Best Scotiabank Credit Cards
Scotiabank, also known as the Bank of Nova Scotia, is one of Canada’s largest banks. The financial institution offers credit cards that fit the needs of a range of customers, including business owners, students, travellers and everyday spenders. Some of Scotiabank’s credit cards earn rewards like cash back or its proprietary Scene+ points.
Scene+ points can be redeemed for various products and services like travel bookings, groceries, gift cards, account credits and more.
Summary of the best Scotiabank credit cards in Canada
| Card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Interest rates | Rewards rate | Apply Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card | APPLY NOW on Scotiabank's website | ||||
 APPLY NOW on Scotiabank's website | 5.0/5 | $120 Waived first year | 20.99%/22.99% | 1%-4% | |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card | APPLY NOW on Scotiabank's website | ||||
 APPLY NOW on Scotiabank's website | 5.0/5 | $120 | 20.99%/22.99% | 1x-6x Points | |
| Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card | APPLY NOW on Scotiabank's website | ||||
 APPLY NOW on Scotiabank's website | 5.0/5 | $399 | 9.99% | 2x Points | |
Best Scotiabank credit cards in Canada
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownCash back on every $1 you spend on grocery store purchases, recurring bill payments, and subscription purchases.
Cash back on every $1 you spend on gas purchases, daily transit purchases, and food delivery.
Cash back on all other purchases with no cash back limit.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeYou can earn a lot of cash back with this card if you max out the spending categories — for example, get up to $1,000 back each year when you spend $25,000 on groceries and recurring payments. The catch: Cash back is only deposited into your account once a year, in November, and the $120 annual fee is higher-than-average for a cash-back card. Best for: Big spenders on groceries and gas who don’t mind reaping their rewards annually.
Pros
- High 4% cash-back rate on groceries.
- Comprehensive insurance coverage included.
Cons
- Can only redeem cash back once a year.
Card details
Card details- Earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).¹
- No annual fee in the first year, including on additional cards.¹
- 4% for every $1 you spend on grocery store purchases, recurring bill payments, and subscription purchases.
- 2% for every $1 you spend on gas purchases and daily transit purchases.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases with no cash back limit.
- New! 2% Cash Back on Food delivery
- New! Cash Back Anytime feature: Redeem your Cash Back anytime ($25.00 minimum required) instead of having to wait for an annual payout in November.
- Visa Infinite* Concierge Services
- Visa Infinite* Hotel Collection
- Visa Infinite* Dining and Wine Country program
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance & New Mobile Device Insurance coverage
- Rates, fees and other information are effective as of October 31, 2025. Subject to change.
- *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.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownPoints on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more.
Points for every $1 you spend on dining & food delivery. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
Points for every $1 you spend at other eligible grocery stores.
Points for every $1 you spend in Canada on eligible entertainment purchases. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.
Points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas purchases.
Points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible daily transit options. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more.
Points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services.
Point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeA well-rounded rewards earner that stands out for its top-tier rates in popular categories, like groceries and entertainment spending. Its waived foreign exchange fees and travel insurance will appeal to travellers, but there’s no complimentary airport lounge access, just discounted membership to Priority Pass. Best for: Travellers and families who spend big on groceries, restaurants and commuting and want to collect Scene+ points.
Pros
- Generous rewards rates of up to 6x Scene+ points.
- No FX fees.
- Priority Pass airport lounge membership discount.
Cons
- No complimentary airport lounge access.
- Highest earn rate only applies to dollars spent at Sobeys and its subsidiary stores.
Card details
Card details- Earn up to $850 in welcome offers, first year rewards and savings value and up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points.¹
- Earn 6x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more
- Earn 5x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
- Earn 5x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purchases. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.
- Earn 3x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more
- Earn 3x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services
- Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
- Earn additional benefits + up to 4X Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia.
- No Foreign Transaction Fee
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance coverage
- AMEX Offers®
- AMEX Front of the Line®
- American Express Invites®
- Complimentary Concierge Services
- Rates, fees and other information are effective as of January 2, 2026. Subject to change.
- *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.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownPoints for every $1 you spend on all your eligible purchases.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeScotiabank’s Platinum Amex doesn’t just offer top-tier travel perks — such as emergency medical coverage and airport lounge access — it also comes with a low 9.99% interest rate on purchases and a flat earn rate of 2x Scene+ points per $1 spent. The high $399 annual fee, however, may be too steep for some users. Best for: Frequent travellers who spend big abroad, want airport lounge access and don’t mind using the Scene+ Travel platform to book travel.
Pros
- Low 9.99% APR.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- 10 free airport lounge passes per year.
Cons
- High $399 annual fee.
- Must book through Scene+ Travel platform to earn extra 3x points.
