Best CIBC Credit Cards in Canada for 2026
We reviewed all of CIBC's credit card offerings and found that the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card is the best card this bank has to offer. Its high earn rate, extensive insurance package, exclusive Visa Airport Companion perks, and excellent welcome bonus are what put it on top.
CIBC's extensive credit card lineup has something for everyone, whether you're looking for a student credit card, a no-fee card, or a low-cost and easy-approval travel credit card. The country's top student credit card comes from CIBC, along with a few more award winners.
We review the best of what CIBC has to offer here, along with tips for maximizing your Aventura rewards, and more.
Key Takeaways
- The best overall CIBC credit card is the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card.
- At 2.66%, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card and CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card have the highest average earn rates of all CIBC cards.
- CIBC offers cash back, rewards, low interest, and student credit cards.
- CIBC credit card holders have access to fuel savings with Journie Rewards, perks and discounts with SkipTheDishes, valuable insurance coverage, and some earn valuable Aventura or Aeroplan Rewards.
Best CIBC credit cards for 2026
| Category | Credit card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Current offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best CIBC credit card | CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card | $139 | 2.66% | Up to 45,000 bonus points, first year annual fee waived† (terms) |
| Best for travel with low income requirements | CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card | $139 | 2.66% | Up to 45,000 bonus points, first year annual fee rebate (terms) |
| Best for cash back | CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card | $120 | 2.05% | 10% cash back for the first 4 months, first year annual fee rebate (terms) |
| Best for cash back with low income requirements | CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa Card | $99 | 1.63% | 10% cash back for the first 4 months, first year annual fee rebate (terms) |
| Best for no annual fee | CIBC Aventura Visa Card | $0 | 1.51% | Up to 35,000 bonus points (terms) |
| Best for students | CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for students | $0 | 1.55% | Up to 10,000 bonus points, first year fee rebate (terms) |
| Best cash back for students | CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students | $0 | 0% | $25 cash back (terms) |
| Best for low interest | CIBC Select Visa Card | $29 | 0% | 0% interest on balance transfers for 10 months (terms) |
This chart provides another way to compare the earn rates of these top CIBC cards:
1. Best CIBC credit card: CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card
×1 Award winner Earn up to 45,000 Aventura points + 4 free lounge passes per year.†
1x Award winner Earn up to 45,000 Aventura points + 4 free lounge passes per year.†
Rewards:
- 2 points per $1 spent on travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Centre
- 1.5 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, groceries, EV charging, and drugstores
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
To earn the most rewards with a CIBC credit card, turn to the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card. As part of the Aventura Rewards program, you'll earn a welcome bonus of up to 45,000 points, plus earn an average of 41,850 points per year (based on spending $2,000 per month). Redeeming these points for travel through the CIBC Airline Reward Chart gives you the biggest return.
This card also includes a Visa Airport Companion membership with 4 free passes to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide, up to 10 cents per litre fuel savings at Journie Rewards gas stations, and 12 types of insurance coverage.
Here's a look at this card's impressive insurance package:
Pros:
- 45,000 Aventura point bonus
- Points worth up to 2.29 cents each
- Fuel savings at Journie Rewards gas stations
- Visa Airport Companion membership
- 12 types of insurance
Cons:
- High income requirements
- Low rewards value outside of airline rewards chart
2. Best CIBC travel card with low income requirements: CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card
Rewards:
- 2 points per $1 spent on travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Centre
- 1.5 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, groceries, EV charging, and drugstores
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Love what you see in the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card but don't meet the income requirements? CIBC produces a version of the card that only requires a $15,000 household income: the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card. You'll still get the rewards and lounge access, but you'll lose the Visa Infinite benefits and receive pared-back insurance – just 10 types.
