8 Best BMO Credit Cards in Canada for October 2026

Published Jul 31, 2026 1:17 AM • 6 min read

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If your idea of the best credit card in Canada comes from BMO, we've rounded up some of the top picks from this institution, especially for those who prefer to align themselves with Mastercard (BMO’s primary network).


Below, you'll find something for everyone, whether that be for everyday buyers, travellers, or budget-conscious spenders.

  • Data-driven rankings of 120+ credit cards using a proprietary algorithm

  • Comprehensive analysis using 25+ data points including terms and conditions, points programs, and more

  • Objective editorial approach - we strive for unbiased reviews following our editorial guidelines

FinlyWealth's credit cards content, including rankings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of engineers and writers who specialize in credit cards, banking, and personal finance. Our work has been featured in The Globe and Mail, GoBankingRates, and AOL. Our proprietary analysis systems evaluate product features, terms, and conditions to deliver comprehensive reviews and comparisons while maintaining strict editorial standards for accuracy and integrity.

  • BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®*: Best for Premium Porter Flyers
  • BMO VIPorter Mastercard®∗: Best Accessible Option for Porter Flyers
  • BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard®*: Best for Balance Transfers
  • BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card: Best for No Annual Fee
  • Best BMO Credit Cards in Canada

    Our choice for: Best Overall

    Welcome Bonus

    Get up to $650 in value*

    First Year Rewards

    $1,125.28

    Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

    Annual Fee

    $139 $0

    Interest Rates

    21.99% / 23.99%□

    RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

    300
    Poor
    560
    Fair
    660⁎
    Good
    725⁎
    Very Good
    760⁎
    Excellent
    ⁎Estimates based on Equifax scoring

    4.1/5

    If you're seeking a cashback credit card, the BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® stands out for its excellent balance between rewards and benefits. It offers a robust rewards program and a comprehensive benefits list, making it a solid choice. The high first-year value is enhanced by the annual fee waiver, and those with a BMO Premium Chequing Account can enjoy continued fee waivers. While it's highly ranked for rewards alone, it may not be the absolute top choice if benefits are less important to you.

    Awards & Recognition

    Best Roadside Assistance Card Credit Card

    Best Roadside Assistance Card Credit Card

    2026

    Pros


    • Impressive cashback rates
    • Rare roadside assistance
    • Comprehensive insurance and benefits
    • High first-year value

    Cons


    • Lacks restaurant optimization
    • Low monthly cashback caps

    Rewards

    • 5% cash back on groceries (capped at $500 spending per statement, maximum of $25 in cashback per statement cycle)*
    • 4% cash back on daily transit (capped at $300 spending per statement, maximum of $12 in cashback per statement cycle)*
    • 3% cash back on gas (capped at $300 spending per statement, maximum of $9 in cashback per statement cycle)*
    • 2% cash back on recurring payments (capped at $500 spending per statement, maximum of $10 in cashback per statement cycle)*
    • 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases*

    Insurance

    Coverage

    • travel accident medical

      Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

      $5M up to 8 days per covered person*
    • heart lock

      Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

      $500,000
    • hourglass timer

      Flight Delay

      $500 After 4 hours delay*
    • lost baggage

      Lost or Stolen Baggage

      $500/person, $1,000 maximum*
    • hourglass timer

      Baggage Delay

      $500/person, $1,000 maximum After 6 hours*
    • burglar

      Hotel Burglary Insurance

      $1,000
    • car insurance

      Car Rental Damage & Theft

      $65K MSRP up to 48 days*
    • purchase protection

      Purchase Protection

      90 days
    • extended warranty

      Extended Warranty

      1 year

    Benefits

    Details

    • alcohol cheers

      Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

      Complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass. As a member enjoy lounge access for a fee of just US$32 per person, per visit.*
    • tire

      Roadside Assistance

      Complimentary Roadside Assistance Program*; Including battery boosts, flat-tire change, lockout service and towing – a $75/year value.*
    • car rental

      Car Rental Discount

      Save up to 20% on National Car Rental® and Alamo Rent A Car® and up to 5% on Enterprise Rent-A-Car® at locations worldwide using the Car Rental Booking tool.*
    • discount

      Discount

      Enjoy six months of Instacart+ and a $10 monthly Instacart credit when you enroll your eligible BMO Credit Card.*

