Best Scotiabank Credit Cards In Canada For October 2025
While up against some fierce competition, the best Scotiabank credit card is the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. With unmatched earn rates in multiple categories, no foreign exchange fees, and plenty of premium perks, this card is a traveller's dream
This is just one of several highly rated Scotiabank options, though. Whether you're a student, business owner, jet setter, or an everyday Canadian who prefers straight-up cash back, this bank has an excellent card option for you.
Key Takeaways
- The best Scotiabank credit card in Canada is the premium Scotiabank Gold American Express, followed by the cash back Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite.
- Scotiabank credit cards offer competitive returns, insurance packages, and flexible rewards, but high-spenders may find premium offerings lacking in luxury.
- If you frequently shop at Foodland, Sobeys, or IGA, the best Scotiabank credit card for you is a Scene+ card.
- You can apply for a Scotiabank credit card online, by phone, or in person.
The best Scotiabank credit cards in Canada
As one of the Big 5 Banks in Canada, Scotiabank has built an impressive credit card portfolio, offering plenty of options for cash back, rewards, and even travel cards.
The best Scotiabank credit cards in Canada offer returns of up to 2.30%, which means you get $2.30 in cash back or rewards for every $100 you spend.
| Category | Credit card | Current offer | Annual fee | Rewards | Average earn rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best rewards | Scotiabank Gold American Express Card |  $60 GeniusCash + Up to 50,000 bonus points, first year free (terms) | $120 | * 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more * 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries, dining, and entertainment * 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on gas, select streaming services, and transit * 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases * 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other purchases | 2.45% |
| Best cash back | Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card | $20 GeniusCash + 10% cash back for the first 3 months, first year free (terms) | $120 | * 4% cash back on groceries and recurring bill payments * 2% cash back on gas and transit * 1% cash back on all other purchases | 2.08% |
| Best premium | Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card | $175 GeniusCash + Up to 60,000 80,000 bonus points (terms) | $399 | * 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on all purchases | 2% |
| Best travel | Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card | $30 GeniusCash + 35,000 bonus points (terms) | $150 | * 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more * 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries, restaurants, entertainment, and daily transit * 1 Scene+ point per $1 on all other purchases | 1.35% |
| Best no fee | Scotiabank American Express Card | 7,500 bonus points (terms) | $0 | * 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more * 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on grocery, dining and entertainment, gas, daily transit, and select streaming services * 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other purchases | 1.45% |
| Best low interest | Scotiabank Value Visa Card | 0.99% interest on balance transfers for 9 months (terms) | $29 | 0% | |
| Best student | Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students | 5,000 bonus points (terms) | $0 | * 2 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, Home Hardware, and Cineplex * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | 1.05% |
| Best business | Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card | $125 GeniusCash + Up to 40,000 bonus points (terms) | $199 | * 1.5 points per $1 spent | 1.5% |
1. Best Scotiabank rewards credit card
×1 Award winner 
GC: $60
1x Award winner Rewards:
- 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more
- 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries, dining, and entertainment
- 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on gas, select streaming services, and transit
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Take the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card with you on your next vacation to save an average of 2.5% on every foreign transaction. It’s one of the few travel cards in Canada offering no foreign exchange fees and a discount Priority Pass membership, with access to 1,500+ airport lounges worldwide for $35 USD per visit.
While in Canada, you’ll earn Scene+ Points on every dollar you spend, which you can trade for in-store discounts on movie tickets, groceries, building supplies, travel, and food. The catch? You can only redeem your points at partners like Cineplex, Sobeys, and Home Hardware.
Pros:
- 24/7 complimentary concierge services
- 12 types of insurance included
- 0.00% foreign transaction fee
- American Express Offers, Experiences, and Front of the Line benefits
- Only $12,000 of personal income required
Cons:
- Lower acceptance for American Express
2. Best Scotiabank cash back credit card
GC: $20
Rewards:
- 4% cash back on groceries and recurring bill payments
- 2% cash back on gas and transit
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card should be your first choice if you want a Scotiabank credit card that rewards recurring bill payments like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other subscriptions. There’s no limit on how much cash you can earn, so load it up with bills, gas, and groceries – then look forward to a yearly statement credit.
