Metal credit cards in Canada

A couple of years ago, you needed to have a big investment portfolio, a million dollar annual income or a huge net worth to get a metal credit card in Canada. However, American Express has recently revamped one of its charge cards and it’s now available in metal. Koho has also released a metal Visa card that can be used with any of its accounts. Here are some of the most popular metal credit cards, which also happen to be the heaviest credit cards in Canada.

What is a metal card?

Metal credit cards are credit cards that are literally made from metal and usually offer accelerated rewards on travel and experiences, as well as access to prestigious banking benefits. While our neighbours to the south have metal credit cards that come with no annual fees, there are currently only a few offered in Canada, and most of them come with pretty unattainable eligibility requirements for the average person – with the exception of two: The Platinum Card from American Express and the limited edition Koho Metal Card, a metal Visa card.

Compare metal credit cards in Canada

Sort by:

Name	Product	Welcome Offer	Rewards	Purchase Interest Rate	Annual Fee		Min. Credit Score	Description
The Platinum Card from American Express		50,000 points	Up to 3 points per $1 spent	N/A	$699	Apply now More Info	Min. recommended credit score: 700	Earn 50,000 Welcome Bonus points when you charge $3,000 to your card in the first 3 months.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

loading

Load More

Compare up to 4 providers

Clear selection

Compare

Compare prepaid metal Visa card options in Canada

Sort by:

Name	Product	Monthly fee	Cost per transaction	Foreign transaction fee	Rewards with this card
KOHO Prepaid Visa card		$0	$0	1.5%	0.5% cash back	Use promo code FINDERCODE and receive a bonus of an additional 1% cash back for the first 90 days after activation (on top of the regular 0.5%, for a total of 1.5% cash back).	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
KOHO Joint Prepaid Card		$0	$0	1.5%	0.5% cash back	Use promo code FINDERCODE and receive a bonus of an additional 1% cash back for the first 90 days after activation (on top of the regular 0.5%, for a total of 1.5% cash back).	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
KOHO Premium Prepaid Card		$9/month or $84 annually	$0	0%	Up to 2% cash back	Earn 2% cash back on transportation, grocery and restaurant purchases. Plus, get a 30 day free trial. Use promo code FINDERCODE and receive a bonus of an additional 1% cash back for the first 90 days after activation (on top of the regular 0.5% for other purchases, for a total of 1.5% cash back).	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

loading

Compare up to 4 providers

Clear selection

Compare

Metal credit cards

How to get metal credit card in Canada

For the more prestigious metal credit cards offered in Canada, you’ll need to have investments over $1 million, a massively high net worth and you’ll likely need to be a big spender. When it comes to The Platinum Card from American Express, you’ll need a good to excellent credit score and an ability to pay off your balance in full each month – not to mention a desire to pay $699 annually for the card.

How to destroy a metal credit card

Destroying a metal credit card takes more time than simply cutting up a plastic card. Here’s how to do it:

Return the metal card to your provider

Some banks may provide you with an envelope to return your metal credit card for disposal. The bank may send the envelope either when sending you a replacement card or upon request. Alternatively, you can visit a bank branch and leave your card there.

This is by far the easiest way to scrap your metal credit card. But if you acquired your card from an online provider, your only option may be to destroy the card.

How to destroy a metal card

Most metal cards in Canada are coated with plastic, which holds the account information. Because of that, it’s important you destroy the plastic layer. But before you proceed, check if the card is made of a thin metal layer. If it is, you can simply cut it with tin snips. If not, carefully and safely do the following:

1. Destroy the EMV chip. You can either use scissors to pierce the chip or you can press your thumb on the back of the card behind the chip and push until the chip starts to come off. If it doesn’t come off, use any sharp metal object to help pry it off. Once out, destroy the chip with scissors.
2. Remove your name and card number. Use a lighter to heat up the plastic layer. The more you heat it the easier it is to peel it off with scissors or any sharp metal object.
3. Destroy any carvings on the metal. If any numbers or names remain on the metal, use sandpaper or a sharp metal object to grind them away until they’re unreadable.
4. Demagnetize the strip. If the magstripe is intact, put a refrigerator magnet on it and leave it there for an hour. After that, swipe it several times across the magnetic stripe.
5. Cover the signature area. Use a permanent marker to make the signature area unreadable.

