Travel Rewards
Premium / High-End
Rewards
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
Scotiabank
Current Welcome Offer
Earn up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points in welcome offers and first-year rewards.
Annual Fee
$120
Purchase APR
21.99%
Cash Adv. APR
22.99%
Welcome Bonus
~$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 6.00%
Dining & Takeout 5.00%
Gas & Transit 3.00%
Travel 1.00%
Base Rate 1.00%
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.
- Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more: 6 Scene+ pts/$1
- Dining, food delivery, food subscriptions, and other grocery stores: 5 Scene+ pts/$1
- Entertainment (movies, theatre, and ticket agencies): 5 Scene+ pts/$1
- Gas, transit (rideshare, buses, taxis) and streaming services: 3 Scene+ pts/$1
- Eligible travel purchases: 1 Scene+ pt/$1 (Extra 3 pts via Scene+ Travel)
- All other eligible purchases: 1 Scene+ pt/$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: $850.00
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)
Additional Perks
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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 Details
| Purchase APR | 21.99% |
|---|---|
| Cash Advance APR | 22.99% |
| Annual Fee | $120 |
| Supplementary Card | $29.00 |
| Income Required |
Personal: $12,000 |