Scotiabank credit cards offer a range of features for most financial situations. Whether you’re looking for rewards in the form of cash back or points per dollar spent, or you’re looking to save money with a low rate, no annual fee or student credit card, there’s a best Scotiabank credit card for you.
Depending on your spending habits, you can select a Scotia credit card that allows you to reap rewards from your spending and receive benefits like points, insurances or cash back dollars that you can use.
What are the best Scotiabank credit cards in Canada?
The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card helps you earn a relatively high rate of cash back on most everyday purchases. Earn 4% cash back for every $1 spent on eligible grocery purchases & recurring bill payments, 2% per $1 spent on eligible gas purchases & public transit, and 1% per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases. Earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 spend). Plus, pay no annual fee in the first year. Apply by October 31, 2024. The card also offers a great suite of travel insurance benefits, an introductory balance transfer rate and exclusive offers on dining and entertainment – just watch out for the annual fee of $120.
Rewards points. Earn 4% cash back for every $1 spent on eligible grocery purchases & recurring bill payments, 2% per $1 spent on eligible gas purchases & public transit, and 1% per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
Earn more. Earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 spend). Plus, pay no annual fee in the first year. Apply by October 31, 2024.
Trip coverage. Pay for your flight with your card and get complimentary insurance for emergency medical situations up to $1,000,000, trip interruptions and cancellations, flight delays, lost and delayed baggage.
Purchase coverage. You won't be held liable for fraudulent charges on your account with Zero Liability coverage.
Annual fee. This card has an annual fee of $120.
Currency conversion. When you spend overseas, you'll face a foreign transaction fee of 2.5%.
Minimum income requirement. In order to qualify for this card you must have a personal income of at least $60,000 or a household income of $100,000 or higher.
Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($120 thereafter)
Purchase APR
20.99%
Cash Advance Rate
22.99%
Balance transfer APR
22.99%
Welcome offer
Earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 spend). Plus, pay no annual fee in the first year. Apply by October 31, 2024.
Rewards
Earn 4% cash back for every $1 spent on eligible grocery purchases & recurring bill payments, 2% per $1 spent on eligible gas purchases & public transit, and 1% per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
Best for earning rewards: Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is a powerful everyday credit card as well as a strong travel companion. Earn 6 Scene+ points for every $1 you spend in Canada at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more, 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent on eligible grocery, dining and entertainment purchases, 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transportation and select streaming services, and 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on eligible purchases elsewhere. Book and redeem any flight for any time through Scotia Rewards Travel Service, a full-service travel agency. Plus, take advantage of the Best Price Guarantee on airfare. Plus, enjoy peace of mind with a broad array of travel insurance options.
Bonus rewards. Earn up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points in your first year (that's up to $650 towards travel). Apply by July 1, 2024. To qualify for the 40,000 bonus Scene+ points offer, earn 20,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, earn a 20,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $7,500 in purchases in your first year.
Earn rewards. Earn 6 Scene+ points for every $1 you spend in Canada at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more, 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent on eligible grocery, dining and entertainment purchases, 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transportation and select streaming services, and 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on eligible purchases elsewhere.
Currency conversion. This card comes with a 0% foreign transaction fee.
Travel coverage. Enjoy peace of mind with a broad array of travel insurance options including Emergency Medical, Travel Accident, Trip Cancellation and Interruption, Flight Delay, Delayed or Lost Baggage and Rental Car Collision Loss/Damage.
Travel perks. Book and redeem any flight for any time through Scotia Rewards Travel Service, a full-service travel agency. Plus, take advantage of the Best Price Guarantee on airfare.
Other perks. American Express rewards including early ticket access, discounts and invites to exclusive events.
Annual fee. This card has an annual fee of $120.
Minimum income requirement. You'll need to earn a minimum income of $12,000 a year to be eligible for this card.
Annual Fee
$120
Purchase APR
20.99%
Cash Advance Rate
22.99%
Balance transfer APR
22.99%
Welcome offer
Earn up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points in your first year (that's up to $650 towards travel). Apply by July 1, 2024. To qualify for the 40,000 bonus Scene+ points offer, earn 20,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, earn a 20,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $7,500 in purchases in your first year.
Rewards
Earn 6 Scene+ points for every $1 you spend in Canada at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more, 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent on eligible grocery, dining and entertainment purchases, 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transportation and select streaming services, and 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on eligible purchases elsewhere.
Best for travel perks: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card offers a sizeable welcome bonus along with a high rewards point earn rate. Earn up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points and get the first year annual fee waived (that’s up to $1,300 in value in the first 12 months). Apply by July 1, 2024. Earn 30,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, earn an annual 10,000 Scene+ points when you spend at least $40,000 in purchases annually. This card also comes with a full suite of travel insurance (including trip cancellation and lost baggage insurance) and other perks like a complimentary DragonPass membership plus 6 free visits per year to over 1,000 airport lounges globally.
Rewards points. Earn 3 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more, 2 Scene+ points for every $1 spent on eligible grocery store, dining, entertainment and daily transit purchases, and earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent elsewhere.
Bonus. Earn up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points and get the first year annual fee waived (that’s up to $1,300 in value in the first 12 months). Apply by July 1, 2024.
Travel insurance. Get up to $1,000,000 in Emergency Medical Insurance. Plus, get trip cancellation, trip interruption and travel accident insurance for free when you charge at least 75% of your trip costs to your card. Benefits also include coverage for flight delays, rental car collision loss/damage, hotel/motel burglaries and delayed or lost baggage.
Car rental perks. Get up to 25% car rental discount + complimentary upgrades for Avis Preferred Plus members at participating Avis locations in Canada and the US. Plus get Rental Car Collision/Loss Damage Insurance coverage (up to $65,000).
Travel perks. Receive complimentary membership in the Visa Airport Companion Program plus 6 free visits per year to over 1,200 airport lounges around the world.
Annual fee. This card has an annual fee of $150.
Minimum income requirement. You'll need a minimum income of at least $60,000, or combined household income of $100,000, to qualify for this card.
Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($150 thereafter)
Purchase APR
20.99%
Cash Advance Rate
22.99%
Balance transfer APR
22.99%
Welcome offer
Earn up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points and get the first year annual fee waived (that’s up to $1,300 in value in the first 12 months). Apply by July 1, 2024. Earn 30,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, earn an annual 10,000 Scene+ points when you spend at least $40,000 in purchases annually.
Rewards
Earn 3 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more, 2 Scene+ points for every $1 spent on eligible grocery store, dining, entertainment and daily transit purchases, and earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent elsewhere.
Best low interest card: Scotiabank Value Visa Card
With no cash back or rewards points, the Scotiabank Value Visa Card doesn't come with a lot of extra perks – but it can be a great tool for saving money. Get a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months. Plus, pay no annual fee in the first year. Apply by October 31, 2024.
Interest rate. Low purchase and cash advance interest rates of 12.99%.
Initial balance transfer rate.
Continual balance transfer rate. Once the promotional balance transfer period ends, any unpaid balance will incur the low rate of 12.99%.
Annual fee. This card has an annual fee of $29.
Card perks. Don't expect to earn any cash back or reward points with the Scotiabank Value Visa Card.
Currency conversion rate. This card has a foreign transaction fee of 2.5%.
Annual fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($29 thereafter)
Purchase APR
12.99%
Balance transfer APR
0% intro for the first 6 months (then 12.99% )
Balance transfer fee
$3.50
Rewards
Get an on-going low interest rate of 12.99% on eligible purchases.
Best for entertainment and restaurants: Scotiabank SCENE+ Visa Card
If you've have no credit history and are looking for a rewards card with a $0 annual fee, the Scotiabank SCENE+ Visa Card is worth taking a look at – especially if you're a big movie buff. Earn 2 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland & Participating Co-ops, FreshCo and more. Plus, earn 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent at participating Cineplex theatres or cineplex.com, and earn 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on eligible purchases elsewhere. Redeem your SCENE points for movie tickets or take advantage of discounts at participating restaurants.
Annual fee. This card has a $0 annual fee.
Rewards points. Earn 2 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland & Participating Co-ops, FreshCo and more. Plus, earn 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent at participating Cineplex theatres or cineplex.com, and earn 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on eligible purchases elsewhere. Redeem points for free movies and discounts at participating restaurants.
Additional cardholders. Pay $0 to add another authorized user to your account, so you can rack up points faster.
Earn more. Earn up to 7,500 Scene+ points in the first 3 months. Apply by July 1, 2024.
