RBC ION Visa Card review
Jul 24, 2025
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Overall rating
First year value
$323
Get this card if you:
- want to earn rewards without an annual fee
- need basic insurance benefits
- have a fair credit score
At a glance
The RBC ION Visa Card is a no-annual-fee credit card that allows cardholders to earn Avion points on everyday purchases, with elevated rates for spending on groceries, transportation (including gas, rideshare, transit, and EV charging), and streaming services and subscriptions. Cardholders benefit from additional perks such as savings on fuel at Petro-Canada and earning Be Well points at Rexall.
Highlights
$323
First year value
7,000 Avion points^
Welcome bonus
$0
Annual fee
$0 for additional cards
Interest Rates
20.99%
Purchase APR
22.99%
Balance transfer APR
22.99%
Cash advance APR
Eligibility
Fair
Recommended credit score
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
Pros
- No annual fee
- Minimum redemption is only $10
- DoorDash subscription
Cons
- Miserly welcome bonus, valued at less than many cash back bonuses
- Pretty “meh” on points collection through daily spending
RBC ION Visa Card welcome bonus
The RBC ION Visa Card comes with a very straightforward welcome bonus for new accounts:
-
Get 7,000 Avion points upon approval^ - that’s $50 of value in gift cards†!
^†See RBC site for full terms and conditions.
Thanks to that 7,000 Avion points upon approval^ sign-up bonus and decent rewards on purchases, we estimate that the ION Visa offers a first-year value of $323.
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.
- Save 3 cents instantly at the pump and earn 20% more Petro-Points and 20% more Avion points when you link your RBC card to your Petro-Points card
- Receive 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent at Rexall when you scan your Be Well card
🛒 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)
Cameron Smonk
Freelance Writer
Cam is a content marketer with a passion for saving, financial independence, and pulling off elaborate credit card point schemes. He has worked in Fintech and Finserve (specifically Group Retirement) and loves researching and writing about finance.
Cory Santos
Senior Reporter
Cory Santos is a finance writer, editor and credit card expert with nearly a decade 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, BlogTO, Debt.ca, AOL, MSN and Medium as well as financial podcasts like KOFE Talk. He's also the creator and author of the annual Money.ca Credit Card Awards.
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†Terms and Conditions apply.