Best BMO Credit Cards in Canada for 2026
As a major Canadian bank, BMO offers several credit cards, but the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard is the best BMO credit card available. Not only is it an excellent cash back card for everyday purchases, but it also includes roadside assistance and solid insurance coverage.
From cash back to rewards to travel cards, BMO offers a variety of cards to suit anyone's needs. Since it can be hard to compare such a variety, we use our data-backed Genius Rating, which measures 126+ credit card factors to find the best credit cards.
Read through the following review of BMO's credit card lineup to see which one best matches your spending habits, budget, and coverage needs. We've also highlighted each card's eligibility requirements, so you can get an idea of what you qualify for before you apply.
Key Takeaways
- The best BMO credit card in Canada is the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard, followed by the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card.
- BMO offers a variety of very good credit cards for thrifty-to-moderate spenders, but its premium products aren’t very competitive.
- BMO rewards credit cards earn cash back or BMO Rewards points, which can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, merchandise, and more.
- You can apply for a BMO credit card online, in person, or over the phone.
The best BMO credit cards compared
As 1 of the 5 major banks in Canada, BMO stocks a full lineup of credit offerings, including travel and premium credit cards. Because most credit card shoppers care about rewards, we've made it easy to compare each card's earning power by calculating its return rate.
Rewards earned in CAD / money spent in CAD x 100 = return rate in %
A 5% return rate equals $5 in points or cash for every $100 you spend, but it's rare to find a card so rewarding. The best BMO credit cards in Canada don't earn much, but they cover a range of spending needs.
| Category | Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | Features | Average return rate | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best in Canada | BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard | $139 |  $150 GeniusCash + Up to $480 cash back in the first year, first year free (terms) | * 11 types of insurance included * Up to 5% cash back | 2.02% | Learn more |
| Best for travel | BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card | $120 | $150 GeniusCash + Up to 70,000 bonus points, first year free (terms) | * Up to 70,000 bonus points * Earn up to 5 points per $1 on purchases | 1.59% | Learn more |
| Best for travel insurance | BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard | $150 | $175 GeniusCash + Up to 115,000 bonus points, first year free (terms) | * 12 types of insurance included * 4 airport lounge passes included | 1.03% | Learn more |
| Best for students | BMO CashBack Mastercard for students | $0 | $20 GeniusCash + 5% cash back for the first 3 months (terms) | * Free 3-month Instacart+ subscription * Earn 3% back on groceries | 0.99% | Learn more |
| Best for low interest | BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard | $29 | $40 GeniusCash + 0% interest on balance transfers for 18 months (terms) | * 0% on balance transfers for 18 months * 13.99% interest rate on purchases | 0% | Learn more |
| Best for no fee | BMO CashBack Mastercard | $0 | $20 GeniusCash + 5% cash back for the first 3 months (terms) | * 5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,500 in spend * Up to 3% cash back on purchases | 0.99% | Learn more |
| Best for perks | BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard | $150 | $125 GeniusCash + Up to 100,000 bonus points, first year free (terms) | * 12 types of insurance included | 1.16% | Learn more |
1. Best BMO credit card in Canada
×1 Award winner 
GC: $150
1x Award winner Rewards:
- 5% cash back on groceries, up to $500 in monthly spend*
- 4% cash back on transit, up to $300 in monthly spend*
- 3% cash back on gas, up to $300 in monthly spend*
- 2% cash back on recurring bills, up to $500 in monthly spend*
- 1% cash back on all other purchases*
Average return rate: 2.02%
BMO's primary payment partner is Mastercard, and if their Mastercards have one strength, it's cash back credit cards.
We named the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard the best BMO credit card because it earns up to 5% back on food purchases. It also earns 1% – 4% back in 4 other spending categories, and you can redeem your cash back on demand as soon as you collect at least $1.
Because it's a cash back card, you won't have to worry about maximizing rewards points, but using your World Elite Mastercard benefits may require some planning. Try asking your 24/7 complimentary concierge to buy you tickets to Cirque du Soleil with a 20% discount, or find a Dragonpass airport lounge for you to visit for $32 USD. And it has a very rare perk: roadside assistance.
