would look something like this:

The average person would earn $1,394 in the first year using the Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card. This calculation includes the exceptional welcome bonus, annual fee rebate, and promotional cash offer. In the following years, the cardholder would earn roughly $624 in Scotia Scene+ points annually.

The Scotiabank Passport^TM Visa Infinite^* Card, meanwhile, would offer fewer rewards. In the first year, cardholders would earn around $854, which is $540 less than the Gold AMEX card. In the following years, cardholders would earn approximately $204 in Scotia Scene+ points annually.

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Which credit card should you choose?

The Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card and Scotiabank Passport^TM Visa Infinite^* Card reward members with Scotia Rewards points for buying groceries, taking transit, and all other purchases.

Redemption is easy through the flexible Scene+ program, offering travel and financial options like statement credits or gift cards. Plus, get travel and shopping insurance and exclusive perks with either card.

However, the Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card comes out on top. This card features an excellent earn rate for necessities like groceries and gas, as well as life’s little luxuries like streaming services and food delivery. Not only that, but this card requires only a good credit score and a minimum personal income of $12,000 to be eligible — fair requirements for such a rewarding option.

While the first-year value of the Scotiabank Passport^TM Visa Infinite^* Card does not quite compare to the Scotiabank^®* Gold American Express^® Card, it offers plenty of savings in other ways. Get a free additional card for an authorized user and earn rewards faster. Pay no foreign transaction fees, and access airport lounges worldwide with six free passes annually (worth US$32 each).

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In the Ring past winners

Find out who won the last battle:

• In the Ring: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card vs. RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card

Rates, product information and reward estimates are subject to change at any time and do not constitute financial advice. This post was not sponsored. RATESDOTCA may receive a referral fee from our partners or affiliate links featured on the site; however, our editorial choices are objective and free from bias. The opinions expressed in this article are purely those of RATESDOTCA; thus, the credit card issuers and partners are not responsible for any editorials or reviews that may appear. Please visit the brand’s associated website for complete and current terms and conditions on any product or service mentioned. The information in this article is accurate as of the date of this posting, November 10, 2022. Read our full disclaimer.