Scotiabank Gold American Express Card Review
- Welcome Offer
- 65,000 points
- Rewards
- Up to 6x points per $1 spent
- Annual Fee
- $120
- Purchase Interest Rate
- 21.99%
- Cash Advance Rate
- 22.99%
Our verdict
Travel and spend in style with all the premium perks this card has to offer.
If you want to earn Scene+ points up to 6x faster, then the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card might be the right fit for you. It's one of the rare credit cards that comes with no foreign transaction fees plus a generous range of complimentary travel benefits, fuel savings at Shell gas stations and more.
Best for: Frequent flyers who want to avoid foreign transaction fees and earn accelerated Scene+ points on everyday spending.
Pros
-
Earn up to 6x points per $1 spent
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Welcome bonus includes up to 65,000 bonus Scene+ points
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No foreign transaction fees
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Airport lounge access, insurance and other travel perks
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Up to 12¢/L in value at Shell Canada
Cons
-
$120 annual fee (waivable with an eligible Scotiabank bank account)
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$29 annual fee per supplementary card
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Extra fee for optional Scotia Credit Card Protection (SCCP)
The basics
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card lets you earn up to 6 Scene+ points on everyday purchases and helps keep travel costs down with 0% foreign transaction fees, complimentary travel insurance, car rental discounts and more.
Airport lounge access, 24/7 concierge service and exclusive Amex offers add a special touch for frequent spenders and jet-setters who want a card with premium perks.
The perks
- Welcome bonus. Earn up to $1,100 in first-year value, including up to 65,000 bonus Scene+ points. Apply by January 3, 2027
- Accelerated Scene+ points. Earn 6 Scene+ points per $1 at participating grocery stores (Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more), 5 Scene+ points per $1 on other eligible grocery stores, dining, food delivery, food subscriptions and eligible entertainment (including movies, theatre and ticket agencies), 1 Scene+ point per $1 on eligible travel (plus an extra 3 Scene+ points per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia), 3 Scene+ points per $1 on eligible gas, transit and streaming services and 1 Scene+ point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- Flexible redemption. Redeem your Scene+ points for travel, groceries, dining, entertainment (including Cineplex, The Rec Room and Playdium), account credit, gift cards or online shopping via Scene+ Rakuten.
- No foreign transaction fees. The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card comes with a 0% currency conversion fee.
- Complimentary travel insurance. Enjoy peace of mind with a broad range of complimentary travel insurance coverage, including Travel Emergency Medical (up to $1,000,000 for all insured people combined), Trip Cancellation and Interruption, Flight Delay, Delayed or Lost Luggage, Common Carrier Travel Accident, Rental Car Collision/Loss Damage and Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance.
- Airport lounge access. Access over 1,200 lounges around the world with a discounted Priority Pass membership.
- Car rental discounts. Get a discount of up to 25% at participating Budget and AVIS car rental locations in Canada and the US.
- Shell gas savings. Link your Scotiabank Gold American Express Card to your Shell Go+ Account to save 3¢/L on fuel at Shell gas stations plus earn 5¢/L in Scene+ points value. Until June 1, 2027, save an additional 4¢/L by filling up with Shell V-Power premium fuel. That’s a total value of up to 12¢/L.
- Purchase Security and Extended Warranty Protection. Most new purchases made with your card are insured against theft, loss or damage for 90 days from the date of purchase. Charge the full cost of most items to your card to double the original manufacturer’s warranty for up to one year. Conditions apply.
- Mobile Device Insurance. Eligible mobile devices may be insured against loss, theft or accidental damage for up to $1,000.
- Amex perks. Get early access to tickets, reservations, reserved seating and exclusive offers for shopping, dining, travel and more.
- 24/7 concierge service. Round-the-clock concierge services are available to help with travel, event, entertainment and lifestyle inquiries.
What to watch for
- Annual fee. The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card comes with a $120 annual fee for the primary cardholder (waivable if you also have an eligible Scotiabank chequing account) and a $29 annual fee for each supplementary card.
- Extra fee for balance protection. Pay extra for optional Scotia Credit Card Protection (SCCP), which helps cover your balance or monthly payments in case of unexpected life events, such as death, critical illness, hospitalization, disability, job loss, strikes or lockouts.
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card interest rates
| Interest Type | Interest Rate |
|---|---|
| Purchase interest rate | 21.99% |
| Cash advance rate | 22.99% |
What should I know before I apply?
Make sure you satisfy the eligibility requirements for the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card before you apply, and be prepared to provide basic personal, contact and employment information.
Eligibility requirements
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Be at least the age of majority in your province or territory.
- Have an annual income of $12,000 or higher.
How to apply
- and select Apply now.
- Sign in to Scotiabank’s online banking platform, or select the option to apply as a new client.
- Complete the online application process, which should only take around 15 minutes. If approved, you could receive your new credit card in the mail in 7–10 business days.
Bottom line on the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is well-suited to travellers who are looking for 0% foreign transaction fees and plenty of perks while abroad, including airport lounge access and complimentary travel insurance.
Additionally, frequent spenders will enjoy the generous welcome bonus of up to 65,000 points and the chance to earn up to 6 Scene+ points on many types of everyday purchases.
But if you want to avoid the $120 annual fee, or you want to earn cash back instead of rewards points, check out Scotiabank’s other credit cards.
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