Best Scotiabank credit cards of 2024
Compare Scotia credit cards with travel rewards, no fees, cash back and more.
Each Scotiabank credit card offers features to to suit your needs and priorities.
To make life easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best Scotiabank cards for different kinds of Canadian consumers. Check out our assessment below and discover the best Scotiabank credit card for your needs, lifestyle and spending habits.
Best Scotiabank credit card overall
Scotiabank Momentum® Visa Infinite
4% For every $1 you spend on grocery store purchases, recurring bill payments and subscription purchases
2% For every $1 you spend on gas and daily transit purchases
1% Cash back on all other purchases with no cash back limit
$120 Annual Fee $50 per supplementary card
20.99% Purchase APR
22.99% Cash Advance APR
22.99% Balance Transfer Rate
2.50% Foreign Transaction Fee
Excellent Recommended Credit Score
$60,000 Required Annual Personal Income
$100,000 Required Annual Household Income
Best Scotiabank credit card for travel
Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card
2x Scene+ points for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
0% No foreign transaction fees
10 Complimentary airport lounge passes per year
$399 Annual Fee
9.99% Purchase APR
9.99% Cash Advance APR
22.99% Balance Transfer Rate
0.00% Foreign Transaction Fee
Good Recommended Credit Score
Welcome Offer Ends Oct 31, 2024
Earn up to $2,100* in value in the first 14 months, including up to 60,000 bonus Scene+ points
Learn moreBest Scotiabank credit card Reddit
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
6x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more
5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purposes. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agency stores.
3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes ride shares, buses, subway, taxis and more.
3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services.
1x Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.
$120 Annual Fee $29 for each supplementary card
20.99% Purchase APR
22.99% Cash Advance APR
22.99% Balance Transfer Rate
0.00% Foreign Transaction Fee
Very Good Recommended Credit Score
Welcome Offer Ends Jul 1, 2024
Earn up to $650* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points.
Learn moreBest Scotiabank credit card for students
Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card
2x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland & Participating Co-ops, FreshCo and more.
2x Scene+ points4 for every $1 you spend at Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre, Home Furniture locations in Canada and online at homehardware.ca.
2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend at Cineplex◊ theatres or at cineplex.com.
1x Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
25% Save up to 25% off base rates at participating Avis locations and participating Budget locations in North America.
$0 Annual Fee $0 for each additional card
20.99% Purchase APR
22.99% Cash Advance APR
22.99% Balance Transfer Rate
2.50% Foreign Transaction Fee
Good Recommended Credit Score
Best Scotiabank credit card for newcomers
Scotia Momentum® No-Fee Visa* Card
1% Cash back at gas stations, grocery stores, drugs stores, and on recurring payments.
0.5% Cash back on all other eligible purchases.
25% Off base rates at Avid and Budget locations in North America.
$0 Annual Fee $0 for each additional card
19.99% Purchase APR
22.99% Cash Advance APR
22.99% Balance Transfer Rate
2.50% Foreign Transaction Fee
Fair Recommended Credit Score
Welcome Offer Ends Oct 31, 2024
Earn 5% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases); Plus, get a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months (22.99% after that; annual fee $0)
Learn moreOther great Scotiabank credit cards
Scotiabank has over 15 credit cards to choose from. Here are some more that fall into the runner up category for us, but may still suit you best.
Best Scotiabank credit card for travel - runner up
Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
3x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and participating Co-ops and more
2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining, eligible entertainment purchases and eligible daily transit options (including ride shares, buses, subways, taxis and more)
1x Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
$150 Annual Fee
20.99% Purchase APR
22.99% Cash Advance APR
22.99% Balance Transfer Rate
5.00% Balance Transfer Fee
0.00% Foreign Transaction Fee
Good Recommended Credit Score
$60,000 Required Annual Personal Income
$100,000 Required Annual Household Income
Welcome Offer Ends Jul 1, 2024
Earn up to $1,300* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points and first year annual fee waived
Learn moreBest Scotiabank credit card for cash back - runner up
Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
2% cash back for every $1 you spend on all eligible gas stations, grocery store, drug store purchases and recurring bill payments.
