Scotiabank American Express® Card vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card: Which one is better?
Scotiabank American Express® Card
3.2
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
4.9
Finly Rebate
Finly Rebate
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$353.09
Scene+
First Year Bonus Value
$75
Scene+
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$428.09
$353.09 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$644.5
Scene+
First Year Bonus Value
$400
Scene+
Annual Fee
$120
First Year Value
$924.5
$524.5 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included*
Mobile Device Insurance
$500
Extended Warranty
Up to a year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Insurance Included*
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000Extended Warranty
Up to 1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1000/trip
Baggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hours.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 days
Travel Accident
$500K/person, $1M/occurrence
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$1000/occurrence
Emergency Out of province Medical
$1M, Up to 25 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
$1M, Up to 3 days
Trip Cancellation
$1500/person, $10000/trip
Trip Interruption
$1500/person, $10,000/tripFlight Delay
$500/person
Extra Benefits*
American Express® Experiences
Car Rental Discount
25% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
Extra Benefits*
American Express® Experiences
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CAD.svg)
Concierge Services
Discount
Discount on PriorityPass Membership
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
19.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Annual Fee*
$0
Annual Fee*
$120
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$12,000
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$12,000
Min Household Income:
$12,000
Welcome Bonus*
The 7,500 Bonus Scene+ Points Offer (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scotiabank American Express credit card accounts (“Account”) opened between May 1, 2025 and October 31, 2025 and is subject to terms and conditions. Earn 2,500 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $250 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, another 5,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months of Account open date.
Welcome Bonus*
Earn 20,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $2,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, you are eligible to earn a 20,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $7,500 in everyday eligible purchases in your first year.
Rewards Rate*
- Earn 3x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco and more
- Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on restaurants, fast food, drinking establishments and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
- Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on eligible entertainment purchases. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.
- Earn 2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible gas and daily transit. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more
- Earn 2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible select streaming services
- Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
- Earn additional benefits + up to 4x Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
Rewards Rate*
- Earn 6x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more
- Earn 5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
- Earn 5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purposes. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.
- Earn 3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more
- Earn 3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services
- Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
- Earn additional benefits + up to 4x Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
Point Redemption Options*
Entertainment
1¢ / point
Travel
1¢ / point
Groceries (Sobeys)
1¢ / point
Restaurants
1¢ / point
Merchandise
0.76¢ / point
Gift Cards
0.74¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
0.7¢ / point
Point Redemption Options*
Entertainment
1¢ / pointTravel
1¢ / pointGroceries (Sobeys)
1¢ / pointRestaurants
1¢ / pointMerchandise
0.76¢ / pointGift Cards
0.74¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash)
0.7¢ / point
Is this card worth it?
If you're looking to earn travel rewards without an annual fee, the Scotiabank American Express® Card is a great choice. It offers flexible Scene+ points on everyday purchases, allowing you to redeem rewards for travel, entertainment, and more—all while enjoying plenty of perks at no extra cost.
Is this card worth it?
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of our favorite cards. It has a very solid rewards program, earning one of the highest rewards among all credit cards in Canada. In addition, it offers comprehensive travel benefits, including the rare and valuable no foreign transaction fee benefit, making it a great and balanced credit card in terms of both rewards and benefits. The first-year annual fee waiver is the cherry on top, providing even greater value to cardholders.
Pros
- Strong Rewards: Earn flexible Scene+ points on all everyday purchases.
- Mobile Device Insurance: Comes with coverage for your mobile devices.
- Exclusive Perks: Access special offers, experiences, and more through American Express Invites.
- No Annual Fee: Enjoy all these benefits without paying an annual fee.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fee saves you 2.5% on all non-CAD purchases.
- Rewards cover all high-spending categories, including food, groceries, entertainment, and gas.
- Comprehensive coverage of all travel insurance.
Cons
- Limited Insurance Coverage: Insurance is confined to mobile devices and purchase security & extended warranty protection.
- Lower Acceptance: Due to being an American Express network card, less merchants may accept it.
Cons
- The card network is American Express, which might not be widely accepted in some countries, making it a bit harder to use the no foreign transaction fee benefit.
- Having a lounge pass would have made this card even more perfect, but there is access to a discount code for lounge access pass purchases.
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