Pros:
- Up to 35% off Avis and Budget car rentals
- 11 types of insurance
- Redeem cash back on demand
- Free roadside assistance
- World Elite Mastercard benefits
Cons:
- High income requirements
- Relatively low monthly cap on top earning categories
2. Best BMO travel credit card
GC: $150
Rewards:
- 5 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on dining ($6,000 per year), groceries ($6,000 per year), gas, and transit*
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases*
Average return rate: 1.59%
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card is a flexible travel credit card with high returns in 4 spending categories, where you'll earn 5 points per $1 spent. Once you've collected enough BMO Rewards points, you can trade them for a travel credit or deposit them into a BMO investment account for an average value of 0.67 cents per point (CPP).
Cost of reward in $CAD / cost of reward in points x 100 = value in cents per point (CPP)
If you decide to travel, you can use your Visa Infinite benefits to receive a complimentary food voucher, room upgrade, and in-room Wi-Fi at 900+ properties in the Visa Infinite Hotels Collection.
For even more travel perks and insurance, check out the super-premium BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card.
Pros:
- $50 annual lifestyle credit
- 6 types of insurance
- 10% bonus points for adding an authorized user
- Visa Infinite perks
- Free Instacart+ subscription and $5 shopping credit
Cons:
- High income requirements
- Limited insurance
3. Best BMO travel insurance credit card
GC: $175
Rewards:
- 5 points per $1 spent on travel
- 3 points per $1 spent on dining, entertainment, and recurring bills
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Average return rate: 1.03%
Not to be outdone, the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard includes 12 of the 17 types of insurance available in Canada, including plenty of travel insurance. You can submit claims for cancelled flights, lost luggage, and even damaged rental cars, and save money by covering multiple trips with a single annual fee instead of buying coverage separately.
Here's a rundown of this card's extensive insurance coverage:
BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 21 days |
| Emergency Medical Maximum Coverage | $5,000,000 |
| Trip Cancellation | $1,500 |
| Trip Interruption | $2,000 |
| Flight Delay | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $500 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $500 |
| Personal Effects | $750 |
| Hotel Burglary | $1,000 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
Aside from the very valuable insurance package, this card earns you up to 5 points per $1 spent on purchases, and the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard has the highest welcome bonus, worth $770.5.
Pros:
- 20% off Cirque du Soleil tickets and 15% off resident Las Vegas shows
- Up to 35% off Avis and Budget car rentals
- 4 free Dragonpass airport lounge visits
- 12 types of insurance
- Generous welcome bonus
Cons:
- High income requirements
- Relatively high annual fee
4. Best BMO student credit card
×1 Award winner GC: $20
1x Award winner Rewards:
- 3% cash back on groceries (up to $500 per month)
- 1% cash back on recurring bill payments (up to $500 per month)
- 0.5% cash back on all other purchases
Average return rate: 0.99%
The BMO CashBack Mastercard for students may not earn much, but it has the lowest annual fee of any card on this list and no income requirements. This card enables post-secondary students ages 18 to 24 to start building their credit scores and earn cash back on groceries, recurring bills, and everyday spending.
New student cardholders also get a free 3-month Instacart+ subscription and a $5 monthly credit toward Instacart purchases. This makes for an easy and delicious way to earn that cash back on food expenses.
Pros:
- 20% off Cirque du Soleil tickets and 15% off resident Las Vegas shows
- Up to 35% off Avis and Budget car rentals
- Redeem cash back on demand
- Free Instacart+ subscription and $5 shopping credit
- No annual fee
Cons:
- Limited insurance
- Minimal cash back on general spending
5. Best BMO low-interest credit card
GC: $40
Rewards: None
Average return rate: 0%
The BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard boasts low interest rates, low income requirements, and a low annual fee. Canadians looking to consolidate their debt will find the introductory 0% balance transfer rate indispensable – just make sure to use it within 18 months of signing up.
Pro Tip: See how much you could save by paying off a balance on the BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard instead of another card using our credit card interest calculator.
