Most Canadians are familiar with Scene+, Scotiabank's loyalty rewards program. Unlike programs that emphasize travel rewards, Scene+ maximizes your day-to-day spending on things like movies, restaurants, and home improvement.
Since you need an eligible Scotiabank credit card to earn Scene+ points, we'll show you the best cards that allow you to participate in the program and help you narrow down the best one for you based on your spending needs and habits.
Key Takeaways
- Scene+ is one of the most popular rewards programs in Canada, with big partners in Sobeys, Cineplex, and Scotiabank.
- There are 5 Scene+ credit cards available for members to earn points everywhere they shop.
- The best Scene+ credit card is the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, which offers the most rewards on purchases.
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The best Scotiabank Scene+ credit cards
Here's a summary of all the personal Scotiabank credit card options that earn Scene+ points:
| Category | Card name | Annual fee | Average earn rate | Welcome offer | Insurance | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Scotiabank Gold American Express Card | $120 | 2.45% |  $75 GeniusCash + Up to 45,000 bonus points, first year free (terms) | 12 | Learn more |
| Best no-fee | Scotiabank American Express Card | $0 | 1.45% | 5,000 bonus points (terms) | 3 | Learn more |
| Best Visa | Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card | $150 | 1.35% | $150 GeniusCash + 50,000 bonus points (terms) | 11 | Learn more |
| Best no-fee Visa | Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card | $0 | 1.05% | 10,000 bonus points (terms) | 0 | Learn more |
| Best for perks and insurance | Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card | $399 | 2% | Up to 60,000 80,000 bonus points (terms) | 12 | Learn more |
| Best Tangerine Scene+ card | Tangerine Rewards World Elite Mastercard | $120 | 1.49% | Up to 30,000 bonus points (terms) | 12 | Learn more |
While our focus is on personal credit cards, if you're interested in a business credit card, you can take a look at the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card.
Best Scene+ card overall
×3 Award winner 
GC: $75
3x Award winner The title of best Scene+ credit card belongs to the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. It's packed full of rewards, features (like a generous insurance package), and fantastic earn rates. Based on a typical $2,000 monthly spend, this card would earn you around 88,200 points per year.
To start, you'll get a 45,000-point welcome bonus and earn up to 6 points for each $1 spent on groceries at select partners (and 5 points per $1 at other grocers, restaurants, and entertainment venues). Other purchases earn you 1 to 3 points per $1, so you're sure to earn steady Scene+ points.
Pros:
- No foreign exchange fees
- Amex Offers and Front Of The Line benefits
- 12 types of insurance
Cons:
- $120 annual fee (waived if you have a Scotiabank Ultimate Package chequing account)
- Lower acceptance as an Amex
Best no-fee Scene+ card
Scene+ has a couple of no-fee cards to look at, with the best one being the Scotiabank American Express Card. You'll earn 3 points per $1 for Sobeys, Safeway, and Freshco purchases, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, entertainment, transit, and some streaming services. All other purchases earn you 1 point per $1.
The card doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, but it won't cost you anything to keep in your wallet, either.
Pros:
- No annual fee
- Low income requirements
Cons:
- Lower acceptance as an Amex
- Limited insurance coverage
Best Scene+ Visa card
×1 Award winner GC: $150
1x Award winner Turning away from the Amex cards, the best Visa card in the Scene+ program is the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card. It offers a combination of solid rewards and premium perks like free airport lounge access for you and up to 6 companions with a Visa Airport Companion membership.
As a Visa, you shouldn't have any trouble finding merchants who accept your Scene+ card – and you'll earn up to 3 points per $1 spent on select purchases.
Pros:
- No foreign exchange fees
- Up to 50,000 bonus points
- 11 types of insurance included
Cons:
- $150 annual fee
- Income requirements of $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
Best no-fee Scene+ Visa card
Scotiabank also offers a no-fee Visa Scene+ credit card with the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card. It's the most basic card of the bunch but still packs in decent rewards, earning you 37,800 Scene+ points per year (based on a $2,000 monthly spend).