Pros:
- $0 personal, $15,000 household income requirement
- 45,000 Aventura point bonus
- First year free (supplemental cards too)
- Points worth up to 2.29 cents each
- Visa Airport Companion Membership
Cons:
- Smaller insurance package
- Low rewards value outside of airline rewards chart
3. Best CIBC cash back card: CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card
×1 Award winner Join and earn up to $400 in value including a first-year annual fee rebate.†
1x Award winner Join and earn up to $400 in value including a first-year annual fee rebate.†
Rewards:
- 4%† cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, and groceries
- 2%† cash back on eligible restaurants, transportation, and recurring bills/payments
- 1%† cash back on all other purchases
CIBC offers excellent cash back credit cards with its Dividend lineup, and the best of the bunch is the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card. You'll start with a welcome bonus of up to 10% cash back and then enjoy an average return of 2.05% on your everyday spending. Redeeming your cash back is easy: request a statement credit once you've accumulated $25 or more in cash back.
Take a look at how much better this card's earn rates are, compared with other CIBC cash back options:
Pros:
- 10% cash back welcome bonus
- $50 bonus for pre-authorized payment setup
- Fuel savings at Journie Rewards gas stations
- Visa Infinite benefits
- Redeem cash back on demand
Cons:
- Comparatively small insurance package
- High income requirements
4. Best low income requirement CIBC cash back card: CIBC Dividend Platinum® Visa* Card
Get a first-year annual fee rebate and 10% cash back for the first 4 statements on net purchases of up to $2,000.†
Get a first-year annual fee rebate and 10% cash back for the first 4 statements on net purchases of up to $2,000.†
Rewards:
- 3% cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, and groceries
- 2% cash back on eligible restaurants, transportation, and recurring bills
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
If you're looking for a cash back card with lower income requirements, the CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa Card is a good choice. Though it's missing the Visa Infinite benefits and has a slightly lower earn rate, it still earns 1.63% and comes with a welcome bonus of 10% cash back for 4 months. The very convenient Journie Rewards savings are still in effect, too.
Pros:
- 10% cash back welcome bonus
- Fuel savings at Journie Rewards gas stations
- Redeem cash back on demand
- Low annual fee
- First year free (supplemental cards too)
Cons:
- Comparatively small insurance package
- Spending caps for cash back categories
5. Best no annual fee credit card: CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card
Rewards:
- 1 point per $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre
- 1 point per $1 spent on eligible gas, groceries, EV charging, and drugstores, up to $6,000 spent annually
- 1 point per $2 spent on all other purchases
CIBC also offers a handful of no-fee cards, with the best being the CIBC Aventura Visa Card. Despite not having a fee, users can still earn Aventura Points on purchases. Based on an average spend of $2,000 per month, you'll net about 23,700 points per year, which is worth up to $543 when redeemed for travel.
Pros:
- No annual fee
- Low income requirements
- Up to 35,000 Aventura points
- Points worth up to 2.29 cents each
- Fuel savings at Journie Rewards gas stations
Cons:
- Limited insurance included
- Low base earn rate of 1 point per $2 spent
6. Best CIBC credit card for students: CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for students
Rewards:
- 1 point per $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging, groceries, and Air Canada
- 1 point per $1.50 spent on all purchases
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for students is officially the best student credit card in Canada, offering a decent earn rate of 1.55% alongside some sweet perks. Its best perks are the free SPC membership, fuel savings, and a welcome bonus of up to 10,000 Aeroplan points. Students may not typically be looking for a big insurance package, but this card's extended warranty and purchase protection are very convenient.
Pros:
- Free SPC membership
- No annual fee
- Up to 10,000 bonus Aeroplan points
- 4 types of insurance
- Fuel savings at Journie Rewards gas stations
Cons:
- Low base earn rate of 1 point per $2 spent
- Lower credit limit for international students
7. Best CIBC student credit card for cash back: CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card for Students
Rewards:
- 2% cash back on eligible groceries
- 1% cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, transportation, recurring bills, and dining
- 0.5% on all other purchases
If you'd prefer a cash back student card, the CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students might be a better pick. You'll get a generous welcome bonus of $25 cash back after the first purchase, then earn:
- 2% cash back on eligible groceries
- 1% cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, transportation, recurring bills, and dining
- 0.5% on all other purchases
Plus, of course, the free SPC membership and savings at the pump with Journie Rewards.
