Travel Rewards
Premium / High-End
Rewards
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
Scotiabank
Welcome Bonus:
Earn up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points in welcome offers and first-year rewards.
Secure RateBuddy connection · Application completed on Scotiabank’s site
Annual Fee
$120
Purchase APR
21.99%
Cash Advance
22.99%
Bonus Value
$850
RateBuddy Verdict
The Good
- Massive earn rates of up to 6x points on groceries and 5x on dining, making it one of the fastest earning cards in Canada.
- Charges absolutely no foreign transaction fees, saving you 2.5% on all out-of-country and USD online purchases.
- Highly accessible for a premium card, requiring a minimum personal income of just $12,000 to apply.
The Trade-offs
- American Express is not as universally accepted in Canada as Visa or Mastercard, limiting where you can earn those high multipliers.
- While it offers premium travel benefits, it only provides a discount on a Priority Pass lounge membership rather than free complimentary visits.
- The 6x grocery multiplier is heavily restricted to Empire brand stores (Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, etc.); other grocers only earn 5x.
Rewards & Earnings
Groceries
6%
Dining
5%
Gas
3%
Travel
1%
Recurring Bills
3%
Base Rate
1%
Rewards Summary:
Sobeys/Safeway/FreshCo/Foodland: 6 pts per $1; Dining, Entertainment & Other Groceries: 5 pts per $1; Gas, Transit & Streaming: 3 pts per $1; Base Earn: 1 pt per $1.
Welcome Bonus Details
Earn up to $850 in welcome offers, first-year rewards and savings value, including up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points.
Estimated Value: $850
Features & Benefits
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Save 2.5% on foreign currency transactions
Airport Lounge Access
Discounted Priority Pass membership
Travel Medical Insurance
Up to $1 million CAD (25 days under 65 / 3 days 65+)
Mobile Device Insurance
Up to $1,000 coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged devices
Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver
Included
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
Up to $1,500 per person / $10k maximum
Extended Warranty Insurance
Included
Purchase Security Insurance
Included
Concierge Service
24/7 complimentary concierge service
Flight Delay Insurance
Up to $500 per insured person
Baggage Delay/Loss Insurance
Up to $1,000 coverage
Special Event Access (e.g., Front Of The Line)
Front Of The Line presales and reserved seats
Common Carrier Accident Insurance
Up to $500,000 coverage per person
Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance
Up to $1,000 coverage (US & Canada)
Insurance Coverage
Emergency Medical: $1M (25 days under 65); Trip Cancellation/Interruption: Included; Flight & Baggage Delay: Included; Car Rental Collision: Included; Hotel Burglary: Included; Mobile Device: $1,000; Purchase Security & Extended Warranty: Included.
Rates, Fees & Eligibility
| Purchase APR | 21.99% |
|---|---|
| Cash Advance APR | 22.99% |
| Annual Fee | $120 |
| Supplementary Card Fee | $29 |
| Income Required |
Personal: $12,000 |
| Recommended Credit Score | — |
Cardholder Reviews
A detailed view of approved RateBuddy community feedback for this card.
Be the first to share a cardholder perspective.
Approved reviews build this card’s score and detailed ratings breakdown.
No approved reviews yet
No public user reviews yet. Share your experience to help others compare this card.
Reviews are moderated before publication. RateBuddy does not publish reviewer email addresses or sensitive financial information.
Filed Under
Travel Rewards
Premium / High-End
Rewards
Secure RateBuddy connection