    Eligibility

    • Credit Score

      Good
    • Annual Income

      $80,000 personal or $150,000 household

    Our choice for: Best for Students

    Welcome Bonus

    5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,500 in spend

    First Year Rewards

    $335.93

    Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

    Annual Fee

    $0

    Interest Rates

    21.99% / 23.99%□

    RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

    300⁎
    Poor
    560⁎
    Fair
    660⁎
    Good
    725⁎
    Very Good
    760⁎
    Excellent
    ⁎Estimates based on Equifax scoring

    4.8/5

    We consider this card to be the best student credit card in Canada for it's competitive cashback rewards (3% on groceries, 1% on recurring bills), no annual fee and a generous welcome bonus. Plus, cashback redemption is flexible so no need to wait a year each time you want to get your cashback paid out.

    Pros


    • No annual fee
    • Solid cashback optimization
    • Shell fuel discounts
    • Hotel booking discounts
    • Entertainment discounts

    Cons


    • Low base earn rate
    • Limited insurance

    Rewards

    • 3% cash back on grocery purchases (maximum $15 per statement)
    • 1% cash back on recurring payments like bills or subscriptions (maximum $5 per statement)
    • 0.5% cash back on all other purchases

    Insurance

    Coverage

    • purchase protection

      Purchase Protection

      90 days
    • extended warranty

      Extended Warranty

      1 year

    Benefits

    Details

    • car rental

      Car Rental Discount

      Save up to 20% on National Car Rental® and Alamo Rent A Car® and up to 5% on Enterprise Rent-A-Car® at locations worldwide using the Car Rental Booking tool.
    • discount

      Discount

      Get 20% off admission to Cirque du Soleil shows touring Canada, and 15% off resident shows in Las Vegas.
    • discount

      Hotel Booking Discount

      Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings at booking.com/mastercardcanada.
    • discount

      Discount

      Enjoy three months of Instacart+ and a $5 monthly Instacart credit when you enroll your eligible BMO Credit Card. Terms apply.

    Eligibility

    • Credit Score

      Poor
    • Annual Income

      N/A

    Our choice for: Best for Premium Porter Flyers

    Welcome Bonus

    Get up to 70,000 VIPorter points and a round-trip companion pass.* Plus receive $1,000 in Qualifying Spend.*

    First Year Rewards

    $1,787.3

    Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

    Annual Fee

    $199 $0

    Interest Rates

    21.99% / 23.99%□

    RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

    300
    Poor
    560
    Fair
    660⁎
    Good
    725⁎
    Very Good
    760⁎
    Excellent
    ⁎Estimates based on Equifax scoring

    4.5/5

    This is easily the best credit card in Canada for frequent Porter airline (and its partners) travelers. Earning 2x VIPorter points on common everyday purchases like groceries, dining and transportation is a massive benefit, allowing you to rack up points really fast and enjoy travel via Porter and it's airline partners. The premium benefits of this card make your travels smooth as you get priority security screening, early boarding and priority re-accommodation for flight delays, one complimentary checked bag, a carry-on bag with every fare type (including Basic), and complimentary PorterClassic seat selection.

    Awards & Recognition

    Best Airline Loyalty Credit Card

    Best Airline Loyalty Credit Card

    2026

    Pros


    • First-year fee rebate
    • Generous welcome bonus
    • Solid everyday earning opportunities
    • Impressive Porter redemptions
    • Comprehensive coverage
    • Valuable travel perks

    Cons


    • Higher annual fee
    • Companion pass spending requirement
    • Limited redemption opportunities
    • Spending caps
    • High income requirements

    Rewards

    • Earn 3 VIPorter points for every $1 spent on eligible Porter purchases via flyporter.com (up to $20,000 in spending annually)
    • Earn 2 VIPorter point for every $1 spent on eligible gas and transportation purchases (up to $5,000 in spending annually combined)
    • Earn 2 VIPorter point for every $1 spent on eligible groceries and dining purchases (up to $10,000 in spending annually combined)
    • Earn 2 VIPorter point for every $1 spent on eligible hotel accommodation purchases (up to $5,000 in spending annually)
    • Earn 1 VIPorter point for every $1 spent everywhere else
    • Primary cardholders will receive an annual companion pass after spending a minimum of $50,000 (less refunds and excluding cash advances, cash-like transactions, interest charges, fees, credit or debit adjustments) within the first 365 days after the account open date. On the anniversary date of your card, the calculation of the purchases will reset to zero and primary cardholders must qualify again for the new annual period.