Card details
Card details- Earn up to $2,500* in value in the first 14 months, including up to 80,000¹ bonus Scene+ points.
- Plus earn 2X Scene+ points for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn additional benefits + up to 4X Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia.
- No Foreign Transaction Fee
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance coverage
- Mobile Device Insurance coverage
- 10 complimentary Airport Lounge Passes per year
- Platinum VIP Offers+
- American Express Invites®
- Premium Complimentary Concierge Services
- Rates, fees and other information are effective as of October 31, 2025. Subject to change.
- *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.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownPoints on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and participating Co-ops and more.
Points for every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining purchases, entertainment purchases, and eligible daily transit options (including rideshares, buses, subways, taxis and more).
Point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeA competitive travel card that earns up to 3x Scene+ points on everyday purchases, and comes with six complimentary airport lounge visits and no foreign transaction fees. While you can earn accelerated points (3x) on travel purchases, they must be made through the Scene+ Travel platform, which may feel limiting for some users. Best for: Frequent travellers who shop regularly at Scene+ partner grocery stores, spend big abroad and are looking for airport lounge access.
Pros
- Free airport lounge membership and six free visits per year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Free Avis Preferred Plus membership.
Cons
- An above-average $150 annual fee for a travel card.
- Top earn rate (3x on groceries) only applies to Sobeys and its subsidiary stores.
- Must book through Scene+ Travel platform to earn 3x points on travel.
Card details
Card details- Earn up to $1,500 in first year welcome offers, rewards and savings, including up to 60,000 bonus Scene+ points¹
- Earn 3x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and participating Co-ops and more.
- Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining, eligible entertainment purchases and eligible daily transit options (including rideshares, buses, subways, taxis and more).
- Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.
- Earn additional benefits + up to 4X Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia.
- No Foreign Transaction Fee.
- 6 Complimentary Airport Lounge Access.
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance coverage.
- Visa Infinite* Concierge Services.
- Visa Infinite* Hotel Collection.
- Visa Infinite* Dining and Wine Country program.
- Rates, fees and other information are effective as of Jan 2, 2026. Subject to change.
- *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.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownPoints on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco and more.
Points for every $1 you spend on restaurants, fast food, drinking establishments. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
Points for every $1 you spend on eligible grocery stores.
Points for every $1 you spend on eligible entertainment purchases. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.
Points for every $1 you spend on eligible gas.
Points for every $1 you spend eligible daily transit. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more.
Points for every $1 you spend on eligible select streaming services.
Point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeThe Scotiabank American Express Card offers solid Scene+ point rewards on everyday purchases like groceries and dining — all with no annual fee and a few built-in perks.
Pros
- Great earn rates on everyday purchases.
- Includes mobile device insurance.
- Enjoy special offers, experiences and more with American Express Invites.
Cons
- Limited insurance — only includes mobile device coverage, purchase security, and extended warranty.
- No Amex Membership Rewards — only earns Scene+ points, which have limited redemption options and can’t be transferred to airline or hotel programs.
Card details
Card details- Earn up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months (that’s up to $50 towards travel).¹
- Earn 3x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco and more
- Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on restaurants, fast food, drinking establishments and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
- Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on eligible entertainment purchases. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.
- Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on eligible gas and daily transit. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more
- Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on eligible select streaming services
- Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
- Earn additional benefits + up to 4X Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia.
- Mobile Device Insurance coverage
- American Express Invites®
- Rates, fees and other information are effective as of October 31, 2025. Subject to change.
- *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.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownPoints on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, participating Co-ops, Freshco and more.
Points for every $1 you spend on Home Hardware, Home Building Center, Home Furniture locations in Canada and online at homehardware.ca.
Points for every $1 you spend at Cineplex theatres or online at cineplex.com.
Point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeThis no-fee option could be a practical entrypoint for those interested in the Scene+ program. Despite its most generous rates being reserved for travel spending, cardholders still earn 2x at select grocery and home improvement stores. Best for: Budget-conscious Scene+ collectors.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Up to 25% off Avis and Budget rental vehicles.
- Up to 4x Scene+ points on everyday purchases.
Cons
- No insurance coverage.
- Highest earn rate only applies to travel spending.
Card details
Card details- Earn up to 10,000 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months¹
- No annual fee
- Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, participating Co-ops, Freshco and more
- Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on Home Hardware, Home Building Center, Home Furniture locations in Canada and online at homehardware.ca
- Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend at Cineplex theatres or online at cineplex.com
- Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
- Earn additional benefits + up to 4X Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia.
- Rates, fees and other information are effective as of January 2, 2026. Subject to change.