Pros:
- 15.99% interest on balance transfers
- 15.99% interest on cash advances
- 13.99% interest on purchases
- Valuable 2% balance transfer promo
Cons:
- Limited insurance
- No rewards
6. Best BMO cash back card with no fee
Rewards:
- 3% cash back on groceries (up to $500 per month)
- 1% cash back on recurring bill payments (up to $500 per month)
- 0.5% cash back on all other purchases
Average return rate: 0.99%
If your primary goal with a credit card is to earn cash back without paying a fee, take a look at the BMO CashBack Mastercard. Unlike some rewards cards, you get to decide when you cash out your rewards – no waiting for your card's anniversary date.
You can even select how you get your cash back. Options include depositing your cash back into a BMO chequing account, depositing it into your InvestorLine account, or applying it as a statement credit.
Pros:
- No annual fee
- Free Instacart+ subscription and $5 shopping credit
- Redeem cash back on demand
- Valuable 2% balance transfer promo
Cons:
- Limited insurance
- Minimal cash back on general spending
7. Best BMO card for perks
GC: $125
Rewards:
- 10 points per $1 spent at Blue Rewards partners*
- 2 points per $1 spent on groceries, gas, electric vehicle charging, wholesale, and alcohol purchases*
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases*
Average return rate: 1.16%
The BMO Blue Rewards World Elite Mastercard proves that credit card perks can go a long way toward offsetting an annual fee. It has a $150 annual fee but also includes roadside assistance, a sizeable welcome bonus, a Mastercard Travel Pass membership with 4 free annual lounge passes, and a dozen types of insurance coverage.
As one of BMO's new Blue Rewards credit cards, you'll earn valuable Blue Rewards points that can be redeemed in a variety of ways. Use them for travel, in-store discounts, eGift cards, and much more.
Pros:
- Earns up to 10 points per $1 spent
- 4 free airport lounge passes each year
- 12 types of insurance
- Generous welcome bonus
Cons:
- Low rewards compared to other premium cards
- High income requirements
If you're primarily looking for a card that gives roadside assistance, but you don't want to pay an annual fee, check out the no-fee version of this card, the BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard.
Other BMO credit cards to consider
Not every BMO credit card could make our best of list, but that doesn't mean the issuer's other cards aren't right for you. Here are additional cards BMO issues:
- BMO eclipse rise Visa Card: a no-fee Visa option
- BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card: a premium Visa option
- BMO Prepaid Mastercard: a secured credit card option
- BMO U.S. Dollar Mastercard: a low-fee card with no foreign exchange fee for USD
- BMO VIPorter Mastercard: a travel credit card that earns Porter Points
- BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard: a premium travel card
Compare BMO credit cards by Genius Rating
This credit card comparison table displays our default Genius Rating, which applies our standard weight to all 7 of our scoring categories (rewards, fees, insurance, interest, perks, approval, and acceptance). The ratings displayed for individual credit cards are weighted according to each card's strengths.
Here's how BMO credit cards compare when arranged by Genius Rating:
×1 Award winner GC: $150 1x Award winner ×1 Award winner GC: $150
1x Award winner GC: $175GC: $125GC: $150Learn more about our Genius Rating methodology
How the BMO rewards programs work
BMO offers a variety of cards that have appeared on many of our "best-of" lists. If you opt for a BMO rewards credit card, you have 4 choices: cash back, BMO Rewards points, VIPorter points, or Blue Rewards points.
List of redemption options:
- Cash back as a statement credit or a cash voucher
- BMO Rewards: Travel, gift cards, financial products, statement credits, merchandise
- VIPorter Rewards: Flights on Porter Airlines, Air Transat, and Alaska Airlines
- Blue Rewards: Travel, experiences, eGift cards, merchandise
Pros and cons of BMO credit cards
The best parts of owning a BMO credit card are:
- Over $300 worth of insurance (for premium cards)
- Flexible reward programs and redemption options
- A wide selection of Mastercard credit cards
- Low to moderate annual fees
- Low to moderate income requirements on non-premium cards
But you'll have to learn to live with:
- A small selection of uncompetitive premium products
- Low to middling return rates, even with premium cards
- Low-value rewards point programs
- Small insurance packages on non-premium cards
- Standard interest rates on most cards
All in all, BMO credit cards target mostly moderate and thrifty spenders. If you can meet the high credit score and income requirements of a World Elite Mastercard or Visa Infinite Privilege credit card, there are more competitive options out there.
