Travel Rewards Balance Transfer Premium / High-End

BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

BMO Bank of Montreal
Current Welcome Offer
Up to $1,600 in value
Annual Fee
$150 $0
1st Year Free
Purchase APR 21.99%
Cash Adv. APR 23.99%
Welcome Bonus ~$650

RateBuddy Verdict

The Good
  • Includes 4 complimentary airport lounge passes every year, which is excellent value for a card at this fee level.
  • Outstanding travel medical insurance covering up to 21 consecutive days, beating the 15-day industry standard.
  • Strong 5x points multiplier on eligible travel purchases accelerates reward earnings.
  • First-year annual fee is waived for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.
The Trade-offs
  • Requires a minimum personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000 to qualify.
  • The base earn rate on non-category spending drops down to just 1 point per $1 spent.

Rewards & Earnings

Dining & Takeout 3.00%
Travel 5.00%
Base Rate 1.00%
Rewards Summary: Travel: 5 pts per $1; Dining & Entertainment: 3 pts per $1; Recurring Bills: 3 pts per $1; Base Earn: 1 pt per $1; Lounge Access: 4 free passes via Mastercard Travel Pass; Account Rebate: $150 annual fee rebated with BMO Premium Chequing
  • Travel Purchases: 5.0 pts/$1
  • Dining & Entertainment: 3.0 pts/$1
  • Recurring Bill Payments: 3.0 pts/$1
  • All Other Purchases: 1.0 pt/$1

Welcome Bonus Details

Up to $1,600 in value

Estimated Value: $650.00

Features & Benefits

Airport Lounge Access
4 complimentary lounge visits per year via DragonPass
Travel Medical Insurance
Up to $5 million for 21 consecutive days
First-Year Fee Waived
Annual fee waived in the first year for primary and authorized users
Mobile Device Insurance
Up to $1,000 coverage against loss, theft or accidental damage
Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver
Included
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
Included
Extended Warranty Insurance
Doubles manufacturer warranty up to 1 year
Purchase Security Insurance
90 days from date of purchase
NEXUS Application Fee Rebate
Up to $200 statement credit in the first year
Flight Delay Insurance
Up to $500 per trip
Baggage Delay/Loss Insurance
Included
Common Carrier Accident Insurance
Included
Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance
Up to $1,000 per occurrence
Annual fee rebate with selected account
Rebated annually with BMO Premium Chequing Account
Additional Perks
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Insurance Coverage

Emergency Medical: $5M (21 days); Trip Cancellation/Interruption: Included; Flight Delay: $500; Baggage & Hotel Burglary: Included; Auto Rental Collision: Included; Mobile Device: $1,000; Purchase Security: 90 days


Rates & Fees Details

Purchase APR21.99%
Cash Advance APR23.99%
Annual Fee$150
Income Required Personal: $80,000
Household: $150,000

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