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CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* review

CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* review

3.0

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1 point for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre

1 point for every $2 spent on all other purchases

22.99% Balance Transfer Rate non-Quebec residents†

22.99% Cash Advance APR non-Quebec residents†

$35 Annual Fee US - $0 for up to 3 additional cards; annual fee rebate‡

2.50% Foreign Transaction Fee 2.5% of the transaction in CDN

Good Recommended Credit Score

$15,000 Required Annual Household Income

3.0

CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* review

Quick overview of the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa*

The CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* credit card is a basic-but-effective US dollar (USD) travel card from CIBC. With cards like the U.S. Dollar Aventura Gold Visa, you can bypass the currency exchanges at airports and shop online and in-store with no hidden currency conversion fees when shopping in USD. The card offers simple rewards, no foreign transaction fees for USD purchases and essential travel insurance protections for a $35 annual fee.

Who can benefit from the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* credit card?

The CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* Card is designed specifically for those who frequently shop in US dollars. Whether you frequently shop at US online retailers, travel to the United States for business or pleasure, are a snowbird splitting your time between Canada and America or earn your income in USD, this card can be a valuable addition to your wallet.

Pros and cons

Pros

Pros

  • Bypass foreign transaction fees when shopping with US retailers

  • Transfer points to other CIBC Aventura® credit card accounts

  • Modest annual fee and $0 for up to 3 additional cards

Cons

Cons

  • Limited rewards compared with the Canadian version of the Aventura® Gold Visa*

  • Because the card uses US dollars you’ll need to pay your balance in USD

  • Limited travel insurance protection

CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* welcome bonus

The CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* Card comes with a pretty decent welcome bonus for new account holders:

  • Get up to 10,000 Aventura Points (up to $100 in travel value†):
  • 7,500 Aventura Points after you make your first purchase†
  • 2,500 Aventura Points when you complete all activities within 60 days of your CIBC Aventura® Visa* account approval†
  • Plus, get a one-time annual fee rebate (USD$35) for you (the primary cardholder)†

As mentioned, that welcome bonus provides up to $100 in points value when redeeming for travel through the CIBC Rewards Centre, the bank’s in-house travel portal. But the first-year value with the card is even greater thanks to that year one annual fee rebate. This additional $35 in value brings the overall first-year value of the U.S. Dollar Aventura Gold credit card to $135 – not bad at all!

How to earn points with the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa*

Outside of the welcome offer, earning points with the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* credit card is simple (but somewhat of a letdown). Cardholders earn the following Aventura Points on eligible purchases with the card:

  • Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre†
  • Earn 1 point for every $2 spent on all other purchases†

While the rewards with the U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* are fairly meager, they are on par with what you can expect from other similar card offers from the Big 5 banks. Plus, it’s not that up to 1x points per $1 spent aren’t valuable. In fact, we calculate that the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold offers around $240 in annual rewards value (based on the average monthly spend of Canadians, find out more in our credit card methodology page).

How to redeem rewards

Redeeming CIBC Aventura points is straightforward. You can redeem your points through the CIBC Rewards Centre on travel, gift cards, merchandise, or other experiences. The higher the amount of Aventura points you have, the more valuable rewards you can cash them in for. For example, saving up more Aventura points will give you more accessible travel opportunities to places that may be out of the country or off the continent.

You can reach your dream travel redemptions faster by pooling Aventura points. Cardholders can transfer Aventura points between other Aventura business and personal credit card accounts to quickly amass a huge haul of points to get you to Miami, Madrid, Tokyo or wherever your heart (and points) can take you.

Key benefits of the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa*

No currency conversion fees

Probably the biggest benefit of the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* is the complete lack of any currency conversion fees for US Dollar purchases. CIBC only charges a foreign exchange rate (no foreign transaction fees to you and me) of 2.5% on non-USD payments on your credit card account so it’s important to only use the card for USD purchases alone.

Earn rewards in the United States

The CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* is a great piece of the CIBC credit card puzzle for anyone who frequently visits the United States or spends in USD. While the card’s rewards aren’t massive (at up to 1x points per $1 spent), the lack of a foreign transaction fee for USD means you can shift from your regular Aventura to the US version and still earn points you can easily apply towards travel, pay with points, statement credits or contributions to select CIBC financial products.

No more hassles with foreign exchange kiosks on trips

Finally, with the CIBC Aventura® Gold U.S. Dollar Visa* you can wave goodbye to boring waits at the foreign exchange counters when travelling to the United States. The card provides a streamlined platform that lets you switch seamlessly from CDN to USD while still enjoying all the benefits and protections of a CIBC payment card.

CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* insurance coverage

The CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* Card is a travel credit card. That said, US dollar credit cards tend to offer a lower level of insurance protection than other premium travel cards. That’s because US dollar credit cards are designed to be used mostly in the United States, meaning you can expect little more than the most basic travel insurance coverage: purchase protection, extended warranty and rental car coverage.

Here's everything you can expect from the card:

  • Extended warranty: 1 year
  • Purchase protection: 90 days
  • Travel accident: up to $100,000
  • Rental car: up to $65,000

The addition of travel accident insurance is one benefit not found with other comparable card offers such as the BMO U.S. Dollar Mastercard®. Still, up to $100,000 in coverage is significantly less than the TD U.S. Dollar Visa*, which provides up to $500,000 in common carrier travel accident insurance when you travel with any public and ticketed transportation, such as a flight, bus or train.

Extra benefits of the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa*

  • Car rental savings: Get up to 25% off vehicle rentals at Avis® and Budget® locations worldwide when you pay with your CIBC credit card†
  • CIBC mobile app access: Set up alerts, pay your bill, track your cash back rewards and more with the CIBC Mobile Banking App and CIBC Online Banking
  • Mobile wallet connectivity
  • Credit report alerts

How does the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* compare?

Scotiabank U.S. Dollar Visa Card

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3.0

Good

Suggested credit score

No U.S. dollar currency conversion fee

Apply now

Pros

  • No U.S. dollar conversion fee: Ideal for purchases in U.S. dollars, saving you money on currency conversion.

  • Free supplementary cards with all the same benefits at no additional cost

  • Conveniently pay your Visa statement with U.S. dollars directly from your Scotia U.S. Dollar Daily Interest Account.

  • Easy access to cash advances at over 1 million ABMs worldwide and online banking options.

Cons

  • There's a $35 annual fee, which might be a downside for some users.

  • High-interest rates compared to low-rate cards on the market

  • Unlike many credit cards, this one doesn’t offer points cash back rewards.

  • Limited insurance benefits

  • The card does not have a welcome bonus, a common feature in many other credit cards.

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$12,000

Pros

  • No U.S. dollar conversion fee: Ideal for purchases in U.S. dollars, saving you money on currency conversion.

  • Free supplementary cards with all the same benefits at no additional cost

  • Conveniently pay your Visa statement with U.S. dollars directly from your Scotia U.S. Dollar Daily Interest Account.

  • Easy access to cash advances at over 1 million ABMs worldwide and online banking options.

Cons

  • There's a $35 annual fee, which might be a downside for some users.

  • High-interest rates compared to low-rate cards on the market

  • Unlike many credit cards, this one doesn’t offer points cash back rewards.

  • Limited insurance benefits

  • The card does not have a welcome bonus, a common feature in many other credit cards.

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$12,000

Save 25% off base rate at Avis and Budget locations in North America

25%

Purchase APR

19.99%

Balance Transfer Rate

22.99%

Cash Advance APR

22.99%

Annual Fee

$35

Foreign Transaction Fee

0.00%

The Scotiabank U.S. Dollar Visa Card is another USD credit card for Canadians. The card features a similar annual fee to the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* but lacks the rewards of the Aventura. Where the Aventura® Gold U.S. Dollar Visa* offers up to 1x points per $1 spent on USD purchases, the Scotiabank option provides no rewards (outside of a 25% off base rate at Avis® and Budget® locations in North America).

Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank U.S. Dollar 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.

BMO U.S. Dollar Mastercard®*

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3.0

Very Good

Suggested credit score

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Pros

  • Savings on foreign transaction fees: Ideal for transactions in U.S. dollars, saving users the usual 2.5% foreign transaction fee

  • Annual fee rebate: The annual fee is rebated the following year if you spend US$3,000 per year.

  • Additional card options: You have the option to get additional cards for family members or employees for free.

  • 24-hour, out-of-country emergency assistance with GlobalAssist™*

Cons

  • Limited rewards: No cash back or travel points.

  • U.S. dollar payments: Balances must be paid in U.S. dollars.

  • Credit score requirements: A higher credit score may be required to qualify for this card.

  • Limited insurance included: Purchase protection for 90 days and extended warranty, but no travel insurance.