Rental cars. Get a discount of up to 25% off at participating Budget and AVIS car rental locations in both Canada and the US..
Extra insurance available. Optional insurance is available (for a fee) to help pay down your balance if you become critically ill, disabled or can't work due to job loss, strikes or lockouts. If you pass away or get diagnosed with a Covered Critical Illness, your card balance can be paid off up to $10,000.00 or $50,000.00 depending on the coverage type. Terms apply.
Missed payment fee. You'll be charged a 24.99% rate on any missed payments.
Foreign conversion fee. Every time you charge a purchase to your card in a foreign currency, you'll incur a 2.5% fee.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
19.99%
Cash Advance Rate
22.99%
Balance transfer APR
22.99%
Welcome offer
Earn up to 7,500 Scene+ points in the first 3 months. Apply by July 1, 2024.
Rewards
Earn 2 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland & Participating Co-ops, FreshCo and more. Plus, earn 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent at participating Cineplex theatres or cineplex.com, and earn 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on eligible purchases elsewhere.
Best for no annual fee: Scotiabank American Express Card
For a card with a $0 annual fee, the Scotiabank American Express Card offers great value like the opportunity to earn points that can be redeemed for thousands of rewards through the Scene+ points program. Earn 3 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more, 2 Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible grocery, dining, entertainment, gas, daily transit and select streaming services purchases Plus, earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on on all other eligible everyday purchases. Most items purchased with this card are eligible for price protection as well as purchase security and extended warranty protection. Cardholders also get travel perks.
Signup bonus. Earn up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points. Earn 2,500 bonus Scene+ points when you make $250 in everyday purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, earn 5,000 Scene+ points when you spend $1,000 in everyday purchases in the first 3 months. Apply by July 1, 2024.
No annual fee. This card comes with a $0 annual fee.
Reward points. Earn 3 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more, 2 Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible grocery, dining, entertainment, gas, daily transit and select streaming services purchases Plus, earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on on all other eligible everyday purchases.
Travel insurance coverage. Get up to $1,000,000 Travel Emergency Medical coverage for up to 8 consecutive days if you're under 65 years old or up to 3 consecutive days if you're 65+. Pus, enjoy coverage for Travel Accidents, Trip Interruptions and Rental Car Collision Loss/Damage.
Car rental perks. Get up to 25% discount at participating Budget and AVIS car rental locations in Canada and the US.
Foreign transaction fee. This card has a foreign transaction fee of 2.5%This will apply on any overseas purchases or any purchases made online with an international retailer.
Minimum credit limit. The credit limit for this card starts at $1,000, so it may not be suitable if you want a card with very restrictive spending.
Minimum income requirement. You'll need to earn a personal income of at least $12,000 to be eligible for this card.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
19.99%
Cash Advance Rate
22.99%
Balance transfer APR
22.99%
Welcome offer
Earn up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points. Earn 2,500 bonus Scene+ points when you make $250 in everyday purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, earn 5,000 Scene+ points when you spend $1,000 in everyday purchases in the first 3 months. Apply by July 1, 2024.
Rewards
Earn 3 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more, 2 Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible grocery, dining, entertainment, gas, daily transit and select streaming services purchases Plus, earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on on all other eligible everyday purchases.
We’ve chosen the Scotia credit cards on this page based on the cards available through Finder. These cards are not representative of the entire market. We’ve narrowed down our top picks by considering rewards points, cash back, annual fees, interest rates, balance transfer offers and additional card benefits like signup bonuses.
No single credit card will be the best choice for everyone, so compare your options before picking your new card.
Scotiabank offers a variety of credit cards, including rewards, travel, no annual fee, low interest rate, student and cash back credit cards. Here’s a summary of each of the main types of credit cards you can choose from that are available at Scotiabank:
Travel Rewards credit cards
Cash back Rewards credit cards
Rewards credit cards
No Annual Fee credit cards
Low Interest Rate credit cards
Student credit cards
US dollar credit cards
The benefits of Scotia cards
Some of the features you can enjoy with Scotiabank credit cards include:
Scotiabank rewards
With a Scotiabank credit card, you typically earn 1 point per $1-2 spent on your credit card. You can then use your Scotiabank rewards points to purchase merchandise through the online store or use them toward travel related products or services. Cash back Rewards cards offer up to 10% cash back on eligible purchases.