As a Visa Infinite card, it also includes complimentary concierge services, access to exclusive dining events, and free upgrades at properties in the Visa Infinite Hotel Collection.
Pros:
- 25% off AVIS and Budget car rentals
- 11 types of insurance included
- Visa Infinite benefits
- Worldwide acceptance for Visa
Cons:
- $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income required
- $25,000 annual cap on eligible spending for 4% cash back, after which rewards drop to 1%
- No cash back on demand
3. Best Scotiabank premium credit card
GC: $175
Rewards:
- 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on all purchases
The super-premium Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card is your chance to grab a Platinum Amex for $400 less than the usual fee. You’ll miss out on complimentary hotel upgrades, fine resort perks, and unlimited access to airport lounges – but you’ll gain a complimentary Priority Pass, no foreign transaction fees, and a 9.99% purchase interest rate.
Pros:
- 12 types of insurance included
- 9.99% interest on purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances
- 0.00% foreign transaction fee
- American Express Experiences, Offers, and Front of the Line benefits
- Automatic Hertz #1 Club Gold membership
- Only $12,000 of personal income required
Cons:
- $99 additional card fee
- Lower acceptance for American Express
4. Best Scotiabank travel credit card
GC: $30
Rewards:
- 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more
- 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries, restaurants, entertainment, and daily transit
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 on all other purchases
If you’re ready to travel but not to splurge on Business or First Class tickets, you can get six complimentary visits to a DragonPass airport lounge with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card. With 11 types of credit card insurance – including emergency medical over 65 – it’s a solid choice for a safe and rewarding travelling companion.
Pros:
- 11 types of insurance,
- Six complimentary airport lounge passes per year
- No foreign exchange fee
- Automatic Avis Preferred Plus membership status
- Visa Infinite benefits
- Worldwide acceptance as a Visa
Cons:
- $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income required
- Lower rewards than other Visa Infinite cards
5. Best Scotiabank no fee credit card
Rewards:
- 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more
- 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on grocery, dining and entertainment, gas, daily transit, and select streaming services
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other purchases
The Scotiabank American Express Card provides the flexibility of a Scene+ credit card with no annual fees to detract from your rewards. Cardholders can trade 10,000 points for $10 off movie tickets, groceries, dining, and travel, producing a value of 1 cent per point (CPP).
Value of reward in $CAD / value of reward in points = value of reward in cents per point (CPP)
Pros:
- 25% off AVIS and Budget car rentals
- Amex Offers and Experiences benefits
- Only $12,000 of personal income required
Cons:
- Only 11 types of insurance included
- Lower acceptance for American Express
6. Best Scotiabank low interest credit card
Rewards: None
The barebones Scotiabank Value Visa Card offers a fantastic balance transfer rate of 0.0099% for the first 9 months for a 1% fee. According to our credit card interest calculator, you could save almost $200 by transferring and paying off a $2,000 balance on the Scotia Value Visa compared to a card with a 20% interest rate.
Pros:
- Up to 25% AVIS and Budget car rentals
- 13.99% interest on purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances
- Only $12,000 of personal income required
- Worldwide acceptance for Visa
Cons:
- No insurance included
- No rewards on purchases
7. Best Scotiabank student credit card
Rewards:
- 2 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, Home Hardware, and Cineplex
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students allows you to earn Scene+ points on groceries and trade them for movies at Cineplex or small touches to your dorm from Home Hardware. Because it’s a student credit card, you won’t need a high income or credit score to apply – but you’ll need to book an in-person appointment.
