Travel Rewards Premium / High-End Rewards

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

Scotiabank Scotiabank
Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points in welcome offers and first-year rewards.
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 APR21.99%
Cash Advance APR22.99%
Annual Fee$120
Supplementary Card Fee$29
Income Required Personal: $12,000
Recommended Credit Score—

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Filed Under

Travel Rewards Premium / High-End Rewards
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