How to choose the right BMO credit card for you
If you're still on the fence about which BMO credit card to apply for, try asking yourself these questions:
- How much of an annual fee can my spending justify? Premium credit cards offer amazing perks and rewards, but are offset by their hefty annual fees – usually at least $120 a year. Make sure you can get enough value from the card's rewards to at least match the annual fee's dollar amount every year. Don't forget to factor in the value of additional perks like roadside assistance, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
- What kind of rewards are best for me? Narrow your list of choices down by choosing a rewards category that best suits your lifestyle and spending habits. If you don't travel much, a cash back or low-interest rate card might be better for you. If you love to travel, a rewards card will likely get you more value.
- What are my biggest spending categories? The key to maximizing your rewards is picking a credit card with high-earning spending categories that match your spending habits. Do you spend more money on groceries, gas, or eating out? By assessing your spending habits, you can find the card that aligns with your shopping habits, so you earn the most rewards.
- Do I travel frequently? If you answered yes, you might look for a card that gives you rewards for the loyalty programs you use or perks like airport lounge access, comprehensive travel insurance, or priority status at the airport.
- Do I carry a balance on my credit card? If you frequently do, check out a credit card that has a low interest rate, so you're not paying significant amounts of interest every month.
These questions should help you choose which type of BMO credit card is best for you, and then you can further narrow down your choices with your credit score, annual income, and desired exclusive perks.
Pro Tip: Use the creditcardGenius quiz to help you discover the best overall credit card for your circumstances.
How to apply for a BMO credit card
Applying for a BMO credit card looks the same as applying for any other credit card:
- Check the eligibility requirements to avoid rejection and unnecessary hard credit score checks.
- Gather your required documents, including your contact information and proof of your identity, income, and residence.
- Submit your application over the phone, online, or in person at your local BMO bank.
- Wait up to several weeks for approval for your new credit card (although most online applications are approved or denied instantly).
Specialty products, such as student or business credit cards, may require additional documents, such as proof of enrollment or ownership.
Here's what BMO cardholders think
Hearing from real BMO cardholders can often offer better advice than reading facts and statistics – but after looking at Reddit threads on personal finance, we found that BMO cardholders don't agree on whether these cards are worthwhile or not.
Many users note that there are more competitive rewards cards with higher earning rates and useful perks.
These BMO fans especially appreciate the no-fee credit card options:
However, as this Redditor points out, even solid rewards on spending are capped at low amounts, which limits your card's overall value:
FAQ
Which BMO card is the best?
The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard earns the title of best BMO credit card, mostly because it takes the top spot in 3 competitive categories: it has the highest estimated insurance value, the highest rate of return, and the highest estimated benefits value.
Are BMO credit cards good?
BMO offers a variety of rewarding no-fee and cash back credit cards for moderate spenders, but its premium products lag behind market leaders. BMO's credit card lineup includes travel, student, and business options. If you're looking to open a BMO card, look for a good welcome offer.
How much are 60,000 BMO Rewards points worth?
The value depends on how you choose to redeem the points. It's possible to redeem 60,000 BMO Rewards points for up to $390 off an activity or experience via the BMO Rewards website. You could also trade them for a $402 travel credit.
What credit score do you need for a BMO Mastercard?
BMO Mastercard credit score requirements vary by credit card type. The more basic and student Mastercards require a low-to-moderate credit score, roughly between 300 – 559. On the other end of the spectrum, the World or World Elite Mastercards require a good credit score of at least 660.
What is the minimum income for a BMO Mastercard?
The minimum income requirements for BMO Mastercards range from $0 for a student credit card to at least $80,000 of annual personal income for a World Elite Mastercard. All World Elite Mastercards, even non-BMO options, generally have higher income requirements.
Which is better, TD or BMO?
There are many factors to consider when comparing big banks, but a very telling one is their levels of customer satisfaction. According to a 2025 J.D. Power credit card study, TD slightly beat BMO in this area – TD ranked 9th, while BMO clocked in at 12th place. Unfortunately, both were below average for customer service.
Does BMO offer Visa cards?
Yes, BMO offers 3 Visa cards: the BMO eclipse rise Visa Card, BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card, and BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card. Annual fees range from $0 for the basic card to $599 for the Visa Infinite Privilege card.
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 243 Canadian credit cards.
