Scotiabank American Express® Card vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Privilege Card: Which one is better?
Scotiabank American Express® Card
3.2
Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Privilege Card
4.5
Finly Rebate
Finly Rebate
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$353.09
Scene+
First Year Bonus Value
$75
Scene+
Annual Fee
$0
Finly Rebate
$55Exclusive Offer
First Year Value
$483.09
$353.09 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$322.93
Scene+
First Year Bonus Value
$300
Scene+
Annual Fee
$599
Finly Rebate
$225Exclusive Offer
First Year Value
$248.93
-$276.07 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
2 yearsPurchase Protection
180 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$2,500/person (max $5,000 per trip)
Baggage Delay
$1000/person.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Covers vehicles MSRP ≤ $85k, rentals ≤ 48 days
Travel Accident
$500,000/insured
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$2,500
Emergency Out of province Medical
$5M/insured up to 31 daysEmergency Medical Over 65
$5M/insured up to 10 days
Trip Cancellation
$2,500/person, $10,000/trip
Trip Interruption
$5,000/person, $25,000/tripFlight Delay
$1000/person
Extra Benefits*
Car Rental Discount
25% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
American Express® Experiences
Extra Benefits*
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the usual 2.5% forex fees on your purchases when you travel outside of Canada
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
10 Free complimentary visits.svg)
Concierge Services
24/7 Visa Infinite Privilege concierge (English & French).svg)
Status lift
Avis President’s Club membership – two class upgrades, priority service..svg)
Travel Credit
$250 annual Scene+ Travel credit – automatic statement credit on your first Expedia‑powered booking each membership year.
Priority Travel
Dedicated security and taxi lanes, valet and parking discounts at select Canadian airports.
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*
$599
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$12,000
Min Household Income:
N/A
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$150,000
Min Household Income:
$200,000
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 30,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $3,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Earn an additional 30,000 bonus Scene+ points when you spend at least $20,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 6 months. Earn an additional 20,000 bonus Scene+ points when you make at least one eligible purchase that is posted to your new Account during the 14th month after the month the Account was opened.
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 3x the Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible travel purchases. Plus, earn an extra 3X the points on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do when you book through Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia.
- Earn 2X the Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible dining and entertainment.
- Plus, earn 1X the Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on all other eligible purchases.
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?
For frequent flyers who want a single card that handles almost every travel need, this one’s hard to beat. It offers a hefty intro bonus of up to 80 k Scene+ points (worth roughly $800 toward travel), an annual $250 Scene+ Travel credit that’s as good as cash when you book through Expedia, and ten complimentary DragonPass lounge visits each year. Pair that with no 2.5% foreign‑currency markup, rich earn rates on travel (3x) and dining/entertainment (2x), and unusually comprehensive travel insurance, and the $599 fee can pay for itself quickly for anyone who travels a few times a year.
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 surcharge on any purchase made in a currency other than CAD—saves 2.5% every time.
- Up to 80k Scene+ welcome points after meeting tiered spending targets (up to $800 in value).
- $250 annual travel credit you can apply to flights, hotels, cars, or packages booked through Scene+ Travel.
- 10 free DragonPass lounge visits per membership year (primary cardholder and each supplementary card have their own quota).
- Accelerated earn rates: 3x points on travel and 2x on dining & entertainment, 1x everywhere else.
- Extensive protection: $5M emergency medical (31 days, 10 days if 65+), trip‑cancel/interruption, flight & baggage delay, car rental‑LDW, mobile‑device, purchase security & extended warranty.
- Premium extras such as Avis President’s Club, Relais & Châteaux, Visa Infinite Privilege concierge, wine‑country and dining‑series perks.
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
- High annual fee: $599 for the primary card and $199 per supplementary card.
- Steep qualification bar: personal income $150k, household $200k, or $400k in assets.
- Scene+ points are fixed‑value, so there’s no “first‑class sweet‑spot” like with airline programs.
- Not suited to carrying a balance – 20.99% purchase rate and 22.99% cash‑advance/BT.
- Lounge benefit is visit‑based (no restaurant credits) and relies on DragonPass locations and capacity.
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