Enjoy a welcome bonus of 10,000 points and get 2 points per $1 on your purchases.
Pros:
- Low income requirements
- Student version available
Cons:
- Limited insurance coverage
Best Scene+ card for perks and insurance
The last card is a super-premium credit card with a high annual fee: the Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card.
The rewards are simple – 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on all purchases, which earns you around 72,000 points a year if you spend $2,000 per month.
But there's so much more to this credit card than just rewards. For an annual fee of $399, you'll earn 10 free passes to both Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges. If you add a supplemental cardholder, you'll get an additional 4 passes. You'll also get travel benefits like no foreign exchange fee and automatic Hertz Club Gold membership.
Pros:
- Up to 60,000 80,000 bonus points
- 12 types of insurance included
- Low income requirements
Cons:
- $399 annual fee
- Lower acceptance as an Amex
Best Tangerine Scene+ card
Tangerine has a new Scene+ credit card that allows you to choose which spending categories earn you 1.5 points per $1 spent. All non-category purchases earn a base rate of 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent.
You can choose classic spending categories like gas and groceries, or you can branch out to areas like home improvement and e-games.
As a World Elite Mastercard, the card also has competitive travel insurance and gives you a Mastercard Travel Pass membership with 4 free passes per year.
Pros:
- Up to 30,000 bonus points
- 12 types of insurance included
Cons:
- Lower rewards compared to other World Elite Mastercards
- Higher income requirements of $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Connect your Scene+ credit card to Shell
Thanks to Scene+, Tangerine, and Scotiabank partnering with Shell, you can also earn bonus points and save on fuel when you link your card to your Shell Go+ account.
Even if you don't have a Scene+ card, you can save 3 cents per litre in savings on all grades of fuel when paying with an eligible linked Tangerine credit card or Scotiabank debit or credit card.
If you do have a Scene+ card, you can save an additional 4 cents per litre on Shell V-Power fuel. Plus, Scene+ members can:
- Earn 1 Scene+ point per litre on all grades of fuel
- Earn 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent on car washes and eligible convenience purchases
- Redeem 1,000 Scene+ points on regular fuel for $10 savings
With a linked Shell Go+ account, your Scene+ earnings are boosted by 10%. And if you have a Scene+ credit card, you'll still earn all your card's rewards points on top of these Shell bonuses.
Until July 6, 2026, on any day the Blue Jays play a home game, you'll also earn 50 bonus Scene+ points on any fill-up at Shell of at least 10 litres.
How to choose a Scene+ rewards credit card
If you're struggling to choose a Scene+ card, it can help to compare their features based on your priorities.
Rewards
To evenly compare reward value, take a look at what you'll earn based on spending $3,000 per month.
If you translate those points into dollars, here's how much you'll earn from using your card when points are redeemed for maximum value.
Although each of these cards gives several hundred dollars back in value, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card gives over twice as much value as the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card.
Annual fees
Annual fees range from free to $399, so it's definitely important to learn about costs before applying for a card.
Here's a neat trick, though: If you have the Scotiabank Ultimate Package, you can get the annual fee waived for the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card or the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card (a $120 or $150 value, respectively).
Scotiabank Ultimate Package
Insurance
The value of credit card insurance is often overlooked, but it can be a huge money saver, especially if you use your Scene+ points for travel. As you can see, some cards offer more financial peace of mind than others.
Perks
Premium cards usually offer the most perks (especially if you pay a high annual fee), but even basic credit cards usually have perks with some value. Here's the estimated dollar value for each card.
This is where the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card, Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card, and Tangerine Rewards World Elite Mastercard really shine, thanks to the high-value perks included.
Income requirements
Although this next factor isn't a benefit, it is a condition you have to meet in order to qualify for the card. Income requirements can vary significantly, so check your finances before you apply.
