With the PC Financial Mastercard® cardholders can accelerate their earning of PC Optimum points with a no annual fee credit card, and a convenient system to spend PC points at the register.
It’s easy to see why holders of this President's Choice Financial Mastercard who are working hard to stick to their budgets have been drawn to this card. The PC Optimum program is a great choice for Canadians who spend significantly on groceries and gas at the most popular stores in Canada, and who wish to earn rewards that help them defray these costs in the future.
Pros and cons
Pros
-
No annual fee, ideal for budget-conscious shoppers
-
Earn 10 points per $1 spent everywhere
-
Accelerated points at Esso, Shoppers Drug Mart, and PC Travel
-
Points redeemable at over 2,500 stores nationwide
-
Purchase insurance and extended warranties for added protection
Cons
-
Middle-of-the-road rewards compared to other no-fee cards
-
Limited redemption options compared to some competitors
-
Lacks introductory benefits like bonus points
-
Requires spending at specific stores for maximum benefits
-
Point value may seem low initially, despite earning potential
PC® Financial Mastercard® rewards structure
The base rate for earning PC Optimum points with the PC Financial Mastercard® is 10 points per $1 spent anywhere. There is no maximum number of points attainable, and the value of 1 PC Optimum point is $0.001. This may seem quite low on first glance, but note that even with this low single-point value the PC® Mastercard® is still earning the equivalent of at least 1% back for each purchase, and that’s not considering additional opportunities to earn more.
There are other purchase categories where the card earns PC Optimum points at an accelerated rate. Namely, any purchases at Esso or Mobil (gas stations) will earn 2 cents per litre in PC Optimum points. At Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix locations across Canada, the earn rate is boosted to 25 Optimum points per $1 spent—15 points per $1 just for being an Optimum member, and then 10 more for using the PC® Mastercard®. If you use the card to buy travel through PC Financial®, you’ll earn 10 extra points per $1, totaling 20 points per $1 spent on this purchase category.
When redeeming PC Optimum points, the minimum you can redeem at once is $10 worth, or 10,000 points. The points are redeemable at the register at a plethora of nationwide stores that should be familiar to every Canadian, making it easy to save regardless of where you live.
Feature breakdown of the PC® Financial Mastercard®
- $0 annual fee
- Earn 10 points per $1 spent everywhere
- Earn 2c per litre in PC Optimum points at Esso and Mobil
- Earn 30 points per $1 when purchasing travel through President’s Choice
- Earn 25 points per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix
- Purchase insurance and extended warranties
- Points redeemable right at the register at over 2,500 stores across Canada, min. redeemable amount of 10,000 points
Extra perks that accompany the PC® Mastercard® are always appreciated, including standard protections for newly-purchased items against theft and damage, as well as extended manufacturers’ warranties.
Drawbacks of the PC® Financial Mastercard®
In comparison with the other no-annual-fee rewards cards in Canada, the PC® Financial Mastercard® occupies the middle ground. It offers a variety of ways to accelerate rewards, whereas other no-fee cards, such as the MBNA Rewards Mastercard, offer a single flat rate of 1.00%. On the other hand, MBNA Rewards points aren’t limited to in-store redemption within a single network (as PC Optimum points are), and can instead be spent more flexibly on cash credits, gift cards and other rewards.
The card also lacks any introductory benefits currently. The BMO Air Miles Mastercard is a similarly basic rewards card that offers 500 Air Miles after a single first purchase. It would have been nice to see something similar from PC.
Who’s the President's Choice Financial Mastercard® for?
The PC® Mastercard® is beneficial for those who enjoy shopping at Loblaw, filling up gas at Esso and Mobil locations, and generally sticking to the list of stores maintained by PC Financial. The list is too long to get into here, but it includes over 2,500 locations across Canada and can be further explored on PC’s website.
Recommended Read: How to Maximize Your PC Optimum™ Points.
Sponsored advertising. President’s Choice Financial® Mastercard® is provided by President’s Choice Bank. The PC Optimum™ program is provided by President's Choice Services Inc. President’s Choice Bank is not responsible for the contents of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information regarding the PC® Mastercard®, PC® World Mastercard®, or PC® World Elite Mastercard®, please click on the “Apply Now” or other applicable button.
The Money.ca Editorial Team is a group of passionate financial experts, seasoned journalists, and content creators who are deeply committed to providing unbiased, relevant, and accurate financial information. With years of combined industry experience, our team is dedicated to maintaining the highest journalistic standards and delivering informative and engaging content. From personal finance and investing to retirement planning and business finance, we cover a broad range of topics to suit the financial needs of our diverse readership. You can trust the Money.ca Editorial Team to empower you with the knowledge and tools necessary to make wise financial decisions.
Compare other PC Financial credit cards
Compare other Mastercard credit cards
Compare other grocery credit cards
Latest Articles
Young investors more likely to switch advisers, citing high fees: J.D. Power survey
S&P/TSX composite up in late-morning trading, U.S. stock markets also higher
Maple Leaf Foods swings back to Q1 profit as pork markets show signs of improvement
Centralized market would help community bonds scale up: report
Loblaw leaders push back on 'misguided criticism' of grocer as boycott begins
Paramount Resources reports $68.1M Q1 profit, raises monthly dividend 20%
Disclaimer
The content provided on Money.ca is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter.