Quick overview of Vancity enviro Visa Infinite* Card
Do you happen to be a resident of British Columbia? Yes? Fantastic, let’s proceed, because Vancity is a BC-based credit union, with a few different products, one of which is its enviro Visa Infinite* card. The enviro in that name nods at one of the card's core features – 5% of profits from this card go to the Vancity enviroFund, annually.
This card is a bit different from other Visa products. It seems to strike the line between rewarding yourself and giving back to your community, which I think is a nice touch, and would certainly appeal to me (if I were a resident of BC).
You’re incentivized with big point bonuses for shopping at local businesses and taking public transit, and these points could add up to nearly $500 worth of rewards by the end of the year. That, of course, is slightly trimmed down by the $120 annual fee, which is not insubstantial for a relatively small potatoes credit card. But is it right for you?
Who’s the Vancity enviro Visa Infinite* Card for?
This card has a niche audience, no doubt. If you’re not into big banks, love supporting local, live in BC, don’t mind springing for a fee and like a credit card that gives back, you’re going to be hard pressed to do better than the Vancity enviro Visa Infinite*.
Pros and cons
Pros
-
Community-oriented reward system
-
Environmental contributions
-
First year fee waived
Cons
-
Points are relatively low value
-
$120 annual fee
Vancity enviro Visa Infinite* Card welcome bonus
There’s no big welcome bonuses with the Vancity enviro Visa Infinite*, but the first year fee is waived, and you get airport lounge access through a Visa Airport Companion membership.
How to earn Vancity Rewards points with Vancity enviro Visa Infinite* Card
The absolute best way to earn points on this card is to shop local. You get a whopping 10 points for every $1 spent at select local businesses, which means if you like spending in your neighbourhood, you're likely to rack up points at a rapid rate.
Secondly, you can earn 5x Vancity Rewards by spending on public transit (and ferries), 2.5x points on groceries, 2x points when booking travel through Vancity and 1.25x points on everything else.
How to redeem Vancity Rewards points from Vancity enviro Visa Infinite* Card
There’s a bunch of different ways you can redeem your points through the Vancity Reward site, including statement credits, gift cards, travel, donations and other items. One neat feature of Vancity Reward points is they don’t change value regardless of what you spend them on, so you have the flexibility to really use them how you’d like.
Key Vancity enviro Visa Infinite* Card benefits
- 5% donation on profits to environmental causes
- 10x points on shopping local
- Airport lounge access
Vancity enviro Visa Infinite* Card insurance coverage
- Extended warranty: This card offers a one year extended warranty on products purchased with it
- Purchase protection: You get 90 days of purchase protection
- Travel accident: Up to $500,000 in travel medical insurance
- Mobile device: $1,000 of coverage on phones bought with the Vancity enviro Visa Infinite*
- Flight delay: $500 of coverage
- Baggage delay: $500 of coverage
- Lost or stolen baggage: $1,000 of coverage
- Rental car insurance: The Vancity enviro Visa Infinite* comes with car rental insurance
Extra benefits pf the enviro Visa Infinite from Vancity
- Comes with a “Carbon Counter” to keep an eye on your carbon footprint
- $0 for your first supplementary card
- Hotel perks like upgrades and free Wi-Fi at 900 hotels worldwide
- 24/7 concierge service
What people have to say about this card
I have the Vancity Enviro Visa. I had to apply for it unlike a student credit card, and they approved me for an $8000 limit. There's a Vancity ATM in the Nest and one on Sasamat, so it's nearby. You can also get into The Fair at the PNE for free on one day in August, and I've collected a decent amount of rewards points!
/u/neilrp
It likely isn't Canada's best credit card, but It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t have something at least kinda nice to say about the Vancity enviro Visa. It definitely won’t appeal to people who think climate change is a hoax, but for people into the green-scene and like supporting local, there are a bunch of ways to collect points quickly (even if they’re not top-tier valuable).
How Vancity enviro Visa Infinite* Card compares
Scotiabank Gold American Express®
4.8
up to $780 in value
Welcome offerVery Good
Suggested credit scoreEarn up to $780* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points.
Expires
Jul 1, 2025
Pros
-
Lots of daily spend options to earn multiplied point bonuses
-
Swanky Amex perks like Front of the Line presale concert tickets
-
Save on foreign transaction fees when abroad
-
Fantastic insurance coverage, especially for travel
Cons
-
Relatively low-value welcome bonus
-
$120 annual fee that chews into your point value substantially
-
Scene points redeem poorly for travel
Eligibility
Very Good
Recommended Credit Score
Recommended Credit Score
Very Good
6x
Scene+ points¹ 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 agencies stores.
3x
Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshares, 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
4x
Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more
6x
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 agencies stores.