- *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.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeThe card’s low 13.99% interest rate on purchases, cash advances and balance transfers can help you pay down debt quicker compared to a card with higher interest rates. But that’s all you're getting from this card. Besides discounts at participating car rental companies, there are no perks, no rewards and no complimentary insurances. Best for: Cardholders who typically carry a balance and want a simple, no-frills credit card.
Pros
- Low 13.99% APR.
- Low $29 annual fee.
Cons
- No rewards.
- No insurance coverage.
Card details
Card details- 0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months (2% fee per cash advance, 13.99% after that annual fee $29).¹ Plus no annual fee in the first year.¹
- Plus no annual fee for the first year.¹
- Save hundreds of dollars in interest a year.
- Pay down balances faster.
- Simplify your monthly payments.
- Rates, fees and other information are effective as of October 31, 2025. Subject to change.
- *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.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownNerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeThis low-rate card is designed to help students save on interest and pay down existing card balances. As for the trade-offs? The $29 annual fee is higher than average (many student cards don’t charge an annual fee), and there are no rewards to speak of. Best for: Students who carry a balance.
Pros
- Low 13.99% interest rate.
- Save up to 25% on Avis and Budget car rentals.
Cons
- Higher than average $29 annual fee for a student card.
- No rewards.
- No insurance coverage.
Card details
Card details- 0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months (1% fee per cash advance, 13.99% after that; annual fee $29).² Plus no annual fee in the first year.²
- Save up to hundreds of dollars a year on interest.
- Low interest rate of 13.99%.
- Pay down higher interest rate balances faster.
- Transfer higher rate balances and save even more.
- To be eligible, $12,000 (individual) annual income is required. Also, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident that is the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.
- Terms and Conditions Apply. Click 'Apply Now' for complete details.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeOffering credit line perks like a low variable interest rate and flexible repayment options, the ScotiaLine for Business Visa Credit Card is a straightforward way to cover and track your business’s expenses
Pros
- Purchase security and extended warranty protection.
Cons
- Variable interest rate debt can be hard to budget for.
- No rewards.
Card details
Card details- No annual fee.
- No cost for supplementary cards.
- Interest rate: as low as Scotiabank’s prime rate plus 3.49%.
- Receive discounts on business purchases with Visa SavingsEdge.
- Save on car rentals with discounts at participating AVIS locations worldwide.
- Purchase security: Most items bought with the card are insured against theft, loss or damage for 90 days from the purchase date.
- Extended warranty: Manufacturer’s warranty is doubled for up to one year on eligible purchases made with the card.
Methodology
BACK TO TOPBest Scotiabank Business Credit Cards
Compare business Scotiabank credit card side-by-side to find perks and benefits that will meet your needs.How Scotiabank credit cards work
The Bank of Nova Scotia, commonly known as Scotiabank, is one of Canada’s Big Six banks. Most Scotiabank credit cards are on the Visa or American Express networks and can be used anywhere those brands are accepted.
Some Scotiabank credit cards earn cash back, while others earn points through Scotiabank’s Scene+ rewards program. Scene+ points can be redeemed for travel, dining, groceries, entertainment, gift cards, general merchandise or account credits.
Types of Scotiabank credit cards
Scotiabank offers a wide selection of credit cards for both personal and business use. Most Scotiabank cards earn some form of reward, while others offer benefits like lower interest rates and can be used to build credit.
Scotiabank’s credit cards fall into the following general categories:
Scotiabank Scene+ rewards cards. Rewards credit cards typically generate points to be used with a bank’s own loyalty program. In Scotiabank’s case, credit card users earn Scene+ points that can be redeemed for a variety of merchandise, including travel purchases.
Scotiabank travel credit cards. The bank’s travel cards combine the points-earning feature of many of its rewards cards with added travel perks, like lounge access and insurance coverage.
Scotiabank cash-back cards. Cash-back credit cards earn cardholders a percentage of the amount spent on eligible purchases. Multiple Scotiabank cash-back cards have “Momentum” in their name.
Scotiabank student credit cards. Student credit cards generally offer lower interest rates and fees, making them a good option for college and university students who may not have much income to work with.
Scotiabank low-interest credit cards. Cards that charge a lower-than-normal interest rate are an option for people who want to minimize debt or are concerned about the cost of carrying a credit card balance.
Scotiabank U.S. dollar cards. Cards specifically intended for making purchases south of the border can help consumers avoid currency conversion fees.
Scotiabank business credit cards. Business credit cards typically offer higher credit limits than personal credit cards, helping business owners cover the cost of operations. Scotiabank’s business credit cards also allow business owners to earn cash back rewards or Scene+ points.
Scotiabank credit cards for newcomers. These cards are meant for new arrivals to Canada looking for an opportunity to build credit and get accustomed to the country’s credit card landscape.