CIBC offers 5 distinct student credit cards, and while the Aeroplan option is the best, this cash back card has a slightly higher earn. Take a look:
Pros:
- Free SPC membership
- No annual fee
- Bonus $25 cash back after the first purchase
- Fuel savings at Journie Rewards gas stations
- Redeem cash back on demand
Cons:
- Comparatively small insurance package
- Low base earn rate
8. Best low interest CIBC credit card: CIBC Select Visa* Card
Rewards: N/A
If you know you'll be carrying a balance on your CIBC card, it's essential to find one with low interest rates. Fortunately, the CIBC Select Visa Card has lower-than-average rates across the board – and one of the best balance transfer offers in Canada. It's also in the top 3 low interest cards out there – take a look at how its rates compare with the other top cards:
Pros:
- 13.99% regular interest rate
- Promo balance transfer of 0% for 10 months
- Low annual fee
- Fuel savings at Journie Rewards gas stations
- Low income requirements
Cons:
- No rewards on purchases
- Limited insurance included
Compare all CIBC credit cards
Our system uses an unbiased, math-based algorithm to generate a Genius Rating for each of the 228 credit cards we track. This weighted scoring system is revised and audited often to ensure it remains transparent and accurate.
Here's how CIBC credit cards compare when arranged by Genius Rating:
×1 Award winner Earn up to 45,000 Aventura points + 4 free lounge passes per year.†
1x Award winner Earn up to 45,000 Aventura points + 4 free lounge passes per year.†
Learn more about our Genius Rating methodology
Unlocking exclusive CIBC perks to maximize your credit card
CIBC offers almost any type of credit card you could want – travel, flexible rewards, cash back, and more. If you're on the fence about getting a CIBC card, these perks might just tip the scales in their favour. Here's what you'll get:
- Fuel savings through Journie Rewards: Link your eligible credit card to the Journie Rewards program to get up to 10 cents off per litre. You can use your card at Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar, and Chevron.
- Dining benefits through SkipTheDishes: If you love the convenience of food delivery services, you'll love getting a 12-month Skip+ free trial. All you have to do is sign in to your SkipTheDishes account and link your CIBC card in the payment option.
- Airport lounge access: Frequent flyers, listen up. With select CIBC Aventura credit cards, you can access 1,200+ airport lounges worldwide – including up to four free visits per year with select cards.
- Flexible redemption options: As a big bank, CIBC allows users to redeem points in a number of ways. You can spend your points on travel, merchandise, gift cards, and even CIBC financial products like personal loans.
- Insurance coverage: Read your card's terms and conditions to see which types of coverage are included. Many cards come with mobile device insurance, trip cancellation and interruption coverage, rental car coverage, and more.
How the CIBC Aventura Rewards program works
When you use your CIBC credit card, you earn Aventura Rewards points. Exclusive to CIBC credit card holders, the Aventura Rewards program offers point values as high as 2.29 cents per point (CPP), though the highest average is 1.96 CPP.
Points can be earned in various ways, depending on the card used. The CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card, for example, earns 2 points per $1 spent on purchases.
Once you've accumulated enough points, there are a few redemption options:
- Travel bookings
- Charitable donations
- CIBC financial products
- Gift cards
- Merchandise
- Statement credits
This chart shows the value of each redemption option:
You can check the value of your own Aventura Points by using our handy rewards calculator:
| Redemption Option | Point Value | Total Value |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Rewards Chart | 2.29 cents | $23 |
| Travel through CIBC rewards | 1 cent | $10 |
| Charity donations | 1 cent | $10 |
| CIBC Financial Products | 0.83 cents | $8 |
| Gift Cards | 0.71 cents | $7 |
| Merchandise | 0.71 cents | $7 |
| Pay with points | 0.63 cents | $6 |
Pros and cons of Aventura Rewards
Pros:
- Points worth up to 2.29 CPP
- 15,700+ charitable rewards partners
- 100+ gift card and merchandise partners
- Six reward categories with fixed point values
- No travel blackout dates
- Points never expire
- Reward flights count toward frequent flyer programs
- Seasonal travel deals offered
Cons:
- Only available to CIBC credit card holders
- Flight redemptions limited to economy-class seats
- Points can't be transferred
- Points worth as little as 0.63 CPP
How to choose the right CIBC credit card for you
The right credit card for you depends on unique factors. It's important to weigh which perks, rewards, and restrictions are most compatible with your spending habits and lifestyle. If you don't travel often, you probably won't get the most value from a travel rewards card; perhaps a cash back card would be better.
