Scotiabank Debit Card Review

The Scotiabank Debit Card is an everyday debit card that lets you enjoy a number of unique credit card features from Visa. While it’s not a credit card, you can use this card to shop online. It will also let you earn points wherever you shop if you register for a SCENE or Scotiabank Passport Debit Card. You’ll be signed up for a Scotiabank Debit Card automatically when you open most Scotiabank chequing or savings accounts.

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• Think about this card if you’re looking to earn rewards or you’d like to be able to make payments online without a credit card.

• Choose something else if you want access to direct credit or you would rather shop with a Debit Mastercard (some vendors, such as Costco, don’t accept Visa).

Types of Scotiabank debit cards

There are three main types of Scotiabank debit cards to choose from, depending on what types of rewards you want to collect.

• The ScotiaCard with Visa Debit. It seems that the ScotiaCard with Visa Debit is the only debit card that doesn’t offer a return on rewards. This is likely the default card that gets issued unless you specifically request a SCENE or Passport Debit Card.
• The SCENE ScotiaCard with Visa Debit. Earn 1 SCENE point for every $5 you spend on debit purchases. These points can be redeemed for movies and other rewards with participating Cineplex theatres.
• The Passport ScotiaCard with Visa Debit. Earn 1 SCENE point for every $5 you spend on debit purchases. These points can then be redeemed for merchandise, travel and other rewards at scotiarewards.com.

The basics

If you’re in the market for a debit card that lets you earn points and shop online, you may want to sign up for a Scotiabank Debit Card.

• Tap payments. Pay for purchases on the go when you tap your card at Interac Flash-enabled terminals.
• Shop internationally. Use your Scotiabank Debit Card to make purchases online or in-person when you shop or travel in the USA or internationally.
• Pay for recurring bills. Sign up for recurring bill payments for your Internet, phone, streaming services and more using your Scotiabank Debit Card.
• Free Scotiabank ATM withdrawals. Use your Scotiabank Debit Card to withdraw cash at Scotiabank ATMs for free (or pay a fee at non-Scotiabank and international ATMs).
• Earn rewards. Earn points that you can put towards travel and entertainment for making everyday purchases with your Scotiabank SCENE or Scotiabank Passport Debit Card.

The perks

• Fee-free transactions. You won’t pay fees on your Scotiabank Debit Card long as you avoid exceeding the transaction limits of your banking plan.
• Easy mobile banking. Manage your money on the go with Scotiabank’s simple online and mobile banking platform.
• Overdraft protection available. Protect yourself from having to pay fees for non-sufficient funds (NSF) with overdraft protection on your Scotiabank Debit Card.
• Zero-liability coverage. Rest easy knowing you’re protected against fraudulent charges on your Scotiabank Debit Card with zero-liability coverage.
• Can be linked to mobile wallet. Link your Scotiabank Debit Card to your mobile phone using Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.

What to watch out for

• Transaction limits. You may be required to adhere to daily spending limits.
• Foreign transaction fees. You’ll pay an additional fee of 2.5% in foreign transaction fees on any amount of money you spend overseas.
• No access to credit. This card is strictly a debit card and won’t give you access to any balance that you don’t already have in your bank account.
• No return on points for some cards. You won’t earn points on your Scotiabank Debit Card unless you sign up for the Scotiabank SCENE or the Scotiabank Passport Debit Card.

What should I know before I apply?

Eligibility requirements

You won’t need to apply for a Scotiabank Debit Card because you’ll get one automatically if you meet the following criteria:

• You’re a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or temporary resident of Canada.
• You’re applying for a Scotiabank chequing or savings account that qualifies for this card.

Required documents and information

To sign up for an eligible Scotiabank account, you’ll need to provide:

• Your name, residential status and contact information
• Your Social Insurance Number and date of birth
• Your email address and phone number

How to apply

1. Visit Scotiabank’s main page to apply for the chequing or savings account of your choice.
2. Complete the application, which includes providing your name, email address, Social Insurance Number and birth date.
3. Review and submit your application.
4. Your Scotiabank Debit Visa should come automatically included with your account once you sign up, though you may need to specify if you want a regular ScotiaCard, Scotiabank SCENE Card or a Scotiabank Passport Debit Card.

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Bottom line

The Scotiabank Debit Card offers a combination of benefits to enrich your banking experience. These include card features such as online payments, zero-liability protection and a return on points with some debit cards. You’ll automatically be registered for a Scotiabank Debit Card when you sign up for a chequing or savings account, and you can start spending money online as soon as you pick up your card at a branch or get it in the mail.

Comprehensive guide to debit cards

Frequently asked questions about the Scotiabank Debit Card

• Is the Scotiabank Debit Visa a credit card?

  No. It’s a debit card with certain features that are similar to a credit card. For example, you can use it to pay for purchases online, and you may even be able to earn points when you make purchases, depending on which debit card you have.

• What are the daily limits on the Scotiabank Debit Card?

  The daily limits will vary based on your account. You can find out more about your Scotiabank Debit Card’s daily limits by signing into your online banking, clicking on “Manage my accounts” and selecting “Manage ScotiaCard and account access”. From your mobile banking, just tap profile on the home screen, select settings and then “View transaction limits.”

• Are there any Scotiabank Debit Card promotions available?

  Unfortunately, no. Scotiabank promotions aren’t linked to the Scotiabank Debit Card. Instead, they’re directly linked to the account you sign up for. For example, you might get a $300 sign-up bonus when you register for the Scotiabank Ultimate or Preferred Package. Your Scotiabank Debit Card is separate from this promotion.

• Will I need to pay fees on my Scotiabank Debit Card?

  No. There aren’t any fees that you’ll have to pay for using your card. However, you may have to pay bank account fees if you exceed your transaction limits on your Scotiabank plan. You may also have to pay international fees if you take money out at ATMs or use your Scotiabank Debit Card overseas.

• Can I use my Scotiabank Debit Card online?

  You can definitely use your Scotiabank Debit Card online wherever Visa Debit is accepted. This gives you access to hundreds of vendors across Canada. You’ll also be able to use your Scotiabank Debit Card overseas wherever Visa is accepted.

• Can I use my Scotiabank Debit Card in the USA?

  You definitely can, though it will cost you more to make purchases. This is because you’ll have to pay for currency conversion and you’ll also pay an additional 2.5% in foreign exchange fees to use your Scotiabank Debit Card to make purchases in the USA.

• How can I check my SCENE points on my Scotiabank Debit Card?

  You can check your SCENE points on your Scotiabank Debit Card (if you have a SCENE Debit) by signing into your SCENE account. Your Scotiabank Debit Card should be linked to your SCENE account so any points you collect will show up here.