Scotiabank Internet and mobile banking
If you have a Scotiabank credit card, you can access your account through the secure Scotia OnLine banking link located on the website. Furthermore, you can download the Scotiabank app to your smartphone and access your accounts that way too. With these convenient options, you can manage your account, pay bills, send transfers to other accounts in Canada and overseas, request a credit limit increase or apply for another Scotiabank product at any time online or via the handy mobile app.
Scotiabank credit card complimentary extras
Most Scotiabank credit cards come with purchase security and extended warranty protection. Premium cards, including black, gold and platinum credit cards, come with additional complimentary extras which may include travel insurance, car rental and collision insurance, airport lounge access, concierge services and other luxury travel benefits.
Scotiabank credit cards security
Scotiabank have a few different security protocols in place including chip technology, purchase protection and extended warranty protection. Furthermore, Scotiabank will contact you immediately if there is any unusual or suspicious activity on your credit card account. If you are the victim of fraud, Scotiabank have a team on hand that help you restore your bank balance and financial information.
How to apply for Scotiabank credit cards
If you’ve done your own research and have decided you’d like to apply for a Scotiabank credit card, you can begin your secure online application by clicking on the green “Go to site” button for the credit card you’re interested in. This button will take you to a secure Scotiabank credit card application page, where you will be able to begin the application process if you have all of the necessary documents and details on hand.
Before you get started on your application, ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for the specific credit card that you are interested in. Eligibility requirements typically vary between credit cards and providers, but generally include the following:
Scotiabank credit card requirements and eligibility
How old are you? You should be at least the age of majority in your province or territory to apply for your own credit card, which is usually 18 years old.
What is your Canadian residency status? You usually need to be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada to apply for a Canadian credit card.
What is your credit history like? Ideally, you should have a good to excellent credit score and no recent evidence of defaults or bankruptcy. Some cards will accept fair to poor credit, however check with the provider on the specific card before you apply if you have less than good credit.
Information you will need for your application
If you meet the eligibility requirements for the Scotiabank credit card, you can then proceed with your application by gathering the following information:
Personal information. You’ll need to provide personal information such as your address and your contact information. You’ll also need to verify your identity by providing an accepted form of identification, such as your driver’s licence number or passport number.
Financial information. You will need to detail information about your current employment, income and assets like shares or property and your employer’s contact details. If you’re self-employed, you may need to provide information regarding your expenses, liabilities and your accountant’s contact information.
Scotiabank offers a host of different credit cards that suit different spending habits and financial situations. Before you apply for a credit card with Scotiabank, do your own research, compare different cards and providers and find a credit card that you can reap rewards from, whether that is paying a low interest rate or getting travel rewards.
Scotiabank credit card FAQs
We’ve curated a list of the most frequently asked questions about Scotiabank credit cards. If you can’t find the answer to your question here, or if you’d like to leave us some feedback, get in touch with us using the form at the bottom of this page.
You can activate your credit card by calling the toll free number on the sticker which is located on the front side of the credit card.
You can access the secure Scotiabank OnLine banking facility by navigating to the Scotiabank website and logging in from the main page. The log in button is located in the top right hand corner of the page. Alternatively, you can download the Scotiabank mobile app and access your online banking via your smartphone.
If you have a balance on your Scotiabank credit card, interest will be calculated daily and charged monthly. Interest rates in Canada vary greatly, and can be as low as 0% (for balance transfer credit cards) or as high as 36%. Typical interest rates sit between 19.99% – 27.99%.
The best Scotia credit card for you really depends on what you're looking for in a credit card. Based on Finder's research, here are the best Scotiabank credit cards in Canada
You can choose to receive paper statements in the mail or you can receive email notifications if you bank online. You can always check your balance via the Scotia OnLine banking site or through the Scotiabank mobile app.
You will automatically be sent a new credit card in the mail.
Scotiabank offers a variety of other products and services including Scotia iTrade, savings accounts, chequing accounts and borrowing options, insurance, business solutions and financial advice.
Emma Balmforth is a producer at Finder. She is passionate about helping people make financial decisions that will benefit them now and in the future. She has written for a variety of publications including World Nomads, Trek Effect and Uncharted. Emma has a degree in Business and Psychology from the University of Waterloo. She enjoys backpacking, reading and taking long hikes and road trips with her adventurous dog.
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finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which finder.com receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
