The National Bank rewards program, called À la carte Rewards, allows members to earn points by spending on eligible credit cards. It offers flexible redemption options, including National Bank investment or mortgage contributions – a rare feature for a Canadian rewards program.
You can only earn À la carte points by using a National Bank credit card, but luckily, all of these cards offer fantastic insurance packages.
This guide explains how the À la carte Rewards program works, how valuable the redemption options are, which credit cards work best, and much more.
Key Takeaways
- A la carte Rewards is the loyalty program operated by National Bank.
- Points are worth as much as 1 CPP or as little as 0.4 CPP, depending on which redemption option you choose.
- You can only earn À la carte Rewards with a National Bank credit card.
- Redemption options include travel, merchandise, gift cards, investments, and statement credits.
- All National Bank credit cards include exceptional travel insurance packages, but our favourite is the National Bank World Elite Mastercard.
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National Bank À la carte Rewards at a glance
Currency: À la carte Rewards points
Redemption options: À la carte travel, vacation reimbursement, investments, merchandise, gift cards, statement credits, charitable donations, mortgage or line of credit payments
Pros:
- Flexible redemption options
- Earn points with credit card spending
- Extensive travel insurance packages
- Dedicated À la carte travel portal (powered by Transat)
Cons:
- Only way to earn is through credit cards
- Travel is the only high-value redemption option
How to earn National Bank rewards points
There's only one way to earn National Bank rewards points: using a National Bank credit card. You can earn welcome bonus points when available, plus accrue points on your daily spending.
Here are your top National Bank credit card options:
| Credit card | Annual Fee | Rewards | Welcome Bonus | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Bank World Elite Mastercard | $150 | * 5 points per $1 spent on groceries and restaurants, up to $2,500 in total spend per month (2 points after) * 2 points per $1 spent on gas, electric vehicle charging, recurring bills, and travel booked through À La Carte Rewards * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | None | Learn more |
| National Bank World Mastercard | $115 | * 1.25 points per $1 spent between $0 to $20,000 in annual purchases * 2 points per $1 spent between $20,001 to $30,000 in annual purchases * 1.25 points per $1 spent on $30,001 and more in annual purchases | None | Learn more |
| National Bank Platinum Mastercard | $70 | * 2 points per $1 spent on groceries and restaurants, up to $1,000 in total spend per month (1.5 points after) * 1.5 points per $1 spent on gas, electric vehicle charging, recurring bills, and travel booked through A La Carte Rewards * 1 point per $1.50 spent on all other purchases | Up to 30,000 bonus points (terms) | Learn more |
| National Bank Platinum Mastercard Business Card | $125 | * 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases | None | Learn more |
National Bank World Elite Mastercard
×2 Award winner 
À la carte Rewards earn rate: 1.55%
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is National Bank's top card, offering up to 5 points for every $1 spent. It also has an impressive insurance package with 10 types of coverage, and an annual $150 travel fee reimbursement. You can use this credit to help with baggage fees, airport parking, upgrades, lounge access, or seat selection.
Plus, you'll enjoy standard World Elite Mastercard benefits, complimentary and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge in Montreal for the cardholder, and Mastercard Travel Pass membership (no free passes).
Pros:
- Excellent travel insurance for seniors (under 76)
- Mastercard Travel Pass membership
- Low fee for supplementary card
Cons:
- High income requirements
National Bank World Mastercard
À La carte Rewards earn rate: 1.27%
The National Bank World Mastercard is National Bank's mid-tier option. It offers a lower base earn rate of 1.25 points per dollar spent on the first $20,000, but that increases to 2 points per dollar for the next $10,000 in spending.
The card comes with the same insurance as the World Elite card, except for mobile device coverage, making it an excellent choice for seniors who require travel coverage (those under age 76). This stripped-down card has a lower annual fee of $115 and lower income requirements, but you won't receive that sweet travel fee reimbursement every year.
Pros:
- Earn up to 2 points per $1 spent
- 9 types of insurance
- Reasonable annual fee
Cons:
- No welcome bonus
National Bank Platinum Mastercard
À la carte Rewards earn rate: 1.13%
The National Bank Platinum Mastercard is an entry-level card – with no income requirements and a low $70 annual fee, it's relatively easy to qualify for. In fact, it's one of the best credit cards with low income requirements.
