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How Scotiabank student credit cards work
How to choose the right Scotiabank student credit card
FAQs about Scotiabank student credit cards

The best Scotiabank student credit cards

Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card for Students

Annual Fee

$0
Interest Rates

19.99% / 22.99%

19.99% on purchases. 22.99% on cash advances.
Rewards Rate

1x-2x Points

Earn 2X Scene+ points for each dollar charged to your account on all eligible purchases¹ at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op. Earn 2x Scene+ points at Cineplex theatres or at cineplex.com. Earn 1x Scene+ points on everything else.
Intro Offer

1,250 Points

Earn 1,250 Bonus Scene+ points after making your first purchase within two months of opening the account. New cardmembers only. Must apply by October 31, 2023.

Why we like it

The Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card for Students is a great no-fee starter-card for students who want to earn rewards for movies, meals and entertainment.

Pros

Use your Scene+ points for travel, shopping, dining and more.
Intro offer is equal to a free General Admission or 3D movie ticket in a regular auditorium.

Cons

Cinema-lovers will get the most from this card. If you don’t enjoy going to movies, or are nervous about frequenting the theatre during COVID-19, this card won’t be worthwhile.

2x Scene+ points per dollar spent at Cineplex and at cineplex.com, up to 300 points per transaction and a maximum of 600 points per day.
1x Scene+ point per dollar spent on everyday credit card purchases.
You’ll earn 2X Scene+ points for each dollar charged to your account on all eligible purchases¹ at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.
Scene+ points can be redeemed for points for travel, shopping, dining, statement credits, Cineplex entertainment, and more.
$0 annual fee.
Save up to 25% off base rates at participating AVIS locations and at participating Budget locations in Canada and the U.S. No insurance included.
No insurance included.
Preferred rates: 19.99% for purchases, 22.99% for cash advances.
To be eligible, you must be a resident of Canada and the age of majority in the province or territory where you live. Credit history is not required and international students can apply.

Scotiabank L’earn® Visa* Card

Annual Fee

$0
Interest Rates

19.99% / 22.99%

19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, balance transfers and Scotia Credit Card Cheques.
Rewards Rate

0.25%-1%

Earn 0.25% on the first $500 you spend, 0.5% on the next $500 and 1% on any amount over that.
Intro Offer

N/A

Why we like it

With no annual fee and the opportunity to earn up to 1% cash back on daily purchases, the L’earn Visa Card is a no-frills way to cover expenses and save a little money while working toward a degree or diploma.

Pros

No annual fee.
A Moneyback reward that reduces your credit card balance once a year.

Cons

You have to spend more to unlock the highest Moneyback earn rates.
No option to apply online.

No annual fee.
No charge for supplementary cards.
Interest rates: 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, balance transfers and Scotia Credit Card Cheques.
Moneyback reward details: Earn 0.25% on the first $500 you spend, 0.5% on the next $500 and 1% on any amount over that.
Moneyback rewards are paid out once a year as a statement credit.
Can be used with Visa payWave, My Mobile Wallet, Apple Pay and Google Pay for quicker in-person and online shopping.
Save up to 20% on car rentals at participating AVIS locations worldwide.

How Scotiabank student credit cards work

The Bank of Nova Scotia, commonly known as Scotiabank, is one of Canada’s Big Six banks.

Scotiabank’s credit cards for students are both Visa cards that can be used for purchases, building credit and earning rewards.

Types of Scotiabank student credit cards

Student credit cards often charge small or no annual fees and offer university and college students a chance to earn rewards while covering their daily expenses. Scotiabank’s modest selection of credit cards geared towards students fall into two categories:

Scene+ rewards cards. Rewards credit cards typically generate points to be used with a bank’s own loyalty program. In Scotiabank’s case, students can earn Scene+ points that can be redeemed for a variety of merchandise, including travel purchases.
Cash-back cards. Cash-back credit cards earn cardholders a percentage of the amount spent on eligible purchases. You can usually identify a Scotiabank cash-back card if it has “Momentum” in its name, but its cash-back option for students is the L’earn Visa Card.

Of course, students may also be eligible for other Scotiabank credit cards, but that may require meeting minimum income and credit score requirements.

Common features of Scotiabank student credit cards

Brand affiliations

All of Scotiabank’s student credit cards are Visas.

Average interest rates

Scotiabank’s student credit cards both offer interest rates of 19.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances.

No annual fees

Neither of Scotiabank’s credit cards for students charges an annual fee.

Modest credit limits

Both of Scotiabank’s student credit cards come with a minimum credit limit of $500. Having a smaller credit limit when you’re just starting out as a credit card customer can keep you from overspending and racking up unnecessary interest charges.

Additional perks

Student credit cards aren’t usually known for their perks, but there are some common to both of Scotiabank’s student credit cards. They can be added to digital wallets for quicker check-out experiences and offer discounts on car rentals.

Opportunities to earn rewards

Scotiabank’s student credit cards earn two types of rewards: Scene+ points, which can be redeemed for a variety of products and experiences, and cash back.

The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for students can help you earn 2 Scene+ points for every dollar spent at participating grocery stores, and at either Cineplex Odeon theatres or the Cineplex website. You’ll earn one Scene+ point for every dollar spent on other eligible purchases. Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, movies, dining experiences and merchandise.

The L’earn Visa Card offers a Moneyback reward of up to 1%, which is paid out as a statement credit once a year. You’ll earn 0.25% cash back on the first $500 you spend, 0.5% on the next $500 and 1% on any amount over that.

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.

» MORE: How to apply for a credit card

How to choose the best Scotiabank student credit card for you

When choosing any credit card, one of the first things to watch out for are eligibility requirements you may not be able to satisfy, including those related to age, location, educational status and your personal credit score.

You’ll also want to compare cards based on their:

Annual fees. Many student credit cards don’t charge an annual fee, but some do. If you apply for a different kind of credit card, you’ll want to ensure that the card’s benefits justify the 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. Opting for the rewards most relevant to your needs will help you save more money.

Who should consider a Scotiabank student credit card?

Scotiabank’s student credit cards should meet the needs of post-secondary students interested in a convenient, no-frills payment option that can help them build their credit. If you’re already a Scotiabank personal banking customer, applying for a card should be relatively easy.

Because some Scotiabank rewards are paid out in Scene+ points, so they’ll be most valuable to students who regularly shop at Scene+ partners.

How to get a Scotiabank student credit card

Scotiabank doesn’t allow online applications for its student credit cards. To apply for one, you can either visit your local Scotiabank branch or call 1 (800) 747-3208.

We like the points-earning potential and no annual fee offered by the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students, but the best card for you will be the card with an interest rate, fees and rewards that fit your needs and spending habits.

Yes, the Scotiabank® Scene+ Visa Card for Students is available for qualified international students participating in the Scotiabank StartRight™ Program.

About the Author

Clay Jarvis

Clay Jarvis is NerdWallet’s mortgage and real estate expert in Canada. Thus far, his entire professional writing career has revolved around real estate. Prior to joining NerdWallet, he was the…

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