Travel Rewards Low Interest Premium / High-End

Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card

Scotiabank
Current Welcome Offer
Earn up to 80,000 bonus Scene+ points in the first 14 months.
Annual Fee $399
Purchase APR 9.99%
Cash Adv. APR 9.99%
Welcome Bonus ~$2500

RateBuddy Verdict

The Good
  • Extremely rare combination of elite travel rewards and a very low standard interest rate (9.99%) on purchases and cash advances.
  • Provides an incredibly straightforward flat earning rate of 2 Scene+ points on every single purchase, eliminating the need to track category multipliers.
  • Offers elite travel perks including 10 free airport lounge passes per year and 0% foreign transaction fees.
The Trade-offs
  • Carries a very high annual fee of $399, making it best suited for frequent travelers who will maximize the lounge and insurance benefits.
  • Requires a high minimum credit limit of $10,000, which may be a barrier to approval for some applicants despite the low income requirement.
  • American Express is not as universally accepted in Canada as Visa or Mastercard, occasionally limiting where you can earn your 2x points.

Rewards & Earnings

Groceries 2.00%
Dining & Takeout 2.00%
Gas & Transit 2.00%
Travel 2.00%
Base Rate 2.00%
Rewards Summary: Flat 2 Scene+ points per $1 on all eligible purchases; Travel: 2 pts per $1 (Extra 3 pts via Scene+ Travel).
  • All eligible purchases: 2 Scene+ pts/$1
  • Eligible travel purchases: 2 Scene+ pts/$1 (Extra 3 pts via Scene+ Travel)

Welcome Bonus Details

Earn up to $2,500 in value in the first 14 months, including an 80,000 bonus Scene+ point offer with minimum spend.

Estimated Value: $2500.00

Features & Benefits

No Foreign Transaction Fees
Save 2.5% on foreign currency transactions
Airport Lounge Access
10 complimentary lounge visits for primary cardholder
Travel Medical Insurance
Up to $2 million CAD (31 days under 65 / 10 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 $2,500 cancellation / $5,000 interruption
Extended Warranty Insurance
Included (Up to 2 additional years)
Purchase Security Insurance
Included (120 days)
Low Purchase Interest
9.99% standard rate on purchases and cash advances
Concierge Service
24/7 complimentary concierge service
Flight Delay Insurance
Up to $1,000 per insured person (4+ hours)
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: $2M (31 days under 65 / 10 days 65+); Trip Cancellation/Interruption: High limits ($2.5k/$5k); Flight & Baggage Delay: $1,000; Car Rental Collision: Included; Hotel Burglary: $1,000; Mobile Device: $1,000; Purchase Security: 120 days & Extended Warranty: +2 Years.


Rates & Fees Details

Purchase APR9.99%
Cash Advance APR9.99%
Annual Fee$399
Supplementary Card$99.00
Income Required Personal: $12,000

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