5x
Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more
3x
Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services
3x
Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
1x
Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
4x
20.99%
Purchase APR
22.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.99%
Cash Advance APR
$120
Annual Fee $29 for each supplementary card
0%
Foreign Transaction Fee
Purchase APR
20.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$120
Foreign Transaction Fee
0%
Pros
-
Lots of daily spend options to earn multiplied point bonuses
-
Swanky Amex perks like Front of the Line presale concert tickets
-
Save on foreign transaction fees when abroad
-
Fantastic insurance coverage, especially for travel
Cons
-
Relatively low-value welcome bonus
-
$120 annual fee that chews into your point value substantially
-
Scene points redeem poorly for travel
Eligibility
Very Good
Recommended Credit Score
Recommended Credit Score
Very Good
6x
Scene+ points¹ 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 agencies stores.
3x
Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshares, 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
4x
Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more
6x
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 agencies stores.
5x
Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more
3x
Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services
3x
Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
1x
Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
4x
20.99%
Purchase APR
22.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.99%
Cash Advance APR
$120
Annual Fee $29 for each supplementary card
0%
Foreign Transaction Fee
Purchase APR
20.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$120
Foreign Transaction Fee
0%
On the surface, these cards are a decent matchup. Both proprietary points collectors with a first-year-waived $120 fee and decent multipliers when spent on the preferred categories. But I actually think they’re pretty different beasts. The Vancity points are fine, but they’re not the most valuable. The SCENE+ points from the Amex are a cut above, and also come with a big welcome bonus.
Basically, if you’re in it for the points and only the points, go Scotiabank here. If you’re in it for supporting the community and helping the environment, lean toward Vancity.
Disclosures:
Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Gold American Express® 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.
CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card
4.2
10% back†
Welcome offerGood
Suggested credit scoreGet a first-year annual fee rebate for you and up to three Authorized Users† and earn 10% cash back for the first 4 statements on net purchases of up to $3,000†.
Pros
-
First-year annual fee rebate
-
10% cash back welcome bonus up to $3,000 spend
-
4% cash back on gas, electric vehicle charging and grocery stores
-
2% cash back on transportation, dining and recurring payments
-
High annual spending cap on benefits ($20,000 in bonus categories or $80,000 total)
Cons
-
High income requirement
-
Sparse travel insurance offering
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$60,000†
Required Annual Personal Income
$100,000†
Required Annual Household Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$60,000†
Required Annual Household Income
$100,000†
4%
cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, and grocery purchases.†
2%
cash back on eligible transportation, dining purchases and recurring payments†
1%
cash back on all other purchases†
10 cents
save up to 10 cents per litre† at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations.†
cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, and grocery purchases.†
4%
cash back on eligible transportation, dining purchases and recurring payments†
2%
cash back on all other purchases†
1%
save up to 10 cents per litre† at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations.†
10 cents
20.99%†
Purchase APR non-Quebec residents†
22.99%†
Balance Transfer Rate non-Quebec residents†
22.99%†
Cash Advance APR non-Quebec residents†
$120
Annual Fee First year rebated†. Each additional card is $30 per year, max 3 — first year rebated†
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee
Purchase APR
20.99%†
Balance Transfer Rate
22.99%†
Cash Advance APR
22.99%†
Annual Fee
$120
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
Pros
-
First-year annual fee rebate
-
10% cash back welcome bonus up to $3,000 spend
-
4% cash back on gas, electric vehicle charging and grocery stores
-
2% cash back on transportation, dining and recurring payments
-
High annual spending cap on benefits ($20,000 in bonus categories or $80,000 total)
Cons
-
High income requirement
-
Sparse travel insurance offering
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$60,000†
Required Annual Personal Income
$100,000†
Required Annual Household Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$60,000†
Required Annual Household Income
$100,000†
4%
cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, and grocery purchases.†
2%
cash back on eligible transportation, dining purchases and recurring payments†
1%
cash back on all other purchases†
10 cents
save up to 10 cents per litre† at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations.†
cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, and grocery purchases.†
4%
cash back on eligible transportation, dining purchases and recurring payments†
2%
cash back on all other purchases†
1%
save up to 10 cents per litre† at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations.†
10 cents
20.99%†
Purchase APR non-Quebec residents†
22.99%†
Balance Transfer Rate non-Quebec residents†
22.99%†
Cash Advance APR non-Quebec residents†
$120
Annual Fee First year rebated†. Each additional card is $30 per year, max 3 — first year rebated†
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee
Purchase APR
20.99%†
Balance Transfer Rate
22.99%†
Cash Advance APR
22.99%†
Annual Fee
$120
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
The CIBC Dividend is one of my all-time favourite cash back credit cards, so I wanted it to go head-to-head here. It’s a $120 annual fee card with the first year waived (like Vancity) but it earns 4% cash back on gas and groceries and 2% on dining, which means it can rack up cash like few other cards.