    Insurance

    Coverage

    • extended warranty

      Extended Warranty

      1 year
    • purchase protection

      Purchase Protection

      90 days
    • travel accident medical

      Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

      Up to $5M per insured person, per trip, for 21 days per trip
    • heart lock

      Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

      Up to $500,000 per insured person
    • cancel airplane

      Trip Cancellation

      Up to $1,500 per insured person, per trip (maximum of $5,000 per trip for all insured persons combined)
    • pause

      Trip Interruption

      $2,000 per insured person
    • hourglass timer

      Flight Delay

      Up to a maximum of $500 per trip for all insured persons combined
    • hourglass timer

      Baggage Delay

      Up to $500 per insured person, to a maximum of $1,000 per trip for all insured persons combined, for the purchase of essential items
    • lost baggage

      Lost or Stolen Baggage

      Up to $500 per insured person to a maximum of $1,000 per trip for all insured persons combined
    • burglar

      Hotel Burglary Insurance

      Up to $1,000 per occurrence for all insured persons combined
    • car insurance

      Car Rental Damage & Theft

      Rental period up to 48 days, with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of up to $65,000

    Benefits

    Details

    • alcohol cheers

      Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

      Complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass. As a member enjoy lounge access for a fee of just US$32 per person, per visit.*
    • luggage

      Free first checked bag

      1 complimentary checked bag as well as 1 complimentary carry-on bag on all Porter fare types up to 8 companions travelling on the same booking
    • airplane love

      Companion Voucher

      A round-trip companion pass per year
    • airport waiting room

      Priority Travel

      Priority check-in, security, and early boarding for up to 8 companions travelling on the same booking
    • car rental

      Car Rental Discount

      Save up to 20% on National Car Rental®†† and Alamo Rent A Car®†† and up to 5% on Enterprise Rent-A-Car®†† at locations worldwide using the Car Rental Booking tool
    • discount

      Hotel Booking Discount

      Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings at booking.com/mastercardcanada*
    • entertainment popcorn

      Mastercard On-Demand and Subscription Services

    • discount

      Discount

      Enjoy six months of Instacart+ and a $10 monthly Instacart credit when you enroll your eligible BMO Credit Card.*

    Eligibility

    • Credit Score

      Good
    • Annual Income

      $80,000 personal or $150,000 household

    Our choice for: Best Accessible Option for Porter Flyers

    Welcome Bonus

    Get up to 40,000 VIPorter points and a 35% off flight voucher.*

    First Year Rewards

    $942.01

    Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

    Annual Fee

    $89 $0

    Interest Rates

    21.99% / 23.99%□

    RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

    300
    Poor
    560
    Fair
    660⁎
    Good
    725⁎
    Very Good
    760⁎
    Excellent
    ⁎Estimates based on Equifax scoring

    3.8/5

    This is one of the only credit cards in Canada that directly earns you VIPorter points and gives you premium travel benefits like priority security screening, early boarding and priority re-accommodation for flight delays on Porter (and its partners) flights. For frequent Porter travelers, this is a great low-fee card that can fast track your VIPorter status and earn even more travel benefits, although the rewards may be a bit lackluster.

    Pros


    • First-year fee rebate
    • Generous welcome bonus
    • High value Porter redemptions

    Cons


    • Low spending caps
    • Flight discount spending requirement
    • Limited redemption opportunities

    Rewards

    • Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible Porter purchases via flyporter.com (up to $10,000 in spending annually)
    • Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on eligible gas and transportation purchases (up to $3,000 in spending annually combined)
    • Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on eligible groceries and dining purchases (up to $5,000 in spending annually combined)
    • Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on eligible hotel accommodation purchases (up to $3,000 in spending annually)
    • Earn 0.5 points for every $1 spent everywhere else
    • Primary cardholders will receive an annual discount of 35% on a Porter flight booking after spending a minimum of $25,000 in eligible purchases. On the anniversary date of your card, the calculation of the purchases will reset to zero and primary cardholders must qualify again for the new annual period (The flight voucher allows up to 3 companions to accompany the primary cardholder at a 35% discount on the flight booking’s base fare).