Once again, it's the insurance coverage that makes this card as impressive as it is. The 10 types include purchase protection, mobile device coverage, rental car theft and damage coverage, and 10 days of emergency medical coverage for those under 76. Most cards with comparable insurance packages charge much higher annual fees and require higher incomes.
Pros:
- 10 types of insurance
- Emergency medical coverage for seniors (under 76)
- Low fee for supplementary cards
Cons:
- Low monthly caps on bonus categories
National Bank Platinum Mastercard Business Card
À la carte Rewards earn rate: 1.5%
If you're looking to earn rewards on your business purchases, the National Bank Platinum Mastercard Business Card is a solid choice. You'll get the same extensive insurance coverage as the personal Mastercards, but without the high incomes required by many other business credit cards.
Plus, you'll earn a steady 1.5 points per $1 spent and automatically get Mastercard Easy Savings Program discounts loaded to the business credit card. If you're in the market for a straightforward business card with uncomplicated rewards, this card is the way to go.
Pros:
- 8 types of insurance
- Access to the À la carte Rewards travel booking platform
- Annual fee is tax-deductible
Cons:
- No welcome bonus
How to redeem National Bank rewards
While travel via the program's Travel Agency is the most valuable choice, National Bank rewards members have 7 options for redeeming their À la carte Rewards:
- Travel via the À la carte Travel Agency
- Other travel
- Contributions towards National Bank products
- Merchandise
- Gift cards
- Charitable donations
- Statement credits
À la carte Travel Agency: 1 cent per point (CPP)
This is your top redemption option if you want to make the most of your National Bank rewards points. Transat powers the platform, offering flights, hotels, vacation packages, and more.
You can redeem 10,000 points for $100 of your booking, giving you a decent value of 1 CPP. If you don't have enough points to cover your entire booking, you can pay the remaining balance with your credit card.
Booking online is free, but booking through a travel agent prompts a fee of $40 – $50 (plus tax) per person.
Travel reimbursement: 0.83 – 0.91 CPP
Members of À la carte National Bank rewards can use points as a travel statement credit to offset travel charges. To redeem points this way, charge your travel booking to the card and redeem your points for a statement credit toward it.
While you won't get the absolute best value per point, it can be a good option if you find a better deal outside of the À la carte Agency.
For example, if you book a hotel or a cheaper flight through a different travel agency, you can still charge the expense to your card. Then, redeem your reward points for a statement credit.
Redeem less than 55,000 points: 12,000 points = $100 (0.83 CPP)
Redeem 55,000 points or more: 11,000 points = $100 (0.91 CPP)
National Bank products: 0.83 CPP
The National Bank rewards program offers product redemptions towards mortgage payments or investments.
If you have a mortgage or home equity line of credit from National Bank, you may be able to use your points towards the principal of your loan. Contact National Bank at 1-888-622-2783 for details.
If you have an RRSP, TFSA, or FHSA investment account with National Bank, you can redeem 12,000 points towards a $100 contribution to the account.
In both cases, you get a redemption value of 0.83 CPP.
Merchandise: 0.75 CPP
As with similar programs, the À la carte National Bank rewards program lets you purchase brand-name merchandise with your points.
We compared a handful of items and determined an average value of 0.75 CPP, which is lower than the value for travel statement credits.
| Item | Points Required | Price | Cents-per-Point Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple AirPods 4 | 26,810 | $202.27 | 0.75 CPP |
| Grosche Aspen 32 oz insulated straw tumbler | 8,300 | $45.19 | 0.54 CPP |
| Napoleon Charcuterie Board | 9,760 | $49.72 | 0.51 CPP |
| Cuisinart 12 Cup Coffee Maker & Single Serve Brewer | 42,670 | $418.09 | 0.98 CPP |
| Cuisinart Blenders & Juicers Soho Blender 36 oz | 22,470 | $180.79 | 0.80 CPP |
| Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker (Black) | 56,560 | $450.87 | 0.80 CPP |
| Bugatti Budapest Carry-On (Black) | 23,640 | $226.00 | 0.96 CPP |
| Breville Perfect Press™ Panini Press (Brushed Stainless Steel) | 19,480 | $146.89 | 0.75 CPP |
| Tissot PRX Mens Watch | 70,600 | $621.50 | 0.88 CPP |
| Safari 6D Action Camera Kit | 16,190 | $129.95 | 0.80 CPP |
| LG 75-inch QNED AI QNED75 Mini LED 4K Smart TV 2026 | 220,320 | $1,129.99 | 0.51 CPP |
* Prices as found on merchants' websites with 13% sales tax added.
