BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®: Which one is better?
BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*
3.1
BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
4
Finly Rebate
Finly Rebate
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$307.13
BMO Rewards
First Year Bonus Value
$301.5
BMO Rewards
Annual Fee
$150
$0
First Year Waived
First Year Value
$608.63
$157.13 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$500.78
First Year Bonus Value
$184
Annual Fee
$120
$0
First Year Waived
First Year Value
$684.78
$380.78 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included*
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1K/trip
Baggage Delay
$500/person, $1K/trip.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65,000 up to 48 days
Travel Accident
$500,000/person
Extended Warranty
Double up to 1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000
Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M up to 21 daysFlight Delay
$500 after 4 hours
Trip Cancellation
$1,500/person, $5K/trip
Trip Interruption
$2K/person, $10K/trip
Insurance Included*
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1,000 maximumBaggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000 maximum After 6 hoursCar Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 daysTravel Accident
$500,000Extended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M up to 8 days per covered personFlight Delay
$500 After 4 hours delay
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-Car
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
4 complimentary visits
Discount
Up to 7% discount on Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookingsDiscount
20% off admission to Cirque du Soleil shows touring Canada, and 15% off resident shows in Las VegasDiscount
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.
Extra Benefits*
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 toolAirport 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..svg)
Gas Discount
Get up to 7 cents off per litre on Shell® fuel, only for BMO cardholders.
Roadside Assistance
Including battery boosts, flat-tire change, lockout service and towing – a $69/year value.Hotel Booking Discount
Save up to 7% on your Booking.com prepaid hotel or property rental bookings at booking.com/mastercardcanada.
Global Data Roaming plan
With 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, without any additional charges, if apply.
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%
Cash Advance:
23.99%
Balance Transfer:
23.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
21.99%
Cash Advance:
23.99%
Balance Transfer:
23.99%
Annual Fee*
$150
$0
First Year Waived
Annual Fee*
$120
$0
First Year Waived
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$80,000
Min Household Income:
$150,000
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$80,000
Min Household Income:
$150,000
Welcome Bonus*
Get up to 90,000 points and the annual fee waived in your first anniversary for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.*
Welcome Bonus*
Get up to 10% cash back in your first 3 months with an incremental cashback value of $194
Rewards Rate*
- 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
Rewards Rate*
- 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.
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program*
N/A
Point Redemption Options*
Most Optimal
Travel
0.67¢ / point
Financial Products
0.67¢ / point
Entertainment
0.64¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
0.5¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.48¢ / point
Merchandise
0.45¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Not Applicable
Is this card worth it?
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.
Is this card worth it?
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
- Generous rewards: 5 points per $1 spent on travel, 3 points per $1 spent on dining, entertainment, and recurring bills, and 1 point per $1 on other purchases.
- Lounge access: Includes 4 free annual lounge passes through Mastercard Travel Pass.
- Comprehensive insurance: 14 types of insurance, including emergency medical and trip cancellation coverage.
- First year fee waived: Try the card for a year without paying the $150 annual fee.
Pros
- Offers one of the highest cashbacks on groceries and gas, two of the most frequently spent categories, compared to other credit cards in Canada.
- Includes roadside assistance, a rare but valuable benefit for people on the road.
- Provides a comprehensive list of insurance coverage and benefits.
- High first-year value.
Cons
- Low point value: Points are worth only 0.67 cents each, which is lower than other cards.
- High income requirements: Requires $80,000 personal income or $150,000 household income, making it inaccessible for many.
- Limited lounge availability: Users have reported issues with lounge access.
Cons
- Does not include restaurant purchases as a reward category, which is one of the most important spending categories.
- Monthly limits on cash back could be higher
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