    Insurance

    Coverage

    • extended warranty

      Extended Warranty

      1 year
    • purchase protection

      Purchase Protection

      90 days
    • travel accident medical

      Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

      Up to $5M per insured person, per trip, for 8 days per trip
    • heart lock

      Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

      Up to $500,000 per insured person
    • hourglass timer

      Flight Delay

      Up to a maximum of $500 per trip for all insured persons combined
    • hourglass timer

      Baggage Delay

      Up to $500 per insured person to a maximum of $1,000 per trip for all insured persons combined
    • lost baggage

      Lost or Stolen Baggage

      Up to $500 per insured person to a maximum of $1,000 per trip for all insured persons combined
    • burglar

      Hotel Burglary Insurance

      Up to $1,000 per occurrence for all insured persons combined
    • car insurance

      Car Rental Damage & Theft

      Rental period up to 48 days, with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of up to $65,000

    Benefits

    Details

    • airport waiting room

      Priority Travel

      Priority check-in, security, and early boarding for up to 8 companions travelling on the same booking
    • car rental

      Car Rental Discount

      Save up to 20% on National Car Rental®†† and Alamo Rent A Car®†† and up to 5% on Enterprise Rent-A-Car®†† at locations worldwide using the Car Rental Booking tool
    • discount

      Discount

      Get 20% off admission to Cirque du Soleil shows touring Canada* and 15% off resident shows in Las Vegas
    • discount

      Hotel Booking Discount

      Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings at booking.com/mastercardcanada *
    • discount

      Discount

      Enjoy three months of Instacart+ and a $5 monthly Instacart credit when you enroll your eligible BMO Credit Card.*

    Eligibility

    • Credit Score

      Good
    • Annual Income

      N/A

    Our choice for: Best for Dining

    Welcome Bonus

    Get up to $1,150 in value including up to 70,000 Bonus points, monthly streaming statement credit, $50 statement credit, and no annual fee in your first year.*

    First Year Rewards

    $1,023.08

    Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

    Annual Fee

    $120 $0

    Interest Rates

    21.99% / 23.99%□

    RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

    300
    Poor
    560
    Fair
    660⁎
    Good
    725⁎
    Very Good
    760⁎
    Excellent
    ⁎Estimates based on Equifax scoring

    3.6/5

    This card is ideal for individuals who want to maximize rewards on everyday purchases like dining, groceries, and transit while benefiting from a generous welcome bonus and lifestyle credit. However, the point value and high income requirements may be limiting for some.

    Pros


    • Generous rewards
    • Annual lifestyle credit
    • Authorized user bonus points
    • first-year fee rebate

    Cons


    • Lower point value
    • High income requirements
    • Limited insurance

    Rewards

    • Earn 5x the BMO Rewards points on groceries, dining, gas and transit.*
    • Get 1 BMO Reward for every $1 spent on everything else.*

    Insurance

    Coverage

    • purchase protection

      Purchase Protection

      90 days
    • extended warranty

      Extended Warranty

      1 year
    • mobile device insurance

      Mobile Device Insurance

      $1,000
    • heart lock

      Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

      $500,000
    • travel accident medical

      Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

      $5M up to 15 days
    • car insurance

      Car Rental Damage & Theft

      $65K up to 48 days

    Benefits

    Details

    • exclusive

      Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

      Exclusive luxury hotel collection, unique dining and wine events
    • golf clubs

      Golf Benefit

      Troon Rewards Golf benefits like discounts at over 95 resorts and courses around the world plus access to select private clubs across the U.S
    • finance money dollar

      Anniversary Credit

      Get a $50 anniversary lifestyle credit
    • concierge

      Concierge Services

    • discount

      Discount

      Enjoy six months of Instacart+ and a $10 monthly Instacart credit when you enroll your eligible BMO Credit Card.*

    Eligibility

    • Credit Score

      Good
    • Annual Income

      $60,000 personal or $100,000 household

    Our choice for: Best for Balance Transfers

    Welcome Bonus

    Get a 0% introductory interest rate on Balance Transfers for 18 months with a 3% transfer fee and a $29 first-year annual fee rebate.*

    Rewards Rate

    No Rewards

    Annual Fee

    $29 $0

    Interest Rates

    13.99%* / 15.99%*

    RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

    300
    Poor
    560
    Fair
    660⁎
    Good
    725⁎
    Very Good
    760⁎
    Excellent
    ⁎Estimates based on Equifax scoring

    4.5/5

    If you plan to carry a balance on your credit card, this card offers a very low interest rate. However, there are other cards with no annual fee and slightly lower interest rates that you might want to consider as well.