If you need help, take our quick credit card quiz to get started and determine which card best suits your needs.
Overview of CIBC card types
| Card type | Reward type | Best for | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aventura | Aventura Points | Travel | * Travel perks like lounge access and travel insurance * Redeem points for flights, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, and more |
| Adapta | Adapta Points | Flexible redemption | * Rewards automatically adjust to your spending * Includes roadside assistance |
| Aeroplan | Aeroplan Points | Air Canada-specific travel | * Reward flight discounts * Rewards on hotels * Pay for flights with points + cash |
| Dividend | Cash back | Simplified rewards | * No limits on earnings * $0 fees for transferring money abroad * Hotel and car discounts |
How to apply for a CIBC credit card
Once you've picked the best CIBC credit card for you, head to the card's website or mobile app to apply for the card. Skim through the card's eligibility requirements to double-check that you qualify.
The process is pretty much the same as applying for any other card. If everything looks good, click "Start Your Application" at the bottom of the screen. If you're already a CIBC customer, you can streamline the application process by signing in. Otherwise, you can apply as a new client.
After reading the card's terms and conditions, you'll enter:
- Your name
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Birthdate
- Address
- Whether you rent or own your home
- Social Insurance Number (optional)
- Employment details
- Income
- Physical or paperless preferences
Then, agree to the card's terms and conditions and hit submit. Now all you have to do is wait for CIBC's decision.
Here's what CIBC cardholders think
Real feedback from real cardholders can be very valuable, so we turned to Reddit for thoughts on the best CIBC credit cards. While the student cards seem popular, and users appreciate the value of the Aeroplan Visa, many people are very frustrated with CIBC's customer service for credit card users.
One user posted to ask which are the best staple credit cards, and they received plenty of feedback. The American Express Cobalt Card was a common recommendation, and this response recommended that a CIBC Aeroplan card makes a good companion for the Cobalt:
This Redditor enjoys their CIBC student card so much that they've mentioned it in at least two (that we found) different places ("Best credit card to open as a student? (18, Student)" and "19 year old looking for a first student credit card"):
Responding to whether the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card is worthwhile, this Redditor recommends pairing it with the Wealthsimple Visa Infinite and using each one strategically:
On the negative side, there were many complaints about wait times when calling customer service for help with a credit card issue. Whether trying to cancel a card or simply get a billing issue sorted out, these Redditors report at least an hour-long wait for assistance:
FAQ
Is CIBC Aventura a good credit card?
Yes, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card is the best credit card from CIBC. It earns valuable Aventura points at an average rate of 2.66%, includes 12 types of insurance, and comes with a Visa Airport Companion membership. The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for students is another excellent choice as it's one of the best student credit cards in Canada.
What CIBC card gives the most cash back?
The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card earns the most and is, therefore, the best cash back card from CIBC. New users start with a welcome bonus of 10% cash back for 4 months, then enjoy solid regular rates that include 4% back on gas and groceries and 2% on restaurants and recurring bills.
What's the difference between the CIBC Costco Mastercard and CIBC Costco World Mastercard?
The rates are the same for both Costco Mastercards (the only Mastercards that CIBC offers), the insurance coverage is the same, and neither card charges an annual fee. However, the CIBC Costco World Mastercard offers exclusive discounts and experiences only available to World Mastercard holders.
What is the income requirement for the CIBC Costco Mastercard?
CIBC requires a minimum of $15,000 in income for the CIBC Costco Mastercard, and that includes income for the entire household – it's not just the applicant's personal income. As it's a more premium card, CIBC Costco World Mastercard applicants need to have at least $50,000 in personal income or $80,000 in household income per year.
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