But if you no longer want to keep your card or if it expired, your bank will either send a return envelope or you’ll have to destroy it yourself. If you go for the second option, make sure the plastic coating is destroyed and any information remaining on the metal is unreadable.

Take a look at our detailed guide to credit cards to learn more about fees, interest rates and how to narrow down your options to find the right card for you.

Is a metal credit card worth it?

Metal credit cards gained popularity because they look and feel luxurious. After all, once you put the metal card on the counter it tends to get noticed. However, metal cards are heavier than plastic and they can weigh down your wallet — especially if you have more than one card. Also, depending on which metal is used in their production, they could trigger airport metal detectors.

However, the material of your credit card shouldn’t be your only criteria. If you find that a certain card isn’t a good fit for you, it won’t matter much if it’s metal or plastic.

That said, the most exclusive and prestigious credit cards in Canada are likely the ones listed above – which are all metal.

What are the heaviest credit cards?

If your wallet is full of plastic credit cards, it should be relatively light as plastic cards on average weigh around five grams. But if you carry one or more metal cards, your wallet will suddenly be quite hefty. Here are some of the heaviest credit cards in Canada:

What are the heaviest credit cards made of?

Most metal cards are made using a variety of metals and alloys, including brass, copper and stainless steel. Most of these cards are coated with a plastic layer, which holds valuable credit card account information.

Bottom line on metal credit cards in Canada

Most metal cards offered in Canada are still generally exclusive to high-income earners, big spenders and investors. Most of these cards offer big rewards on travel and dining, concierge services, airport lounge access and incredibly comprehensive insurance packages, however, there are plenty of other credit cards in Canada that offer similar features with much lower annual fees –not to mention the eligibility criteria for these cards are actually attainable for the average person.

If you’re scratching your head in disbelief at the eligibility criteria for most of the above metal credit cards, you’re not looking to pay a high annual fee for a charge card from Amex, or you missed out on the Koho metal card, you might want to consider other rewards credit cards.

A metal credit card represents prestige for good reason. On average, the heaviest credit cards weigh around 15 grams, come with a high annual fee and offer premium perks. Getting one of the heaviest credit cards could be worth considering if you’re looking for a premium travel option. Just make sure paying the annual fee is worth it. Otherwise, it’ll just weigh down your wallet.

If you think a heavy credit card or metal credit card may not be a good choice for you, but you still want premium perks, compare the luxury credit cards until you find the right fit for your wallet.

Frequently asked questions about metal credit cards in Canada

• What are metal credit cards made of?

  There’s a variety of materials used in building metal cards, including brass, copper, stainless steel and even gold and palladium. Some cards are made from alloys, and the majority of metal credit cards are coated with plastic.

• What credit score will I need to get a metal credit card?

  You’ll likely need an excellent credit score of 800 or higher for the more prestigious metal cards. You may be able to apply for The Platinum Card from American Express with a good to excellent credit score of 650 or higher. Learn more about credit scores in our guide here.

• What are the perks that often come with the heaviest cards?

  You can often get an airport lounge access, dedicated concierge service, travel credit, elite status, a generous signup bonus and more.

• Are metal credit cards easy to destroy?

  It depends on the card. But the easiest way to dispose of your metal credit card is to return it to the bank that issued your metal credit card.

• Can you get a metal debit card in Canada?

  No, there are currently no options to find a metal debit card in Canada, but you can get a prepaid metal credit card from Koho, the Koho Metal Card. Read our full review of the Koho Metal Card here and explore all three colourway options.

• Is there a correlation between weight and price?

  Not necessarily. The lightest card on our list, the Centurion Card from American Express, weighs only 14 grams but has a rumoured annual fee of around $2,500. The second lightest card, the Koho Metal Card, weighs 16 grams but has a low annual fee of $159. The card’s pricing has more to do with its perks. The Centurion Card from American Express comes with a myriad of perks, while the Koho Metal card doesn’t offer its cardholders very much beyond the experience of having a metal card, but you do save on annual bank fees.