    Pros


    • Low interest rates
    • Balance transfer welcome bonus

    Cons


    • Annual fee
    • Lacks significant benefits

    Rewards

    No rewards earned on this card

    Insurance

    Coverage

    • purchase protection

      Purchase Protection

      90 days
    • extended warranty

      Extended Warranty

      Doubled up to 1 year

    Benefits

    Details

    • discount

      Discount

      Enjoy three months of Instacart+ and a $5 monthly Instacart credit when you enroll your eligible BMO Credit Card.*

    Eligibility

    • Credit Score

      Good
    • Annual Income

      N/A

    Our choice for: Best for Premium Travel

    Welcome Bonus

    Get up to $1,900 in value including up to 115,000 points. Plus, get a 0% introductory interest rate on Balance transfers for 12 months.*

    First Year Rewards

    $1,197.63

    Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

    Annual Fee

    $150 $0

    Interest Rates

    21.99% / 23.99%□

    RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

    300
    Poor
    560
    Fair
    660⁎
    Good
    725⁎
    Very Good
    760⁎
    Excellent
    ⁎Estimates based on Equifax scoring

    3.5/5

    The BMO Ascend™ World Elite® Mastercard® is perfect for frequent travelers who want a premium card offering high earning rates on travel, dining, and entertainment, plus valuable travel perks like lounge access and comprehensive insurance coverage. If you travel often and can meet the income requirement, this card offers flexibility and peace of mind with both rewards and protection while you're on the go.

    Pros


    • Generous rewards
    • Lounge access
    • Comprehensive insurance
    • first-year fee rebate

    Cons


    • Low point value
    • High income requirements
    • Limited lounge availability

    Rewards

    • 5x points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases (up to $15,000 spent)*
    • 3x points per $1 spent on eligible dining, recurring bill payment and entertainment purchases (up to $10,000 spent per category)*
    • 1x point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases*

    Insurance

    Coverage

    • purchase protection

      Purchase Protection

      90 days
    • extended warranty

      Extended Warranty

      Double up to 1 year
    • travel accident medical

      Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

      $5M up to 21 days
    • heart lock

      Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

      $500,000/person
    • pause

      Trip Interruption

      $2K/person, $10K/trip
    • cancel airplane

      Trip Cancellation

      $1,500/person, $5K/trip
    • hourglass timer

      Flight Delay

      $500 after 4 hours
    • hourglass timer

      Baggage Delay

      $500/person, $1K/trip
    • lost baggage

      Lost or Stolen Baggage

      $500/person, $1K/trip
    • burglar

      Hotel Burglary Insurance

      $1,000
    • car insurance

      Car Rental Damage & Theft

      $65,000 up to 48 days

    Benefits

    Details

    • alcohol cheers

      Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

      4 complimentary visits
    • discount

      Discount

      Up to 7% discount on Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings
    • discount

      Discount

      20% off admission to Cirque du Soleil shows touring Canada, and 15% off resident shows in Las Vegas
    • car rental

      Car Rental Discount

      20% off base rate of participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car and up to 5% on Enterprise Rent-A-Car
    • discount

      Discount

      FlexiRoam: Stay connected around the world without a SIM card and get up to 15% off a Global Data Roaming plan plus up to 3GB of data, free.
    • discount

      Discount

      Enjoy six months of Instacart+ and a $10 monthly Instacart credit when you enroll your eligible BMO Credit Card.*

    Eligibility

    • Credit Score

      Good
    • Annual Income

      $80,000 personal or $150,000 household

    Our choice for: Best for No Annual Fee

    Welcome Bonus

    Get up to 25,000 bonus points in your first anniversary!*

    First Year Rewards

    $329.68

    Based on $2,000/mo spending. Calculate your rewards

    Annual Fee

    $0

    Interest Rates

    21.99%* / 23.99%*□

    RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

    300
    Poor
    560
    Fair
    660⁎
    Good
    725⁎
    Very Good
    760⁎
    Excellent
    ⁎Estimates based on Equifax scoring

    3.5/5

    The BMO Eclipse Rise Visa is an excellent choice for those who want to earn rewards without paying an annual fee. It offers solid bonus categories like dining, groceries, and bills, and includes rare perks such as mobile device insurance. The card is ideal for newcomers or those looking to build their credit while enjoying the benefits of a no-fee rewards card with simple, everyday earnings. If you frequently spend in the bonus categories, this card provides good value without any added costs.

