Scotia Momentum® No-Fee Visa* Card vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Privilege Card: Which one is better?
Scotia Momentum® No-Fee Visa* Card
2.9
Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Privilege Card
4.5
Finly Rebate
Finly Rebate
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$157.53
First Year Bonus Value
$100
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$257.53
$157.53 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
First Year Value
$23.93
-$276.07 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included*
N/A
Insurance Included*
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
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
Extended Warranty
2 years
Purchase Protection
180 days
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
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*
Earn 5% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases). Plus, get a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months (2% fee per cash advance, 22.99% after that; annual fee $0)
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*
- 1% cash back on gas, groceries, drug store and recurring payments
- 0.5% cash back on all other credit card purchases (unlimited).
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.
Loyalty Program*
N/A
Loyalty Program*
Point Redemption Options*
Not Applicable
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
Is this card worth it?
The Scotiabank Momentum® No-Fee Visa* Card is ideal for those seeking a straightforward, entry-level credit card to build their credit while earning modest cash back on everyday purchases like groceries, gas, and bills. With no annual fee, a competitive balance transfer offer, and a high spending cap, it's a practical choice for young adults or newcomers who want to earn rewards without the complexities of more premium cards.
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
- No Annual Fee: Enjoy cash back rewards without any annual cost.
- Welcome Offer: Get 5% cash back on purchases for the first three months (up to $100).
- Cash Back Rewards: Earn up to 1% cash back in select categories.
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
- Lower Earn Rate: Offers a below-average cash back rate compared to other cards.
- Annual Redemption: Cash back can only be redeemed once per year.
- Lacks Insurance Coverage: No travel or consumer insurance, including purchase protection and extended warranty.
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.
vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
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vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
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vs Scotia Momentum® Mastercard®* Credit Card
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vs Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card
vs Scotiabank Value® Visa* Card
vs Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
vs Scotiabank American Express® Card
vs Scotiabank® Scene+ Visa Card
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
vs Scotia Momentum® Mastercard®* Credit Card
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