Best Scotiabank credit cards of 2024

We love this card for its cash back offering, especially for Scotiabank rewards. Over the years, it's consistently been a top pick for best overall cash back card, especially when it comes to groceries and bills.

Imagine getting 4% back for every $1 you spend at any grocery story, recurring bill payments and subscriptions to Netflix and Spotify.

While we're also big fans of Scotiabank's Scene+ cards, those credit cards restrict your grocery shopping to Sobeys, Safeway and Foodland, but do offer better point accumulation from those stores.

We're also big fans of the Scotia Gold Amex, but it's not as readily accepted as Visa.

And while it's not necessarily a travel credit card, the Momentum Visa Infinite comes loaded with travel insurance including the big ones: emergency medical, travel accident, and credit card rental car insurance.

Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Momentum® Visa Infinite to learn more.

*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

Its $399 annual fee is a tough pill to swallow, but with:

◦ 10 complimentary airport lounge passes per year

◦ 0% on foreign transactions

◦ Full suite of insurance

◦ and no spending cap on their earn rate

It makes for a smooth travel experience, especially when using the flexible Scene+ program to book hotels and flights.

Did we mention its APR is only 9.99%?

If you're prone to carrying a balance at all, that low interest rate is a big plus.

¹ Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card to learn more.

*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

If you scour through enough user groups, the general consensus is that the Scotia Gold Amex is a great card. And it's easy to understand why.

An average annual fee of $120 (waived for the first year) with a high earn rates and a strong welcome bonus make it an easy credit card to love.

It earns on everyday spending. 6x the Scene+ points on groceries at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland, and more. 5x the Scene+ points for every $1 on dining, food delivery, food subscriptions, movies, theatre, concert tickets and "other" grocery stores. And 3x the Scene+ points for every $1 on gas, transit, and select streaming services.

You'll also gain access to Amex Front Of the Line presale tickets, get a discount on Priority Pass Membership to over 1200 VIP lounges, and get all the travel insurance (just not travel accident) as well as mobile device, purchase security, and extended warranty protection.

¹ Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card to learn more.

*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

With no annual fee and a high rate of approval (you don't need a steady income), it's a quick and easy way to get students to start building credit.

As a student, you'll also earn Scene+ points. Earn 2 per dollar spent at Sobeys, FreshCo, Foodland, and Cineplex and 1 Scene+ point everywhere else. Those points can add up quickly to free groceries—a major bonus for any student, budget or not.

¹ Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card to learn more.

*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

As a newcomer, credit card be hard to get in Canada. Scotiabank is offering up to $15,000 of unsecured credit when you arrive, even without credit history with their StartRight^® Program.

That means you can start building credit, pay your bills, and have access to a credit card in Canada's card heavy society.

The Momentum No-Fee card gives you 5% cash back on all purchase for the first 3 months and a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months to help your transition to a new country. Welcome to Canada!

Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Momentum No-Fee to learn more.

*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

It falls right between the Scotia Amex Platinum and the Scotia Gold Amex, but it's a Visa.

You still get six airport lounge passes, no foreign exchange fees, and all for much less than $399.

Its earn rate isn't as strong as the gold Amex, but at 3x Scene+ points at Sobeys/FreshCo, 2x the Scene+ points at other grocery stores, dining, entertainment, and transit, and 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent everywhere else, it's still pretty sweet.

¹ Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card to learn more.

*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

At a low annual fee of $39, you can still earn decent cash back with 2% on everyday purchases and 1% on everything else.

This is also one of the best balance transfer credit cards where you only pay a 2.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months.

Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Momentum® Visa to learn more.

*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

You may not be ready to afford travel, but for no annual fee you can get started earning Scene+ points which you can redeem for groceries, entertainment...and future travel.

For a lack of annual fee, the earn rates are still good, too.

Earn 3 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, and Foodland. Earn 2 Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on restaurants, fast food, drinking establishments, movie and theatre tickets, and other eligible grocery stores. Earn 2 Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible gas and daily transit and select streaming services.

Plus they throw in mobile device insurance, purchase security and extended warranty protection.

Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Red American Express to learn more.

*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

You can apply for a Scotiabank credit card online, in person at a Scotiabank branch or over the phone.

You must be a Canadian resident who is at least the age of majority in the province or territory in which you reside. Some cards also have a minimum personal or household income requirement. Scotiabank will check your credit score as part of the approval process.

Scotia Rewards was Scotiabank’s old rewards program.Scene was Cineplex’s loyalty program. In late 2021, the two programs merged to become Scene+. This was a welcome partnership providing more ways to earn and redeem points for members.

In June 2022, Empire Company bought an ownership stake in the loyalty program, which later allowed members to earn and redeem Scene+ points at Empire-owned grocery stores.

The best Scotiabank credit card depends on what your needs and goals are in a credit card.

Consider your income, the annual fee, and your credit score when considering which Scotiabank credit card is the best option for you.

A high welcome bonus may be tempting, but if you can’t reach the minimum spend requirement to get the bonus, or if you don’t want to be encouraged to spend, then it’s not the right card for you.

Newcomers to Canada are likely to be without a credit profile in Canada, which will make it difficult for them to be approved for a credit card.

Scotiabank offers a newcomer banking package that includes a bank account, safety deposit box and credit card, which will allow newcomers to build their credit score. Once they have an established credit history, they can consider applying for other Scotiabank credit cards.