    Pros


    • No annual fee
    • Impressive bonus categories
    • Mobile device insurance
    • Generous welcome bonus
    • Annual bonus points
    • Fuel savings

    Cons


    • Low base earn rate
    • Low point value

    Rewards

    • 5x points per $2 spent on eligible dining, groceries and recurring bill payments (up to $5,000 spent per category)
    • 1x point per $2 spent on all other eligible purchases

    Insurance

    Coverage

    • purchase protection

      Purchase Protection

      90 days
    • extended warranty

      Extended Warranty

      1 year
    • mobile device insurance

      Mobile Device Insurance

      $1,000

    Benefits

    Details

    • reward cup

      Extra points

      2,500 bonus points per year for paying full credit card bill on time for 12 consecutive months
    • reward cup

      Extra points

      Another 2,500 bonus points for redeeming at least 12,000 points annually towards your statement balance with Pay with Points
    • discount

      Discount

      Enjoy three months of Instacart+ and a $5 monthly Instacart credit when you enroll your eligible BMO Credit Card.*

    Eligibility

    • Credit Score

      Good
    • Annual Income

      N/A

    From our editors: The full list of Best BMO Credit Cards in Canada

    Best Overall: BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard

    The BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard stands out as one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada thanks to its exceptional cashback rates, particularly on groceries and gas, alongside solid rewards on transit and recurring bills. This makes it a top choice for everyday spending. Beyond cashback, the card offers solid insurance coverage, plus premium perks like an airport lounge DragonPass membership, and rare roadside assistance, offering free towing, battery boosts, and flat-tire changes.

    With a generous welcome bonus and a first-year annual fee waiver, this card provides strong first-year value, though potential applicants should note the relatively high income requirement. Read more in our BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard Review.

    Best for Students: Student BMO Cashback Mastercard

    For those still in school, the Student BMO Cashback Mastercard offers strong cashback on groceries and decent cashback on recurring payments. This card also includes discounts on car rentals, Cirque du Soleil shows, and prepaid hotel and rental property bookings made via Booking.com. Its easy accessibility and admirable features make it one of the best student credit cards in Canada. Learn more by reading our Student BMO Cashback Mastercard Review.

    Best for Premium Porter Flyers: BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard

    The BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard is the most premium option for frequent Porter Airlines flyers. This contender earns cardholders impressive VIPorter points per dollar spent on Porter purchases made via flyporter.com, plus commendable points on eligible gas, transportation, grocery, dining, and hotel accommodation purchases. On top of comprehensive coverage, expect valuable perks like an airport lounge Dragon Pass membership, free first checked bags, and an annual companion voucher when set spending thresholds are met.

    Note that this card comes with annual fee, but thankfully it's waived for the first year. There are also some high annual income requirements to qualify. Check out our BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard Review for more details.

    Best Accessible Option for Porter Flyers: BMO VIPorter Mastercard

    For a lower annual fee (also rebated in the first year) and no annual income requirements, you can opt for the BMO VIPorter Mastercard instead. With this option, you'll earn fewer points per dollar on Porter purchases, gas, transportation, groceries, dining, and accommodations, and you'll have less coverage and fewer perks. Still, this VIPorter competitor is much more accessible and affordable, especially if you don't need luxury perks. See more in our BMO VIPorter Mastercard Review.

    Best for Dining: BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite Card

    The BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite Card was designed for those who dine, offering impressive points per dollar spent on restaurant, fast food, coffee shop, and food delivery purchases, not to mention other common categories like groceries, gas, and daily transit. The card also features decent coverage and solid benefits, including a unique anniversary lifestyle credit, applicable towards any purchase.

    Luckily, the annual fee is waived for the first year of membership, but applicants will need to meet some annual income requirements to qualify. Get all the details in our BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite Card Review.

    Best for Balance Transfers: BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard

    Need to consolidate your credit card debt? Then consider the BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard, BMO's leading balance transfer credit card. For a small annual fee, cardholders earn a reduced interest rate on balance transfers for several months, allowing them to catch up on repayments.