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
25% savings off base rates at participating AVIS locations and at participating Budget locations in North America.
90 days of purchase security on most items purchased with your card.
1 extra year on top of manufacturer's warranty.
$39 Annual Fee $15 for each supplementary card
19.99% Purchase APR
22.99% Cash Advance APR
22.99% Balance Transfer Rate
Fair Recommended Credit Score
Best Scotiabank credit card for travel with no annual fee
Scotiabank American Express® Card (red)
3x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco and more
2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on restaurants, fast food, drinking establishments and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on eligible entertainment purchases. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.
2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on eligible gas and daily transit. Includes ride shares, buses, subway, taxis and more
2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on eligible select streaming services
1x Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.
$0 Annual Fee Additional cards are $0
19.99% Purchase APR
22.99% Cash Advance APR
22.99% Balance Transfer Rate
2.50% Foreign Transaction Fee
Good Recommended Credit Score
Summary of Scotiabank credit cards for 2024
| Scotia credit card | Best for | Apply now |
|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card | Travel with $120 annual fee | Apply now |
| Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card | Cash back with $120 annual fee | Apply now |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card | Scene+ points with $120 annual fee | Apply now |
| Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card | Students, with no annual fee | Apply now |
| Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card | $39 annual fee and 2.99% balance transfers | Apply now |
| Scotia Momentum® No-Fee Visa* Card | $0 annual fee, 0% balance transfers, and cash back | Apply now |
| Scotiabank American Express® Card | No annual fee travel card | Apply now |
| Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card | Airport lounge access and low APR of 9.99%. Annual fee: $399 | Apply now |
| Scotia Momentum® Mastercard®* credit card | No annual fee, 1% cash back on everyday expenses. | Apply now |
| Scotiabank® U.S. Dollar Visa* Card | U.S. Dollar purchases with no currency conversion fees. | Apply now |
| Scotiabank Value® Visa* Card | 12.99% on purchases and cash advances for $29 annual fee. | Apply now |
Expert tip: How to bundle a bank account with a Scotiabank credit card
As one of the big banks of Canada, it’s no surprise that Scotiabank has a large selection of credit card options to choose from based on your needs. From low interest to cash back to student, it’s easy to find something that fits your life right now. Plus, if you are already a Scotiabank customer then choosing a Scotiabank credit card makes it even easier to pay off, increase your limit, and even upgrade or switch credit cards as needed. Another perk to choosing a credit card branded under your bank is that they may allow you to bundle finance products, including credit cards, which can result in savings. Speak to a Scotiabank representative to discuss any bundle options.
—Hannah Logan, Money.ca credit card, saving and travel expert
How to get a Scotiabank credit card
If you’re interested in getting a Scotiabank credit card:
- 1.
Read our Scotiabank credit card reviews to see which one best suits your needs and goals
- 2.
Click ‘apply now’
- 3.
See if you meet the requirements for the card
- 4.
Enter your personal info
- 5.
If you’re not instantly approved, contact Scotiabank and provide any additional information
- 6.
Wait for your card to arrive
- 7.
Once your card arrives, activate it
You can also apply so over the phone or in person at a branch. Applying at a branch can benefit students who bank with Scotiabank and are applying for their first credit card as bank employees may be able to approve your application in person based on your banking history with them.
Scotiabank credit card eligibility
To be considered for a Scotiabank credit card, you’ll need to meet some minimum requirements to be considered.
- You are a Canadian resident
- You’re at least the age of majority in the province or territory in which you reside
- You haven’t declared bankruptcy in the past seven years
- You meet the minimum personal, household, or total assets under management requirement (varies by card)
- You must consent to allow Scotiabank to access your credit profile
Although Scotiabank doesn’t expressly state what credit score is required to be approved for a Scotiabank credit card, your credit score should be at least 700, meaning your credit is in good standing.