Fortunately, with the exception of the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card and Tangerine Rewards World Elite Mastercard, these credit cards have low income requirements. These higher income requirements are standard for Visa Infinite and World Elite Mastercard cards.
Pros and cons of Scene+ credit cards
There's lots to like about having a Scene+ card, along with a few drawbacks to consider.
- Lots of credit cards to choose from: Most rewards programs limit you to a couple of choices when it comes to credit cards; however, Scotiabank has 5 different personal cards you can choose from in 2 different networks.
- Flexible redemption options: When it comes to rewards, travel is almost always the best way to use them. But not with Scene+, where you'll get 4 options covering travel to everyday essentials, all for the same value.
- High reward opportunities: Scotiabank's selection of Scene+ credit cards will supercharge what you're earning at stores.
- Low income requirements: With 1 exception, all Scotiabank Scene+ credit cards have low income requirements.
- Plenty of no-fee options: There are 2 no-fee cards to choose from if you prefer not to pay an annual fee.
- Extra rewards at Sobeys and Safeway: With the exception of the Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card, all Scene+ credit cards will get you bonus rewards at Sobeys and Safeway stores.
- Fuel discounts and extra Scene+ points at Shell: Earn Scene+ points on fuel and car washes, plus get bonus points when you link your Scene+ card with your Shell Go+ account.
- Lower acceptance than American Express cards: 3 out of 5 credit cards are Amex, which aren't as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard. Some locations – like Loblaws and Costco shoppers – might struggle if Amex is their primary credit card.
- No high-end travel rewards: Many rewards programs can get you even more value with airline charters or transfers to airline programs. Sadly, Scene+ doesn't have these options.
How do you redeem Scene+ points?
Scene+ offers several ways to redeem your points for high value – and not just for travel, either. Almost every option gives your points a value of 1 cent each. One of the most popular options is store discounts.
When you're shopping in-store with a Scene+ partner, the cashier should ask if you'd like to redeem your points when you scan your Scene+ member card. Then, they'll apply the discounted points before you complete your purchase.
In addition to store discounts, you can use your Scene+ points for:
- Travel powered by Expedia
- Any travel
- Restaurants
- Movies and concessions at Cineplex
- Apple and Best Buy merchandise
- Gift cards
- Scotiabank statement credits
FAQ
Which bank offers Scene+ credit cards?
Scotiabank is the exclusive issuer of Scene+ credit cards. The bank issues a student card, 3 American Express Scene+ cards, and 3 Visa credit cards, so you've got a nice variety to choose from.
Does Tangerine have Scene+ points?
With the new Tangerine Rewards World Elite Mastercard, you can earn Scene+ points instead of cash back (which is the norm for Tangerine credit cards). You get to pick the 3 categories that earn 1.5 points per $1 spent. All other purchases earn 1 point per $1 spent.
Is the Tangerine Scene+ card worth it?
Tangerine's Tangerine Rewards World Elite Mastercard is only worth adding to your wallet if you'll take advantage of its premium perks, like its 4 airport lounge passes. As with any Scene+ card, it's especially worthwhile if you often fill up at Shell gas stations. But this card doesn't carry the weight of its annual fee through rewards alone.
Is the Scene+ credit card worth it?
Most Scene+ credit cards are easy to qualify for and give you several ways to earn Scene+ points, so they're great starter credit cards for people building credit. We also appreciate the fact that most redemption options have the same high value.
Can I use my Scene+ rewards for travel?
Yes, you can either charge travel to your credit card and redeem points for statement credits (that effectively pay for the travel), or, for better value, book travel directly through the Expedia Scene+ travel platform.
What is the most popular loyalty program in Canada?
If you're looking for the loyalty rewards program that gives the highest return rate, you might be surprised to learn that the McDonald's Rewards Program is the most valuable. However, other rewards programs offer better flexibility or travel rewards.
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