Best Scotiabank Student Credit Cards
Alongside its standard credit cards, Scotiabank offers cards specifically designed for students. Depending on the card, students can earn Scene+ points or cash back on eligible purchases. Student cards offered by Scotiabank typically have no annual fees.
Best Scotiabank student credit cards in Canada
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdown
NerdWallet'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.
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 takeA great no-fee student card that earns 2x Scene+ points at Home Hardware, Cineplex and select grocery stores. Users also get discounts at eligible AVIS and Budget locations, but that’s where the perks end. Best for: Students who spend big at the big screen, shop at Home Hardware and stock up at Scene+ partner grocery stores.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Up to 25% off base rates at eligible AVIS and Budget locations.
Cons
- No insurance coverage.
- The 2x earn rate on groceries only applies to Sobeys and its subsidiary stores.
Card details
Card details- Earn up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months.
- No annual fee in the first year, including on supplementary cards¹
- 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
- Rates, fees and other information are effective as of Mar 1, 2024. Subject to change.
- 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.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownScene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more. Plus, earn 3 Scene+ points per CAD spent on hotel and car rental bookings made through Scene+ Travel.
Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible restaurants, fast food, drinking establishments, other eligible grocery stores, food delivery, entertainment, gas, daily transit and streaming services.
Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases, including any spending that exceeds the $50,000 annual limit for accelerated earn rates.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeThe Scotiabank American Express Card (for students) has no annual fee and accelerated rewards on essentials and entertainment. Plus, it includes mobile device insurance, and offers car rental discounts.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Earn up to 3x Scene+ points on a wide range of categories, such as transit, eats, entertainment and groceries.
- Complimentary mobile device insurance.
Cons
- No complimentary travel insurance.
- Accelerated earn rates only apply to the first $50,000 made in purchases annually.
Card details
Card details- No annual fee.
- Free supplementary cards.
- Earn 3 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more. Plus, earn 3 Scene+ points per CAD spent on hotel and car rental bookings made through Scene+ Travel.
- Earn 2 Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible restaurants, fast food, drinking establishments, other eligible grocery stores, food delivery, entertainment, gas, daily transit and streaming services.
- Earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases, including any spending that exceeds the $50,000 annual limit for accelerated earn rates.
- Mobile device insurance provides up to $500 of coverage for new cell phones, smartphones, or tablets purchased with the card, protecting against loss, theft, accidental damage, or mechanical failure.
- Purchase security for the first 90 days from the date of purchase.
- Extended warranty coverage doubles the original manufacturer’s warranty for up to one year.
- Optional insurance coverage includes life, critical Illness, hospitalization, disability, job loss, strike or lockout benefits.
- Access to Scene+ Travel, a full-service travel agency.
- Access to American Express Invites with offers on music, theatre, dining, film, fashion and shopping experiences.
- Save up to 25% off base rates at participating AVIS and Budget locations in Canada and the U.S. when you pay with your Scotiabank American Express Card.
- Tap your Scotiabank American Express Card or your smartphone for quick easy payments.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownCash back on gas.
Cash back on groceries.
Cash back at drug stores.
Cash back on recurring payments.
Cash back on everything else.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeStudents looking for a simple cash-back card with no annual fee will get the most out of this card. It also offers rental car discounts at participating AVIS and Budget locations, but that’s where the perks end. Best for: Students who want a no-fee credit card that earns a little cash back.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Rental car discounts.
Cons
- Low cash-back rate (0.5% to 1%).
- No insurance coverage included.
Card details
Card details- 5% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).
- 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months.
- Earn 1% on gas, groceries, drug stores, and recurring payments. Earn 0.5% on everything else.
- $500 minimum credit limit.
- Free supplementary cards.
- Get 25% off at Avis and Budget car rentals.
- Optional insurance coverage available, such as life, critical illness and hospitalization coverage.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownCash back for every $1 you spend on all eligible gas stations, grocery stores, drug stores and recurring bill payments (up to $25,000 annual spend).
Cash back on all other eligible purchases.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeThe Scotia Momentum Visa Card (for students) offers an elevated cashback rate on essentials, like gas, groceries and bills—putting a little extra cash in the pockets of cardholders. Plus, the card’s welcome offer can help temporarily lower interest payments on transferred debt, allowing more time to pay it down.
Pros
- Low annual fee.
- Up to 2% cash back on gas, groceries, drug store purchases and recurring bill payments.
Cons
- Additional cards are not free ($15 each).
- Limited insurance coverage.
Card details
Card details- Earn 2% cash back for every $1 you spend on all eligible gas stations, grocery stores, drug stores and recurring bill payments (up to $25,000 annual spend).
- Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
- Pay off your eligible Scotiabank Visa credit card purchases of $100 or more, with low interest rates on your plan and no installment plan fee, with Scotia SelectPay.
- Save up to 25% off base rates at participating AVIS locations and at participating Budget locations in Canada and the U.S. when you pay with your Scotia Momentum Visa card.
- Tap your Scotia Momentum Visa card or your smartphone for quick easy payments.
- Purchase security against theft, loss, or damage for 90 days from the purchase date.
- Extended warranty protection—manufacturer’s warranty is doubled for up to one year.
- Optional insurances can be added, such as life, critical Illness, hospitalization , disability, job loss, strike or lockout benefits.
- Introductory offer of 2.99% interest rate on balance transfers for the first six months (22.99% after that; annual fee $39). If you miss two consecutive minimum payments, a 27.99% interest rate will apply to any unpaid transferred balances.
- $500 minimum credit limit.
Methodology
BACK TO TOPHow 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 Scotiabank 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
Scotiabank’s student credit cards include Visa and American Express options.
Average interest rates
Scotiabank’s student credit cards charge purchase interest rates as low as 13.99% and as high as 20.99%.
No annual fees
Some of Scotiabank’s credit cards for students charge an annual fee, but most are no fee options.
Modest credit limits
Scotiabank’s student credit cards usually come with a low minimum credit limit, such as $500. Having a smaller credit limit when you’re just starting out can prevent overspending and keep you from racking up unnecessary interest charges.
Additional perks
Student credit cards aren’t usually known for their perks, but there are some common to 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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best Scotiabank credit card for students?
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.
Does Scotiabank have a credit card for international students?
Yes, the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card for Students is available for qualified international students participating in the Scotiabank StartRight™ Program.
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