RBC ION Visa Card review

Quick overview of the RBC ION Visa Card

The RBC ION Visa is as basic as it gets in a crowded field of entry-level cards. This no-fee option offers up to 1.5 Avion points per dollar on everyday purchases, redeemable for bills, credit card payments, or e-Transfers with a low $10 minimum redemption. 

Who’s the RBC ION Visa for?

• New credit card users seeking a simple, no-annual-fee rewards option
• Occasional spenders who prefer small, frequent redemptions (just $10 minimum)
• Budget-conscious consumers who value the fuel savings at Petro-Canada
• Rexall shoppers who can leverage the Be Well points earning opportunity
• Metro, Food Basics, Super C, Jean Coutu, Brunet and Première Moisson shoppers who want to earn more Moi points and save on groceries
• Cardholders who prioritize flexible redemption options (bills, credit card payments, e-Transfers)
• RBC clients looking to add a supplementary card without paying extra annual fees
• Consumers who value simplicity over maximizing point values
• Students or young adults building credit with their first rewards card

Pros and cons

RBC ION Visa Card welcome bonus

The RBC ION Visa Card comes with a very straightforward welcome bonus for new accounts:

• Get up to 14,000 Avion points^ - that's up to $100 of value in gift cards†! Apply by November 4, 2026.

  ^ This offer only applies to new applications for an RBC ION Visa credit card received between June 16, 2026 and November 4, 2026 (“Offer Period”) and approved by Royal Bank of Canada (“Royal Bank”), subject to the conditions below. Additional cardholders(s) (co-applicant and authorized user(s)) on the RBC ION Visa credit card account, as well as existing cardholders on any RBC Royal Bank personal credit card transferring to an RBC ION Visa credit card during the Offer Period, are not eligible for this offer.

  See RBC site for full terms and conditions.

Thanks to that up to 14,000 Avion points^ sign-up bonus and decent rewards on purchases, we estimate that the ION Visa offers a first-year value of $373.

How to earn Avion Rewards points with the Ion Visa

The RBC ION Visa Card earns the following Avion points on purchases:

• Earn 1.5 Avion points for every $1 spent on groceries, transportation (gas, rideshare, transit, EV charging), and streaming services and subscriptions.
• Earn 1 Avion point for every $1 spent on all other qualifying purchases.

Not bad, right? Unfortunately, however, there's a catch.

ION tier points are worth 50% less than standard Avion points—100 ION points equal just $0.58 compared to $1.00 for regular Avion points.  To get the full value of Avion Rewards you need either the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege, RBC Avion Visa Infinite or RBC Avion Visa Platinum.

🛒 Earn Moi points at Metro

• Earn 1 extra Moi point for every $2 spent at Metro, Food Basics, Super C, Jean Coutu, Brunet and Première Moisson when you swipe your Moi Rewards card and pay with your linked RBC card (minimum purchase required)