Pros:
- Up to 25% off AVIS and Budget car rentals
- No income requirements
- Worldwide acceptance for Visa
Cons:
- No insurance included
- Restricted to Canadian post-secondary students
8. Best Scotiabank business credit card
GC: $125
Rewards:
- 1.5 points per $1 spent
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card has a bit of everything for the business traveller: airport lounge access, travel insurance, and membership in Avis Preferred Plus. Member benefits include one free additional driver, free roadside assistance, and complimentary car upgrades (when available).
Pros:
- 11 types of insurance included
- 5 – 25% off car rentals and membership in the Avis Preferred Plus program
- 0.00% foreign transaction fee
- No additional card fee
- Visa Infinite benefits
- Visa Spend Clarity for Business and discounts through Visa SavingsEdge
- Worldwide acceptance for Visa
Cons:
- $60,000 personal, $100,000 household, or $500,000 business income required (or at least $250,000 of assets under management)
Pros and cons of Scotiabank credit cards
The cheery marketing for Scotiabank and its subsidiary, Tangerine, makes it seem more approachable than Canada’s other major banks – but how consumer-friendly is it, really?
On the plus side, carrying a Scotiabank credit card means you can count on:
- An average return rate of up to 3.25% (equalling $3.25 in cash or points in your pocket for every $100 spent)
- An estimated insurance value of $100 – $650 (for cards that include insurance)
- A variety of options from Visa and American Express
- A variety of options with no foreign transaction fees
- Flexible cash back or Scene+ rewards
- Low to moderate annual fees
- Low to moderate income requirements
But you’ll also have to deal with certain downsides, including:
- A high number of credit cards without insurance (about 33%)
- Below-average (or missing) welcome bonuses
- Few exclusive or luxury perks
- High standard interest rates (about 20%)
In our opinion, Scotiabank lives up to its image as a bank for the average Canadian. Its wide selection of credit cards rewards moderate spenders who want to enjoy a few premium perks without springing for a super-premium card.
How Scotiabank credit cards work
Scotiabank offers cards through American Express, Visa, and Mastercard, so you’ve truly got your pick of credit cards, rewards programs, and network benefits.
Most of these cards offer rewards in the form of cash back or Scene+ points, but earn and redemption options vary by card, which is why it’s important to pick a card that matches your spending style.
Types of Scotiabank credit cards
You’ve got over a dozen types of credit cards to choose from. Check out your options along with our top pick by card type:
- Scene+ rewards card: Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
- Student credit card: Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students
- Travel credit card: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card
- Cash back credit card: Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card
- Business credit card: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card
- Low interest credit card: Scotiabank Value Visa Card
- USD credit card: Scotiabank US Dollar Visa Card
How does Scene+ work?
The Scene+ program is one of the best rewards programs in Canada. While not the most valuable, it’s certainly one of the most flexible.
Scene+ credit cardholders can trade 10,000 points for a $10 credit on groceries, movies, building supplies, restaurants, and travel, giving each point a value of 1 cent CAD. You can only redeem Scene+ at partners such as:
- Cineplex
- Expedia
- Foodland
- FreshCo
- Harvey’s
- Home Hardware
- IGA
- Safeway
- Sobeys
- Swiss Chalet
Partner stores are also where Scene+ cardholders collect the most points. If your favourite stores appear on the list above, you’re the perfect candidate for a Scotiabank credit card.
Scotiabank credit card insurance: What you get (and what you don't)
Don’t assume that all Scotia cards come with similar insurance coverage. The following table shows just how varied insurance coverage can be – and makes it easy for you to compare coverage for some of the top cards.
| Card name | Travel insurance | Purchase protection | Mobile device coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank Gold American Express Card | ✔️Travel accident ($500k) ✔️Trip cancellation/interruption ($1,500) ✔️Flight and baggage delay/theft (Up to $1,000) ✔️Hotel burglary ($1,000) ✔️Rental car theft/damage | ✔️90 days | ✔️Up to $1,000 |
| Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card | ✔️Travel accident ($500k) ✔️Trip cancellation/interruption (Up to $2,000) ✔️Flight and baggage delay/theft ($500) ❌Hotel burglary ✔️Rental car theft/damage | ✔️90 days | ✔️Up to $1,000 |
| Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card | ✔️Travel accident ($500k) ✔️Trip cancellation/interruption ($2,500/$5,000) ✔️Flight and baggage delay/theft ($1,000) ✔️Hotel burglary ($1,000) ✔️Rental car theft/damage | ✔️120 days | ✔️Up to $1,000 |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card | ✔️Travel accident ($500k) ✔️Trip cancellation/interruption ($1,500) ✔️Flight and baggage delay/theft ($500 to $1,000) ✔️Hotel burglary ($1,000) ✔️Rental car theft/damage | ✔️120 days | ❌ |
| Scotiabank American Express Card | ❌ | ✔️90 days | ✔️Up to $500 |
| Scotiabank Value Visa Card | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card | ✔️Travel accident ($500k) ✔️Trip cancellation/interruption ($2,500) ✔️Flight and baggage delay/theft ($500 to $1,000) ✔️Hotel burglary ($1,000) ✔️Rental car theft/damage | ✔️90 days | ❌ |
How to choose the right Scotiabank credit card for you
If you’re stymied by choice or unsure if Scotiabank is the right credit card issuer for you, ask yourself the following questions:
- How high of an annual fee can I afford? While premium credit cards earn more rewards, a decent one costs at least $120 per year.
- What kind of rewards do I want? If you often shop at FreshCo, Sobeys, Home Hardware, and the like, choose a Scene+ credit card. Otherwise, choose cash back.
- What are my biggest spending categories? If you don’t visit Scene+ partner stores very often, you should probably look at a cash back card from a different bank.
Your answers should narrow the list of candidates before you move on to concerns like eligibility requirements, credit score, and travel perks. The creditcardGenius quiz is an easy-to-use, comprehensive questionnaire that includes all these questions and more.
How to apply for a Scotiabank credit card
You can apply for a credit card from Scotiabank online, by phone, or in person at your local branch. Regardless of which method you choose, there are four steps to complete:
- Check the eligibility requirements to avoid rejection and unnecessary hard credit score checks.
- Gather the required information, including your contact information and multiple documents proving your income, identity, and place of residence.
- Submit your application using the method of your choice.
- Wait up to several weeks for approval for your new credit card, though most approvals for online applications are almost instant.
Specialty products like student or business credit cards may require additional documents like proof of enrollment or articles of ownership. Good luck!
FAQ
What is the best Scotiabank credit card to have?
The best Scotiabank card is the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. For a very reasonable annual fee, users can earn valuable Scene+ points at impressive rates, enjoy a solid insurance package, avoid foreign exchange fees, and much more.
How do I activate my Scotiabank credit card online?
You can activate a Scotiabank Amex or Visa credit card by entering your card number online. However, if you have a Scotiabank Mastercard, you'll need to call 1-866-583-6289 and follow the prompts to activate your new card.
How do I pay my Scotiabank credit card from another bank?
To pay your Scotiabank credit card from another bank, use your bank’s telephone banking system, mobile app, or website. Mobile and web users should look for the option to “Pay Bills,” then add “Scotiabank credit card” and their account number.
Can newcomers get Scotiabank credit cards?
Yes, newcomers to Canada can get Scotiabank credit cards. If you’re a new resident or a foreign worker, Scotiabank has a program specifically designed to help newcomers access personal finance products, like bank accounts and credit cards.
Can I have two Scotiabank credit cards?
Yes, but you’ll have to apply for them separately. Scotiabank looks at your credit score to determine whether you have enough credit to support multiple cards. To improve your chances, wait at least six months between credit card applications.
Are Scotiabank credit cards good?
Scotiabank credit cards offer competitive rewards and insurance to the average Canadian, but their premium and low-interest options are somewhat lacking. That said, students and newcomers can find cards that are easy to qualify for.
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 229 Canadian credit cards.
