There are quite a few good Scotiabank credit cards in Canada, but some stand out above the rest for their impressive rates, high points earn rates, and low annual fees. I constantly keep up with the latest options and policy changes and make my recommendations below based on my years of experience. Some of these cards make it on my list of the best credit cards for Canadians, while others don't, but they're still decent cards.
The Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite is a cash back credit card that offers a promotional 10% cash back rate for the first 3 months and a non-promotional 4% cash back rate on groceries. The Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite comes with access to exclusive Visa Infinite services plus comprehensive travel and purchase coverage.
What Is A Scotiabank Credit Card?
The Bank of Nova Scotia, widely known as Scotiabank, is one of Canada's leading banks and financial services companies. Scotiabank was founded in Nova Scotia, operates in more than 30 countries worldwide and uses the Visa credit card network – one of the largest credit card networks in the world.
Scotiabank credit cards come in all shapes and forms; the main categories of credit cards include generous rewards, high cash back rates, and travel benefits. Whether you are a student, business owner, or employee, Scotiabank has a credit card for you.
Scotiabank credit cards comes with exclusive access to the Visa network. Some exclusive Visa benefits include access to the Visa Infinite Concierge program, the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, and the Visa Infinite Dining Series. Additionally, you'll be fully covered with comprehensive travel and medical insurance when traveling abroad.
The Best Scotiabank Credit Cards In Canada
- Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite: Best Overall
- Scotiabank Gold American Express Card: Best For Travel And Lifestyle
- Scotiabank Scene Visa Card: Best For Entertainment
- Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite: Best For Perks
- Scotiabank American Express: Best For No Annual Fees
- Scotiabank Value Visa: Best For Low Interest
- Scotiabank Platinum American Express: Best For Premium Benefits
1. Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite – Best Overall
Pros
- Up to 4% cashback from eligible purchases
- Access to Visa Infinite Concierge Service
- Up to 25% car rental discounts at Avis and Budget branches
- Comprehensive travel and purchase insurance coverage
- Access to Visa Infinite Dining and Wine Country program
Cons
- You can only redeem cashback once a year.
- Cashback is only for statement credits.
2. Scotiabank Gold American Express Card – Best For Travel And Lifestyle
Pros
- Up to 6 points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases
- Access to American Express programs
- 24/7 complimentary concierge services
- Access to Priority Pass for VIP airport lounge access
- Comprehensive travel and purchase insurance coverage
Cons
- American Express credit cards are only sometimes accepted.
- $120 annual fee, which is not charged to other credit cards
3. Scotiabank Scene Visa Card – Best For Entertainment
Pros
- 2 points for every $1 spent on qualifying entertainment platforms
- 2 points for every $1 spent on qualifying food establishment
- $0 annual fee
- Up to 25% car rental discounts at Avis and Budget branches
Cons
- No complimentary travel or purchase insurance coverage
- Rewards have limited redemption options.
4. Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite – Best For Perks
Pros
- Up to 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible food merchants
- No foreign transaction fees
- Get 6 Complimentary airport lounge access.
- Up to 25% car rental discounts at Avis and Budget branches
- Exclusive access to Visa Infinite programs
Cons
- High-income requirements to qualify
- Low rewards earn rate.
5. Scotiabank American Express – Best For No Annual Fees
Pros
- $0 annual fee
- Up to 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible food merchants
- Complimentary purchase insurance coverage
- Access to Scene+ Programs
- Exclusive access to American Express
Cons
- Low rewards benefits than other American Express credit cards
- High-interest rates on purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers
6. Scotiabank Value Visa – Best For Low Interest
Pros
- Low annual fee of $29 only
- A low-interest rate on purchases and cash advances for only 12.99%
- Up to 25% car rental discounts at Avis and Budget branches
Cons
- No complimentary travel or purchase insurance coverage
- No rewards or cashback programs are offered.
7. Scotiabank Platinum American Express – Best For Premium Benefits
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Get ten complimentary airport lounge access.
- Exclusive access to Scene+ programs
- 24/7 Premium Concierge Services
- Convenient Hertz #1 Club Gold Membership
Cons
- High annual fee
- American Express credit cards are only sometimes accepted.
Why Get A Scotiabank Credit Card?
You may want a Scotiabank credit card if you're looking for generous cash back benefits or rewards on purchases. We recommend a Scotiabank credit card if you're also looking to manage your expenses, pay bills on time, get exclusive benefits, or travel & purchase coverage.
Rewards To Look For In A Scotiabank Credit Card
Scotiabank credit cards are automatically registered to its Scene+ Rewards Program and cashback system. It will depend on what type of credit card you plan to get. Some of the unique rewards to look for in Scotiabank credit cards are:
- 1,000 Scene+ points for a $10 discount at participating stores
- 100 Scene+ points to redeem $1 for movie tickets
- 100 points to redeem $1 for vacation
Types Of Scotiabank Credit Cards in Canada
#1 Travel & Lifestyle Credit Cards
Scotiabank travel credit cards provide a convenient way to earn rewards and benefits for travel. You can redeem Scene+ points for flights, hotels, and other travel-related deals. Examples of Scotiabank Travel & Lifestyle credit cards are the Scotiabank American Express Card and the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card.
There are other premium cards ideal for travel other than the ones issued by Scotiabank, the best of which are the Platinum card by Amex and the Marriott Bonvoy credit card.