Common features of Scotiabank credit cards
Brand affiliations
Most Scotiabank credit cards are either Visa or American Express cards, although the bank does currently provide one cash-back Mastercard.
Scene+ rewards program
Scene+ is Scotiabank’s proprietary rewards program, which it operates with movie theatre chain Cineplex Odeon. While Scene+ points can be collected and redeemed at Cineplex theatres, that’s only part of the program.
Scene+ points can also be earned at a variety of grocery stores and their associated pharmacies, including large national chains like Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland and FreshCo; and at restaurants like Harvey’s, Swiss Chalet and Montana’s. Rewards can also be earned by booking travel through Scene+ Travel and making online purchases with Scene+ Rakuten.
Scene+ points can be redeemed for merchandise, travel purchases, entertainment experiences and account credits.
Average interest rates
Most Scotiabank credit cards offer an interest rate of either 19.99% or 20.99% on purchases. But there are some low-interest rate cards that charge between 9.99% and 12.99%. Scotiabank also offers a card for businesses with a variable rate tied to the bank’s prime rate.
With the exception of its low-rate cards, Scotiabank’s credit cards charge an interest rate of 22.99% on cash advances.
Annual fees vary
Most Scotiabank credit cards charge an annual fee, which gets paid at the beginning of each year a card is used. Unlike Scotiabank’s credit card interest rates, the fees charged for each of its cards vary wildly.
Additional perks
Some of Scotiabank’s travel-focused cards offer fairly sweet travel perks, like lounge access and no foreign transaction fees. Their Amex cards, like all American Express cards, offer a unique suite of perks, like the Front of the Line program, that aren’t offered elsewhere.
Opportunities to earn rewards
Scotiabank’s credit cards earn two types of rewards: Scene+ points, which can be redeemed for a variety of products and experiences, and cash back.
Scotiabank’s Scene+ cards’ highest earn rates apply to grocery purchases. The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card, for example, earns 6 Scene+ points per dollar spent at some of Canada’s best-known grocery chains.
Scotiabank’s cash-back cards, most of which have “Momentum” in their names, generally offer earn rates of 2% or lower once their introductory periods expire. One exception is the Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card, which offers 4% cash back on groceries, subscriptions and recurring bill payments, and 2% cash back on gas and daily transit purchases.
How to choose the best Scotiabank credit card for you
When choosing any credit card, one of the first things to watch out for are any eligibility requirements you may not be able to satisfy, including those related to age, location, income or your credit score.
You’ll also want to compare cards based on their:
Annual fees. Fees vary wildly from card to card, from nothing to hundreds of dollars per year. Cards that charge annual fees tend to offer more valuable perks than those that don’t. You’ll have to decide if the perks and rewards offered justify a card’s annual fee.
Interest rate. If you generally keep a balance on your card from month to month, it’s worth looking for a card with a lower interest rate.
Rewards structure. If rewards are a priority when applying for a credit card, you’ll typically have to choose between collecting points or earning cash back. It’s important not to chase rewards by overspending. The interest you wind up paying could overwhelm the value of your rewards.
Who should consider a Scotiabank credit card?
Scotiabank has credit cards on the world’s largest credit card networks and offer a nice selection of reward structures, making them a worthy option for Canadians looking for a convenient way to cover their expenses and earn bonuses. And if you’re already a Scotiabank customer, applying for a card should be easier.
Because many of Scotiabank’s rewards are paid out in Scene+ points, they’ll be most valuable to people who shop at Scene+ partner brands and understand the ins and outs of the program.
How to get a Scotiabank credit card
To apply for a Scotiabank credit card, visit the Scotiabank website, find the card you’re interested in and click “Apply Now”. Applying online should take less than 10 minutes.
Early in the application process, you’ll have to confirm that you are a Canadian resident at least the age of majority in your province and have not declared bankruptcy in the past seven years. You may also have to confirm that you meet a minimum income requirement.
Review your card’s terms and conditions.
Enter your personal information. If you’re not already a Scotiabank customer, you’ll need to create a username and a password and verify your identity through your regular financial institution.
Provide Scotiabank with additional qualifying details, which typically include employment status and finances, including your annual personal income and monthly housing expenses.
Review the information you’ve submitted.
Submit your application.
» MORE: How to apply for a credit card
Frequently asked questions
What’s a good credit score for a Scotiabank credit card?
A credit score of 660 is typically considered “good” and should help you get approved for most Scotiabank credit cards. But different cards have different criteria. Scotiabank’s premium credit cards, for example, may have higher credit score requirements than its cards for newcomers and students.
What’s the best Scotiabank credit card?
We like the Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card for its combination of low interest rate and high-value perks, but the best Scotiabank credit card for you will depend on how its rewards, annual fee and interest rate fit your finances and general spending habits.
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