How do Scotiabank credit cards work?
When you use a Scotiabank credit card, you’re borrowing money from Scotiabank. This loan is interest-free for a set number of days. Once your bill arrives, you must pay the full balance by the due date to avoid interest charges. If you make any payment that’s less than the entire amount, you’ll be charged interest from the time of the purchase.
Scotiabank offers two types of credit cards: Visa and American Express. As long as the merchant where you’re shopping accepts Visa or American Express, you can use your Scotiabank credit card to make a purchase.
It doesn’t matter if you’re shopping in-store or in person, you’ll be able to use your credit card to pay as long as the payment network is accepted. That said, when shopping in-store, you may be required to insert your card and enter your PIN. For online purchases, merchants will ask for your card’s expiration date and CVV as an added security measure.
Scotiabank credit cards allow you to withdraw cash directly from ATMs. However, this is considered a cash advance, and you’ll immediately be charged interest that’s typically higher than the purchase interest rate. Needless to say, you should avoid cash advances unless it’s an emergency.
Scotiabank credit cards rewards programs
Scotiabank has two types of rewards programs: cash back and Scene+. The type of rewards you’ll earn depends on the credit card you have.
Scotiabank cash back
With Scotiabank’s cash back program, you’ll earn cash back on all eligible purchases. The amount of cash back you’ll earn depends on the card you have and where you’re making the purchase. Any cash back you’ve earned will appear on your monthly statement. Your cash back gets paid out once a year on your November statement. In December, your cash back earning starts over again.
Scene+
Scene+ is Scotiabank’s rewards program that allows you to redeem your points for various products such as:
- Groceries. Use your points at Empire-owned grocery stores like Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland, Fresh Co, IGA, Voila, and more.
- Travel. Redeem your points instantly when booking travel through the Scene+ travel portal. You can apply points (5,000 points minimum) to travel charged directly to your Scotiabank credit card as a statement credit.
- Movies. Purchases made at Cineplex theatres or Cineplex.com can be offset with your Scene points.
- Dining. Select restaurants such as Montana’s, Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s, and East Side Marios allow you to redeem points to get cash off your meal.
- Gift cards. The Scene+ website has dozens of gift cards available to some top retailers such as Amazon, Costco, Esso and Canadian Tire.
- Merchandise. If you prefer something physical, you can use your points on merchandise, such as electronics, small appliances, perfume, and more.
- Statement credit. Use your points to offset your current credit card balance.
Although Scene+ has many redemption options, they don’t all offer the same value. Redeeming your points for groceries, travel, movies, and participating restaurants gives you the best value. Gift cards, merchandise, and statement credits offer less value for your earned points.
Besides earning Scene+ points with a Scotiabank credit card, you can also earn points at participating grocery stores, Cineplex, participating restaurants, and Rakuten.ca. Scene+ points expire after 24 months of inactivity.
Pros and cons of Scotiabank credit cards
Pros
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Variety of credit card options to best meet your needs, preferences and lifestyle
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Scotiabank offers credit cards by all three major credit card providers
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Opportunity to avoid foreign transaction fees and high interest
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Double-dip points at merchants that allow you to earn Scene+ points by scanning your Scene+ card and then paying with a credit card that earns you Scene+ points
Cons
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Rewards cards can have higher interest rates than traditional credit cards
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Most rewards cards have annual fees
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The credit cards with the best rewards have high annual fees
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If you struggle with money management, rewards cards can encourage unnecessary spending
What is Scotiabank?
Scotiabank is a Canada-based international bank that provides full banking and financial services to Canadian and international customers through over 900 branches, as well as an online banking platform. Along with top Scotiabank savings and chequing accounts, business banking, and wealth management, Scotiabank offers one of the biggest ranges of credit cards in Canada. Scotiabank credit cards include many kinds of reward cards and cashback cards from all three major processors in Canada: Mastercard, Visa, and Amex.
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