BMO AIR MILES® Mastercard®* for Students vs BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard®: Which one is better?

BMO AIR MILES® Mastercard®* for Students
4

BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard®
3.6
Finly Rebate
Finly Rebate
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$63.16
Air Miles
First Year Bonus Value
$144
Air Miles
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$207.16
$63.16 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
N/A
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days
Insurance Included*
Extended Warranty
Doubled up to 1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days
Extra Benefits*
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-CarDiscount
Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookingsDiscount
Up to 7 cents off per litre on Shell® fuel if you are an AirMiles collectorDiscount
Get 20% off admission to Cirque du Soleil shows touring Canada, and 15% off resident shows in Las Vegas
Extra Benefits*
N/A
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%
Cash Advance:
23.99%
Balance Transfer:
23.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
13.99%2
Cash Advance:
15.99%2
Balance Transfer:
15.99%2
Annual Fee*
$0
Annual Fee*
$29
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Welcome Bonus*
Get 800 AIR MILES Bonus Miles when you spend $1,000 in net card purchases (less refunds and excluding cash advances, cash-like transactions, interest charges, fees, credit, or debit adjustments) in the first three (3) months from the Credit Card open date.
Welcome Bonus*
Get a 0.99% introductory interest rate on Balance Transfers for 9 months with a 2% transfer fee*
Rewards Rate*
- 3x Miles points per $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners
- 2x Miles points per $25 spent on eligible grocery purchases
- 1x Mile point per $25 spent on all other eligible purchases
Rewards Rate*
No rewards earned on this card
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program*
N/A
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Travel
18¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash)
10¢ / pointMerchandise
9¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Not Applicable
Is this card worth it?
The BMO Air Miles Student Mastercard is an excellent option for those looking to collect Air Miles without paying an annual fee. With bonus earning opportunities at Air Miles partners and grocery stores, this card is ideal for regular Air Miles collectors. It also offers perks like fuel savings at Shell and a competitive balance transfer rate, making it a versatile card for everyday purchases. However, its limited rewards outside of partner stores may not make it the best fit for those who don't frequently shop at Air Miles-affiliated retailers.
Is this card worth it?
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
- No annual fee: The card is free to hold, making it a cost-effective way to collect Air Miles.
- Bonus miles at partners: Earn 3x the miles at Air Miles partners and 2x the miles at grocery, liquor, and wholesale stores.
- Fuel savings: Save up to 7 cents per litre at Shell stations, with the potential to save up to $100 annually.
- Balance transfer offer: 0.99% promotional interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months.
Pros
- Low interest rate
- Nice welcome offer for balance transfer
Cons
- Low base earn rate: Earn only 1 Air Mile per $25 spent on all non-bonus purchases.
- Limited insurance: The card only offers basic insurance, such as extended warranty and purchase protection.
- Limited value outside Air Miles partners: Rewards earning potential is higher at participating partners, but significantly lower for general spending.
Cons
- Annual fee while there are similar cards that don't have that fee with them
- No benefits other than the most basic purchase protection and extended warranty


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