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Very Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$15,000

Pros

  • Savings on foreign transaction fees: Ideal for transactions in U.S. dollars, saving users the usual 2.5% foreign transaction fee

  • Annual fee rebate: The annual fee is rebated the following year if you spend US$3,000 per year.

  • Additional card options: You have the option to get additional cards for family members or employees for free.

  • 24-hour, out-of-country emergency assistance with GlobalAssist™*

Cons

  • Limited rewards: No cash back or travel points.

  • U.S. dollar payments: Balances must be paid in U.S. dollars.

  • Credit score requirements: A higher credit score may be required to qualify for this card.

  • Limited insurance included: Purchase protection for 90 days and extended warranty, but no travel insurance.

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Very Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$15,000

Purchase APR

20.99%

Balance Transfer Rate

22.99%

Cash Advance APR

22.99%

Annual Fee

$49

Foreign Transaction Fee

0.00%

The BMO U.S. Dollar Mastercard®* is another option worth considering. For a slightly higher annual fee the BMO card does not earn rewards, unlike the CIBC card. That said, the BMO US dollar credit card does provide an annual fee rebate provided the cardholder spends at least USD$3,000 on purchases each year. However, unless you already bank with BMO and want to remain in its ecosystem, the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* is more likely a better bet for most applicants.

*Terms and conditions apply.

BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.

TD U.S. Dollar Visa* Card

2.0

Good

Suggested credit score

to receive the latest news, tips and offers by email

Read review

Pros

  • No foreign currency conversion rates and fees.

  • Insurance coverages for travel and shopping.

  • Digital wallet compatibility with Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

  • Option to waive the annual fee with the TD Borderless Plan.

Cons

  • $39 annual fee.

  • No reward points or cashback.

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$0

Required Annual Household Income

$0

Pros

  • No foreign currency conversion rates and fees.

  • Insurance coverages for travel and shopping.

  • Digital wallet compatibility with Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

  • Option to waive the annual fee with the TD Borderless Plan.

Cons

  • $39 annual fee.

  • No reward points or cashback.

Eligibility

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Required Annual Personal Income

$0

Required Annual Household Income

$0

There are no reward offerings with this card.

N/A

Purchase APR

19.99%

Cash Advance APR

22.99%

Annual Fee

$39

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.50%

Finally, the TD U.S. Dollar Visa* Card is another popular USD credit card pick. This card, from Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD), charges a $39 annual fee (waived with a TD Borderless Plan) and provides a higher level of insurance protection versus the CIBC Aventura® U.S. Dollar Visa*. The TD U.S. Dollar Visa* provides delayed and lost baggage coverage, trip interruption insurance and up to $500,000 in common carrier travel accident coverage. The CIBC card offers up to $100,000 in common carrier coverage for comparison.

The TD option does not provide rewards, however, while the CIBC Aventura® Gold U.S. Dollar Visa earns 1x for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre and 0.5x for every $1 spent on all other purchases made with the card.

†Terms and conditions apply.

The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button.

Is the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* worth it?

The CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* Card is a decent option if you already bank with CIBC and plan to spend significantly in USD. The card’s welcome bonus more than recoups the $35 annual fee for the first year, with a rather modest $3,500 in annual spending needed to cover that yearly charge after that.

If you currently bank with CIBC and have another CIBC Aventura credit card, the US dollar-version makes a heck of a lot of sense. It bypasses foreign transaction fees in USD and gives cardholders the chance to expand their purchasing power (and points potential) across much of North America, letting you maximize rewards – and minimize hidden costs.

Eligibility requirements

The following eligibility requirements apply for the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* Card:

  •  $15,000 minimum annual household income
  • Good credit score
  • Canadian resident and at least the age of majority in your province or territory

†Terms and Conditions Apply

The information for the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura® Gold Visa* has been collected independently by Money.ca. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

FAQs

  • Can you combine rewards with other CIBC Aventura credit cards?

    +

    Yes. You can transfer Aventura points from one account to another provided you are the primary cardholder for both accounts.

  • Can you use the CIBC US. Dollar Aventura Gold Visa outside of the US?

    +

    Yes. You can use the card anywhere Visa is accepted worldwide but can expect a 2.5% currency conversion fee on any purchase made in a currency other than USD.

Cory Santos Finance editor

Cory Santos is a finance writer, editor and credit card expert with over seven years of experience in personal finance. Cory joined Wise Publishing from BestCards, with bylines in numerous print and digital publications across North America, including the Miami Herald, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, AOL, MSN and Medium as well as financial podcasts like KOFE Talk.

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