Best Meridian Credit Cards in Canada for 2025
The best Meridian credit card is the Meridian Visa Infinite Cash Back Card, although Ontario residents have a few other options to consider. At their simplest, you can select from travel cards, no fee cards, and cash back credit cards.
The credit union issues six Visa credit cards, including a USD credit card. Since you’re not limited to working with Meridian, we’ve compared Meridian's lineup to similar cards from national issuers so you can decide if the credit union is a good fit.
Key Takeaways
- Meridian Credit Union offers a range of cash back and travel credit cards.
- All six of the cards issued by Meridian are Visa cards.
- Meridian offers a rare USD credit card.
- The best Meridian credit card is the Meridian Cash Back Visa Infinite.
Best Meridian credit cards
Meridian offers a variety of travel and cash back credit cards. Here's a summary of the top three Meridian credit cards.
| Category | Meridian credit card | Annual fee | Features | Top competitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best cash back | Meridian Visa Infinite Cash Back Card | 99 | * Up to 4% cash back on purchases * 11 types of insurance * Multiple redemption options | Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card |
| Best travel | Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card | 99 | * Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases * 11 types of insurance * Double points on foreign currency purchases | Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard |
| Best no fee | Meridian Visa Cash Back Card | 0 | * 1% cash back on gas and groceries * 5 types of insurance * No annual fee | Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card |
Meridian credit card rewards
Meridian rewards might not be as well-known as Scene+, PC Optimum, or others offered by big card issuers, but some of their cards provide attractive redemption options through the Visa Rewards program.
When you’re ready to cash in your points, log into your Meridian account and select "View Rewards". You’ll be transferred to a reward page operated by ScoreCard, where you can select rewards like:
- Gift cards
- Merchandise
- Travel credits
- Statement credits
Meridian credit cards vs. other top cards
Before you commit to a Meridian card, see how it compares to a comparable card from another credit card issuer:
Meridian Visa Infinite Cash Back Card vs. Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card
Meridian offers a terrific credit cash back option with the Meridian Visa Infinite Cash Back Card – but there are plenty of other cash back cards available in Canada.
Here's how the Meridian compares to the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card, a top credit card for earning rewards on groceries and recurring bills:
| Meridian Visa Infinite Cash Back Card | Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 70 bonus cash (terms) |  $20 GeniusCash + 10% cash back for the first 3 months, first year free (terms) |
| Earn rates | * 4% cash back on groceries and gas * 2% cash back on pharmacies and utility bills * 1% cash back on all other purchases | * 4% cash back on groceries and recurring bill payments * 2% cash back on gas and transit * 1% cash back on all other purchases |
| Average return on purchases | 2.03% | 2.08% |
| Insurance coverage | 11 | 11 |
| Annual fee | $99 | $120 |
| Income requirements | * $60,000 personal * $100,000 household | * $60,000 personal * $100,000 household |
The Meridian Visa Infinite Cash Back Card rewards you on the basics – gas and groceries – but so does the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card. Both cards have similar earning rates in various categories, and they both offer comparable insurance coverage and Visa Infinite benefits.
Which is better? Ultimately, this comes down to your spending habits. Spend more on recurring bills or transit, and the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card will be better. However, if you put in the miles and are constantly refuelling, then perhaps the Meridian Visa Infinite Cash Back Card is the better choice.
GC: $20
Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card vs. Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard
The Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card is a unique card because of how it earns rewards: a flat rate on everything, plus a bonus when you make purchases in foreign currency. But it's really a cash back card at heart, one that allows you to redeem your points against any travel purchase or as a statement credit for a value of 1 cent per point.
However, the no fee Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard offers even more rewards if you’re a Rogers customer:
| Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card | Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 7,000 bonus points (terms) | None |
| Earn rates | * 6 points per $2 spent on fx purchases * 3 points per $2 spent on all other purchases | * Earn 2% unlimited cash back on all eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases if you have 1 qualifying service with Rogers, Fido, Comwave, or Shaw * Earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases * Earn 3% unlimited cash back on all eligible purchases made in U.S. dollars |
| Average return on purchases | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Insurance coverage | 11 | 6 |
| Annual fee | $99 | $0 |
| Income requirements | * $60,000 personal * $100,000 household | * $60,000 personal * $100,000 household |
For no annual fee, you'll get the same rewards with the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard – but you'll only earn 3% back on USD purchases rather than all foreign currency.
If you have an eligible Rogers service (including Fido and Shaw), you'll earn 2% cash back everywhere. And if you redeem your cash back towards paying for your Rogers services, you'll get a 50% cash back bonus, essentially giving you 3% cash back on all your purchases.
Meridian Visa Cash Back Card vs. Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Meridian offers one no fee credit card, the Meridian Visa Cash Back Card, which offers up to 1% cash back on purchases.
Let's compare it to the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card, which offers a unique way to earn cash back:
| Meridian Visa Cash Back Card | Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 70 bonus cash (terms) | $120 GeniusCash + 10% extra cash back for the first 2 months (terms) |
| Earn rates | * 1% cash back on gas, groceries, pharmacies and utility bills * 0.5% cash back on all other purchases | * 2% cash back on purchases in up to 3 Money-Back Categories * 0.5% cash back on all other purchases |
| Average return on purchases | 0.74% | 1.14% |
| Insurance coverage | 5 | 2 |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Income requirements | * None | * $12,000 personal |
With the Meridian Visa Cash Back Card, you'll earn just 1% back on a few categories and 0.5% elsewhere.
But the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card lets you choose the categories where you earn 2% back, and 0.5% back on purchases outside these areas. There's a list of ten categories, and cardholders can select two categories if their cash back is applied as a statement credit, or three if it’s sent to a Tangerine Savings account.
So, with Tangerine, you'll get more cash back on the categories that matter most to you.
×1 Award winner GC: $120
1x Award winner Compare Meridian Credit Cards
FAQ
What is Meridian?
Meridian Credit Union is a full-service credit union based in Ontario. While most of its high-quality banking products are only available for Ontarians, its credit card options are available to Canadians in all provinces (except Quebec).
What kinds of credit cards does Meridian issue?
Meridian Credit Union issues a diverse selection of credit card options, including cash back cards, travel rewards cards, and one U.S. dollar card. They hold their own against top cards from other issuers, too.
What is the best Meridian credit card?
The best credit card from Meridian Credit Union is the Meridian Visa Infinite Cash Back Card. This card offers up to 4% cash back on purchases, includes 11 types of insurance for an annual fee of $99.
Do I need to be an Ontario resident to get a Meridian credit card?
Yes, as one of the main eligibility requirements, you must be a Meridian Credit Union member, which means you must be a resident of Ontario. You must also be the age of majority in the province.
What's the best Meridian credit card for seniors?
Seniors benefit significantly from no fee credit cards with low income requirements, so the Meridian Visa Infinite Cash Back Card is a fantastic option. In fact, it's a top option for any Meridian member, not just seniors.
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone. No bank, credit card issuer, rewards program, or other entity has reviewed, approved, or endorsed this content. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website. Our credit card scores and rankings are based on our Rating Methodology that takes into account 126+ features for each of 226 Canadian credit cards.
