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Published Oct 27, 2025 8:58 AM • 10 min read
If your idea of the best credit card 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) or Air Miles partnerships.
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.
Our choice for: Best Overall
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
Get up to $335 in additional cash back**
Annual Fee
$120 $0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 23.99%□
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.
Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Emergency Medical Term
Travel Accident
Flight Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Roadside Assistance
Car Rental Discount
Hotel Booking Discount
Global Data Roaming plan
Gas Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best for Students
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,500 in spend
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 23.99%□
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Benefits
Details
Car Rental Discount
Discount
Hotel Booking Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best for Premium Porter Flyers
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
Get up to 70,000 VIPorter points and a round-trip companion pass.* Plus receive $1,000 in Qualifying Spend.*
Annual Fee
$199 $0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 23.99%□
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.

Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Extended Warranty
Purchase Protection
Emergency Medical Term
Travel Accident
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Free first checked bag
Companion Voucher
Priority Travel
Car Rental Discount
Hotel Booking Discount
Mastercard On-Demand and Subscription Services
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best Accessible Option for Porter Flyers
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
Get up to 40,000 VIPorter points and a 35% off flight voucher.*
Annual Fee
$89 $0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 23.99%□
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Extended Warranty
Purchase Protection
Emergency Medical Term
Travel Accident
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Benefits
Details
Priority Travel
Car Rental Discount
Discount
Hotel Booking Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best for Air Miles
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 7,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles*
Annual Fee
$120 $0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 23.99%□
The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard is ideal for frequent Air Miles collectors looking for premium travel benefits and a strong rewards rate. With up to 2,000 bonus miles, a 25% annual flight discount, and automatic Onyx status, this card offers substantial value for those who frequently shop at Air Miles partners and travel often. Its comprehensive insurance coverage and first-year fee waiver also add to its appeal, though the high income requirement may limit its accessibility.

Pros
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Emergency Medical Term
Travel Accident
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Discount
Car Rental Discount
Discount
Discount
Status lift
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best for Dining
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to $570 in value which includes up to 60,000 Bonus points and first year fee waived
Annual Fee
$120 $0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 23.99%□
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Mobile Device Insurance
Travel Accident
Emergency Medical Term
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Benefits
Details
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Golf Benefit
Gas Discount
Anniversary Credit
Concierge Services
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best for Balance Transfers
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
0.99% interest rate on balance transfers for 9 months*
Rewards Rate
No Rewards
Annual Fee
$29
Interest Rates
13.99%* / 15.99%*
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
Cons
Rewards
No rewards earned on this card
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best for Premium Travel
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
Up to 90,000 points and first annual fee waived**
Annual Fee
$150 $0
Interest Rates
21.99% / 23.99%□
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Emergency Medical Term
Travel Accident
Trip Interruption
Trip Cancellation
Flight Delay
Baggage Delay
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Discount
Discount
Car Rental Discount
Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
Our choice for: Best for No Annual Fee
on BMO's website
Welcome Bonus
Get up to 25,000 bonus points in your first anniversary!*
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
21.99%* / 23.99%*□
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
Cons
Rewards
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
Mobile Device Insurance
Benefits
Details
Extra points
Extra points
Gas Discount
Eligibility
Credit Score
Annual Income
The BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard stands out as one of the best BMO 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.
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.
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.
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.
Maybe you prefer to collect Air Miles. If so, go for the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard, also known as one of the best Air Miles credit cards in Canada. Avoid annual fees for the first year, and collect a good amount miles on AIR MILES Partner purchases, plus some miles on eligible grocery, liquor, and wholesale store purchases. Alongside comprehensive coverage, cardholders receive an airport lounge Dragon Pass membership, an automatic Air Miles Onyx status lift, and discounts on rental cars, flights, and accommodations.
Of course, to account for these perks, this card comes with some high annual income requirements. Find out more in our BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard Review.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
BMO credit cards provide four different reward types: BMO Rewards, VIPorter points, Air Miles, and cashback 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 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:
Air Miles are earned on Air Miles-branded BMO cards and are redeemable towards travel, in-store partners, a Personal Shopper service, donations, and eligible events and attractions. Redemption processes vary by category, see our credit card Airmiles points calculator for details.
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).
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.
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.
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Sara Skodak
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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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