    Of course, this card has no rewards program or perks, but it features standard purchase protection and extended warranty insurance. See the full breakdown in our BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard Review.

    Best for Premium Travel: BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

    Need a BMO Card with premium travel benefits? The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard has you covered with extensive insurance coverage and valuable perks like an airport lounge Dragon Pass membership with complimentary visits. This exclusive contender also provides amazing points per dollar spent on eligible travel purchases, plus points on eligible dining, recurring bill payments, and entertainment purchases.

    The annual fee is rebated for the first year of membership, but applicants must meet the card's high annual income requirements to qualify. Discover more in our BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard Review.

    Best for No Annual Fee: BMO eclipse rise Visa Card

    We've seen at lot of BMO contenders that waive their annual fee for the first year, but this next contender avoids annual fees altogether. The BMO eclipse rise Visa Card earns you generous points on eligible dining, groceries, and recurring bill payments. Added perks include mobile device insurance, extra point opportunities for paying off your balance and redeeming points towards your balance, plus discounts on fuel. Get the full report in our BMO eclipse rise Visa Card Review.

    Choosing the Right BMO Credit Card

    Selecting the right BMO credit card for you comes down to finding a card that complements your unique spending profile.

    For example, if you're looking for a well-rounded card for everyday purchases, then you might select this list's best overall contender, the BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard. Alternatively, if you're still a student you might opt for the Student BMO Cashback Mastercard. Conversely, premium Porter Airline travellers are best suited to the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard.

    Breaking Down BMO Rewards

    BMO credit cards provide four different reward types: BMO Rewards, VIPorter points, and cashback rewards.

    BMO Rewards

    BMO Rewards are typically collected on common expenses like gas, groceries, dining and more. These points can later be redeemed towards travel, financial products, statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise. To redeem your BMO Rewards, you'll need to log in to your BMO account. For travel, you'll need to book your trip using your BMO Rewards card and use the "Pay with Points" tab in your account to cover the eligible transaction.

    VIPorter

    VIPorter points are earned on either VIPorter-branded BMO card. These points can be applied to Porter Airline and partner flights. To redeem these points, simply:

    1. Input your flight details into the booking screen on the redemption platform, then hit “Book Now”
    2. On the “Flight Options” screen, select “Show fares in: VIPorter points” or “Dollars & points”
    3. Sign into your VIPorter account through the pop-up (if you haven’t already) to see your VIPorter point fare options
    4. Pick your itinerary and submit your booking using points

    Cashback

    Cashback is earned on BMO cashback cards and is typically redeemable through the BMO rewards portal once you've earned at least $1. You can also set up automatic deposits that cash in once you earn a specified amount of cashback (for example, every time you earn $25 back).

    Applying for a BMO Credit Card

    Typically, you'd apply for a BMO Credit Card through BMO's official website by selecting your desired card and following the corresponding application steps.

    To fast-track this process, feel free to tap the "Apply Now" buttons attached to this post. By doing so, you can also earn rebates on select cards.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Typically, the income requirement for BMO World Elite credit cards is a minimum $80,000 personal annual income and a minimum $150,000 household annual income. These requirements are quite exclusive and might make the World Elite tier less accessible to some applicants.


    Always double check the income requirements linked to each specific card by checking the credit card’s terms and conditions.

    For the most part, it’s estimated that you’ll need a “good” credit score to get your hands on a BMO World Elite Mastercard. A “good” credit score is a score of about 660. Considering this is merely an estimation, please use this information as a helpful guideline.

    The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is simply an upgraded version of the BMO World Elite tier. The Ascend version has better perks like the Dragon Pass with complimentary lounge visits, and more comprehensive travel insurance.

    About the author

    Sara Skodak

    Sara Skodak

    Lead Writer

    Since graduating from the University of Western Ontario, Sara has built a diverse writing portfolio, covering topics in the travel, business, and wellness sectors. As a self-started freelance content ...

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    Abid Salahi

    Abid Salahi

    Co-founder

    Abid leads the design and engineering of the FinlyWealth website, making sure everything runs smoothly and looks great. He’s a seasoned software engineer who follows best practices and designs interfa...

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    Kevin Shahnazari

    Kevin Shahnazari

    Co-founder

    Kevin started FinlyWealth and juggles a bit of everything—digging into data, running our marketing, and keeping the finances on track. Before this, he spent years as a data scientist at tech companies...

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