If you’re a frequent Loblaws grocery shopper, you've no doubt seen the ads for PC Mastercards. The PC Mastercard is the entry level card of the 3 no fee cards PC Financial offers.

This version of the card doesn't offer any special point-earning bonuses at Loblaws stores. There is a sizable Esso bump, but for most purchases you'll earn 10 points per $1 spent everywhere, equivalent to 1% back.

Earning PC Optimum points

The PC Mastercard advertises 1% back at grocery stores like Loblaws and No Frills as well as 2.5% back in points at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix.

But keep in mind that all these advertised rates include what you earn just by being a PC Optimum member, without the credit card.

The grocery rate is your base earning rate of 1%. The Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix rate is your base rate plus the standard PC Optimum bonus earnings of 15 points per $1.

This means shopping at Loblaws or Shoppers Drug Mart with a PC Mastercard offers the same value as a free PC Optimum membership and any credit card with a 1% return rate. So if you have a card with a higher return rate, you’re better off paying with that card instead.

Here are the earn rates for the PC Mastercard.

• 30 points per $1 spent at Esso and Mobil stations in Canada
• 25 points per $1 spent at Shoppers Drug Mart
• 10 points per $1 spent on all other purchases

In order to earn additional PC Optimum points at Loblaws, No Frills, Superstore, and Maxi, you’ll need to upgrade to a PC World Mastercard or PC World Elite Mastercard.

Redeeming PC Optimum points

For the most part, using PC Optimum points is simple. But some redemptions are worth more than others, so take that into consideration when spending your points. Here are your options and what each point is worth.

For many, simply redeeming points for groceries is the go-to option. You can redeem PC points at Loblaw Companies grocers like Loblaws, No Frills, Real Atlantic Superstore, Real Canadian Superstore, and Maxi. Use 10,000 points and get $10 of your bill at the register.

You can also save on fuel for the same value, but it's a little more complicated – 4,000 points save you 10 cents per litre, on up to 40 litres filled.

But the best value is actually by getting free car washes at Esso stations. The exact amount you'll save will vary by local Esso station, but 10,000 points will get you a free car wash. And it can be any car wash, too – not just a basic wash. But you’ll likely only want so many free car washes, so if you collect a lot of PC Optimum points, it makes sense to redeem some for gas or groceries instead.

However, we recommend against using your points as a statement credit. With a $7 credit worth 10,000 points, they provide less value. And no matter how many you use, you still need to make your minimum payment in cash. There are also special redemption events at Shoppers, where you can use fewer points to save the same $10.

Pros to the PC Mastercard

On top of the rewards, here are a few other things we like about the PC Mastercard.

1. No annual fee

Outside of the Insiders Mastercard, all PC financial cards have no annual fee – a little savings you can use for something else.

2. Easy upgrades to the World or World Elite version

If you don't meet World or World Elite income requirements, you can use this card as a stepping stone towards them.

There's no exact definition of how much you'll need to spend, but spend enough on your card, and you'll get invited to upgrade to one of the other no-fee cards.

Cons to the PC Mastercard

Here are 2 things to keep in mind with the PC Mastercard.

1. No bonus rate for Loblaws stores

Despite this being a PC product, there's no actual benefit to using it at Loblaws. There's no special deals or the ability to earn bonus points – what you earn shopping at Loblaws is the same as what you earn shopping everywhere else.

If you want to earn bonus points at PC grocery stores, you’ll need to upgrade to the PC World Mastercard or PC World Elite Mastercard.

2. High credit card interest rates

LIke most credit cards, the interest rates are high – the standard purchase rate is 21.99%. It's always important to pay your balance in full to avoid paying any interest.

Comparison to other no-fee PC Mastercards

PC has a trio of no-fee Mastercards. Which one you get depends on your income levels. Here's the quick comparison of all 3.

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FAQ

What rewards does the PC Mastercard offer?

The PC Mastercard earns users PC Optimum points on purchases. All purchases earn 10 points per $1 spent, with a bonus of 10 points per litre of fuel purchased at Esso and Mobil stations.

Does the PC Mastercard include any travel insurance?

The PC Mastercard does not include any travel insurance, but the PC World Mastercard includes travel emergency medical insurance.

What are the annual fee and income requirements of the PC Mastercard?

The PC Mastercard has no annual fee or income requirements.