#2 Cash Back Credit Cards
With a Scotiabank cash back credit card, you can earn up to 4% cash back on eligible purchases. These are usually applied as a statement credit automatically every year. Examples of Scotiabank cash back credit cards are the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card and the Scotia Momentum Visa Card.
#3 Scene+ Credit Cards
The Scene+ program is Scotiabank’s point rewards system. Cardholders can use collected Scene+ points from eligible purchases and redeem them for various rewards like travel, grocery, dining, shopping, and gift cards. Some of these credit cards under this type are the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card and Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card.
#4 No Annual Fee Credit Cards
Annual fees are a great responsibility and cause inconvenience to cardholders in most cases. As such, you can acquire credit cards with no annual fees. Some Scotiabank credit cards with no annual fees are the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card and Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card.
#5 Low-Interest Credit Cards
If you’re looking for credit cards with low-interest rates, the Scotiabank Value Visa Card is recommended for you. Credit cards have similar interest rates, but this card can help you manage your expenses on your card statements. However, it does not offer rewards or cashback.
How To Choose A Scotiabank Credit Cards In Canada
Welcome Bonus
A generous welcome bonus is an excellent way to start your credit card journey. Rewards credit cards usually provide specific points once you reach the minimum purchase requirements for three months or a year. Same thing with the cash back, but it is only redeemed once a year in the form of statement credits.
Annual Fee
Credit cards without annual fees are a huge advantage. You should get credit cards having almost the same features as the cards with high annual fees. The benefits you can get will still depend on what you need.
Earning Rate
Earning rates are applied to the rewards points and cash back you can get from eligible purchases. A high earning rate is excellent for getting more rewards after you collect enough points. However, credit cards with high earning rates usually carry high annual rates.
Insurance Coverages
Protection of purchases and your trip is essential. Scotiabank credit cards provide various insurance coverages to some of their credit cards. You should check whether the credit card you want has complimentary insurance coverage.
Rewards Flexibility
All Scotiabank credit cards are automatically registered to the Scene+ rewards programs. Generally, the rewards options are similar unless you are using a cashback credit card.
Benefits
Most of the credit cards issued by Scotiabank are supported by Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Each of these payment networks provides exclusive programs to eligible cardholders. In most cases, Scotiabank credit cards let the cardholders gain access to these programs.
Exclusive Features
Exclusive features from Scotiabank are outstanding. However, if it only differs from one part from other credit cards, it may not suit your needs, especially if it bears expensive annual fees.
How To Redeem Your Scotiabank Credit Card Rewards
Scotiabank made the rewards redemption of the Scene+ points easy. Cardholders can access it online by logging in to their Scotia Online Account, Scotiabank Mobile Banking App, or visiting the official website. Each reward option offered by Scotiabank has specific terms and conditions the cardholders must follow.
On the other hand, cardholders can also redeem their points at eligible physical grocery stores and pharmacies. Meanwhile, you can redeem your travel, entertainment, groceries, retail, dining, banking, and pharmacy points. Each redemption requires specific points.
Earning Scene+ points is simple. Points are automatically provided to your account once you purchase from the qualifying stores. Every Scotiabank credit card has a different earning rate, which can be defined as high or low.
Scotiabank rewards don’t have many complicated requirements. Technically, you will only need a Scotiabank credit card to access the Scene+ program. The earnings will also depend on how frequently you are shopping.
How To Apply For A Scotiabank Credit Card In Canada
Eligibility
Scotiabank has its system of accepting credit card applicants. Some of the eligibilities you must possess are the following:
- You must be a Canadian resident.
- You must possess the majority of the age in your province or territory. For reference, the age of the majority in Manitoba, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Prince Edward Island is 18 years old, while 19 years old in all other provinces.
- No bankruptcy records for the last seven years
- Other requirements include personal details, job, and residency.
Credit Score
The credit score needed by most issuers in Canada ranges from 300 to 900. However, Scotiabank may require a decent credit score of 650. Make sure to ask the issuer to know more about this requirement.
Income
Each credit card, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, have distinct income requirements, but other cards may not need it. All of the Scotiabank credit cards except the Visa Infinite cards hold a personal minimum income requirement worth $12,000. Visa Infinite may start at $60,000 or more.
Scotiabank Credit Cards FAQs
Are Scotiabank credit cards worth it?
Scotiabank credit cards in Canada are worth it for individuals who seek rewards from their purchases with good credit scores. It’s a platform that provides valuable benefits whether it is used for business, school, and others. Rewards and cashback are notable features to check to make your usage worthy.
High-income requirements limit the number of individuals who can get credit cards. Meanwhile, annual fees and interest rates are drawbacks that cardholders should watch out for. Some Scotiabank credit cards don’t offer insurance coverage, which is another downside you should note of.
Furthermore, Scotiabank values the type of individuals applying for their credit cards. However, credit builders may not qualify due to their excellent credit score requirements. Credit builders are people who have bad credit scores, no credit history, or experienced bankruptcy.
Which Scotiabank credit Card Is the Best?
The best Scotiabank credit card to get rewards without annual fees is the Scotiabank American Express Card. It allows cardholders to earn Scene+ points from eligible stores. You can use these points to redeem various reward options such as groceries, travel, banking, and more.