That said, Vancity has an ace up its sleeve here. Because its rewards points retain their value, regardless of what they’re spent on, you can pay off your statement credits as if they were cash, without compromising on their value. If you shop for a ton of gas and groceries, go with CIBC. But if public transit and shopping local are your bread and butter, I think Vancity is worth considering.
Disclosures:
This is a digital-exclusive offer.†
To be eligible for this offer:
1) this offer must have been directly communicated to you from CIBC or from a partner/affiliate; and
2) you must apply for the eligible card through the link provided in the CIBC or partner/affiliate communication to you.†
This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else.
CIBC may approve your application, but you are not eligible to receive this Offer if you have opened, transferred or cancelled another Dividend card within the last 12 months.†
Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertising partners.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
3.3
Up to 70k pts
Welcome offerVery Good
Suggested credit scoreGet up to 70,000 Avion points* (a travel value of up to $1,500†). Apply by January 15th, 2025.
Expires
Jan 15, 2025
Pros
-
Competitive welcome bonus, earned on approval
-
Great insurance coverage
-
1.25 Avion points per dollar spent on eligible purchases
-
Plenty of of bonus perks like lounge access and ski pass
Cons
-
Intimidating, unskippable annual fee
-
High-income barrier, with a very good credit score needed
Eligibility
Very Good
Recommended Credit Score
$200,000
Required Annual Personal Income
$200,000
Required Annual Household Income
Recommended Credit Score
Very Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$200,000
Required Annual Household Income
$200,000
1.25
Avion points for every $1 you spend
6
complimentary global airport lounge access passes ($375 value^).
3¢/L
savings at Petro-Canada and always earn 20% more Avion points
50
Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall
20%
savings at Hertz and earn 3x the Avion points
$0
delivery fees for 12 months from DoorDash
Avion points for every $1 you spend
1.25
complimentary global airport lounge access passes ($375 value^).
6
savings at Petro-Canada and always earn 20% more Avion points
3¢/L
Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall
50
savings at Hertz and earn 3x the Avion points
20%
delivery fees for 12 months from DoorDash
$0
20.99%
Purchase APR
22.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.99%
Cash Advance APR 21.99% if you reside in Quebec
$399
Annual Fee
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee
Purchase APR
20.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$399
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
Pros
-
Competitive welcome bonus, earned on approval
-
Great insurance coverage
-
1.25 Avion points per dollar spent on eligible purchases
-
Plenty of of bonus perks like lounge access and ski pass
Cons
-
Intimidating, unskippable annual fee
-
High-income barrier, with a very good credit score needed
Eligibility
Very Good
Recommended Credit Score
$200,000
Required Annual Personal Income
$200,000
Required Annual Household Income
Recommended Credit Score
Very Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$200,000
Required Annual Household Income
$200,000
1.25
Avion points for every $1 you spend
6
complimentary global airport lounge access passes ($375 value^).
3¢/L
savings at Petro-Canada and always earn 20% more Avion points
50
Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall
20%
savings at Hertz and earn 3x the Avion points
$0
delivery fees for 12 months from DoorDash
Avion points for every $1 you spend
1.25
complimentary global airport lounge access passes ($375 value^).
6
savings at Petro-Canada and always earn 20% more Avion points
3¢/L
Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall
50
savings at Hertz and earn 3x the Avion points
20%
delivery fees for 12 months from DoorDash
$0
20.99%
Purchase APR
22.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.99%
Cash Advance APR 21.99% if you reside in Quebec
$399
Annual Fee
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee
Purchase APR
20.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$399
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
Another Visa Infinite card, another close comparison. This one is pretty easily solved though. Do you like to travel more than staying at home? The Avion card is squarely aimed at those who prefer to do their shopping abroad, while the Vancity card is for those who do their shopping locally.
| Feature | Vancity enviro Visa Infinite* | RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 | $399 |
| Welcome offer | N/A | Get up to 70,000 Avion points* (a travel value of up to $1,500†). Apply by January 15th, 2025. |
| Insurance | Solid | Excellent |
| Benefits | Plenty of perks for local shoppers and environmentally conscious folks | Great travel rewards |
Disclosures:
Refer to RBC page for up to date offer terms and conditions.
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Is the Vancity enviro Visa Infinite* Card worth it?
If you want a credit card that you feel just a little less guilty about spending on, I absolutely do think the Vancity enviro Visa Infinite* is worth it. It’s a feel-good financial product and those are pretty darn rare in my experience. If you’re a point min-maxer who doesn’t shop local, maybe skip this one.
Vancity enviro Visa Infinite* Card eligibility criteria
- Must be 19 years old and up
- Need to live in British Columbia and have a BC address
- Need $60,000 a year in personal income, $60,000 in household income or $250,000 in investable funds
FAQs
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.
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