Points Pulse for Mar. 9, 2026: Two new credit cards, big rewards for renters
In this edition of NerdWallet Canada’s Points Pulse series:
Rogers Bank goes Legendary
Thought the World Elite was the peak of the Mastercard mound? Think again. Rogers Bank has launched the Rogers Red World Legend Mastercard, positioned as a new ultra-premium tier, marking the card tier's Canadian debut.
At $495 annually, headline perks for the Rogers Red World Legend include:
No foreign exchange fees.
2% cash back on all purchases, including international spending.
$200 annual entertainment credit for eligible Rogers streaming and TV services.
10 Roam Like Home days annually for eligible Rogers mobile customers.
Six free Plaza Premium airport lounge passes annually.
The catch? Beyond the steep annual fee, you’ll need a personal annual income of at least $150,000 or a household annual income of at least $200,000 to qualify. As of this writing, the card isn’t available to residents of Quebec, and cards will be mailed out towards the end of March.
Current Rogers Bank customers interested in the World Legend card can also request a product switch at the end of the month.
Nerdy takeaway: Existing Rogers customers who travel internationally are more likely to make the math work on this higher-tier Mastercard, but for other folks, there are more flexible cards at lower price points.
United Airlines and Neo Financial team up on a new co-branded card
Canadians will soon be able to earn United MileagePlus miles on everyday spending with the United MileagePlus Neo World Elite Mastercard. Yeah, it’s a mouthful. But what we know so far ahead of the card’s April 2026 launch is enticing:
Earn MileagePlus miles on daily purchases.
Priority boarding.
Free checked bags.
Opportunity to earn accelerated miles via Neo’s merchant partners and bonus miles when travelling with United and Star Alliance carriers.
The waitlist is open now, and if you’re one of the first 3,000 people to join by March 25, 2026, you’re eligible for a 5,000-mile bonus. There are a few caveats, though. To get the bonus miles, you need to be approved for and make a purchase with the card.
Approval is subject to income requirements: $80,000 in personal income or $150,000 in household income.
Full card details (like the annual fee, welcome offer and earn rates) haven’t been announced yet.
Nerdy takeaway: If you’re a fan of flying United, this card is worth keeping tabs on. Still, full card details will make or break this newcomer on the crowded, competitive runway of travel rewards.
Turn your rent payment into Scene+ points
For many Canadians, rent is a major monthly expense. And until recently, it was dead money as far as eligible rewards spending was concerned. Scotiabank wants that to change.
Through a partnership with rental payment platform, Casa, ScotiaGold Passport Visa cardholders can now earn 1 Scene+ point for every dollar spent on rent. There are no additional transaction fees through Casa, either. But to earn points on rent, you need to spend at least $350 monthly in other purchases first.
The average Canadian paying $2,000 a month could collect 24,000 Scene+ points annually on rent alone. Since Scene+ points are worth 1 cent apiece, you’re basically earning $240 in value on a bill you were already paying.
Nerdy takeaway: This is a neat perk for renters, but right now, it’s limited to ScotiaGold Passport Visa cardholders. Also worth mentioning: if you drag your feet clearing your card’s rent balance, interest charges will rapidly eat into the value of your rewards. The last thing you want is to dig yourself into credit card debt in the name of rewards points.
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Shannon Terrell
Shannon Terrell
Shannon Terrell