Gift cards: 0.69 CPP
This redemption offers a lower return on your points than merchandise, but you have a wide assortment of merchants to choose from, with gift card values ranging from $10 to $500. We calculated an average value of 0.69 CPP.
Here's a sample of what was available:
| Gift Cards | Amount | Points Required | Cents-Per-Point Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cineplex | $25 | 4,000 | 0.63 CPP |
| Starbucks | $50 | 7,250 | 0.69 CPP |
| Fairmont Hotels | $100 | 14,000 | 0.71 CPP |
| Best Buy | $100 | 14,000 | 0.71 CPP |
| IKEA | $100.00 | 14,000 | 0.71 CPP |
Charitable donations: 0.83 – 0.87 CPP
Another redemption option is to donate your points to a good cause. Your À la carte Rewards points can be gifted as donations to partner organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross, Lise Watier Foundation, and the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation.
You have 2 options for redemption and donation amounts:
- 6,000 points = $50 donation
- 11,500 points = $100 donation
The value per point is slightly higher for a $100 donation (0.87 CPP) than for a $50 donation (0.83 CPP).
Cash statement credits: 0.4 CPP
The final redemption option is a simple cash statement credit applied towards your balance. You'll need at least 6,250 points, and it will give you the lowest point value at just 0.4 CPP.
The fine print: Your points won't expire as long as your credit card is active and in good standing. You can't transfer the points to other reward programs, and there's no price matching for travel bookings. You can, however, use points to cover taxes and fees without any loss of point value.
Is the National Bank rewards program worth it?
For the most part, the National Bank rewards program makes earning points with your Mastercard pretty simple. While you may need to watch spending caps, the À la carte program offers flexible redemption options and fairly high redemption values, no matter how you use them.
The credit cards that earn À la carte Rewards really stand out for their insurance packages, though. Even the basic card option comes with competitive insurance coverage for both travel and everyday use.
"I really like the National Bank World Elite Mastercard for its travel benefits. I get up to $150 per year in reimbursements for seat selection and access to airport lounges, which is a great perk when I'm travelling. I accumulate points to redeem them on flights booked through the À la carte Travel Agency. This gives me the best value for my points. I get a $100 credit on a plane ticket for each increment of $10,000 points. And I really like the fact that I earn 5 points per dollar on groceries. I recommend this card to anyone who travels frequently." - Stephanie B. from Quebec
FAQ
What is the National Bank rewards points program?
With their National Bank credit card, members earn À la carte reward points for qualifying purchases. Members can redeem points in several ways, including travel bookings, merchandise from the eShop, charitable donations, mortgage and/or investment contributions, or statement credits.
What are À la carte Rewards worth?
À la carte Rewards point values vary by the redemption option you choose. To maximize your points, use them for travel booked through the À la carte Travel Agency. This way, each point is worth 1 cent per point (CPP). Avoid statement credits, though, since the value drops to 0.4 CPP.
What's the best credit card for earning National Bank rewards?
Of the National Bank credit cards, the one with the highest À la carte reward rate is the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. It gives an average of 1.55% back in À la carte Rewards points, more than any other personal or business National Bank card.
Do À la carte points expire?
If your account has been inactive for the past 12 months, your points will expire (though you'll receive a notice at least one month in advance). To keep your points, make a transaction – however big or small, it doesn't matter. If your account is active and in good standing, your points won't expire.
What's the best loyalty program in Canada?
The best loyalty program in Canada is actually the MyMcDonald's rewards program. It's simple, easy to use, and has the highest earn rate: a generous 12.6%. The second-best program, VIPorter, only offers a 7.5% return (and no free fries).
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