Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Privilege Card: Which one is better?
Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
3.1
Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Privilege Card
4.5
Finly Rebate
Finly Rebate
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$315.05
First Year Bonus Value
$0
Annual Fee
$39
First Year Value
$276.05
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*
Extended Warranty
1 year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Insurance Included*
Extended 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
Mobile Device Insurance
$1,000
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*
$39
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*
Get a 2.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months (22.99% after that; annual fee $39)
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*
- 2% cashback on gas, groceries, drug store and recurring payments (maximum $500 annually)
- 1% cashback on all other credit card purchases.
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 Visa is a low annual fee cash back card that offers impressive earn rates on a variety of everyday spending categories, making it an excellent choice for those who want to maximize rewards without the higher cost of its Visa Infinite counterpart.
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
- Cash Back Rewards: Earn up to 2% cash back on purchases.
- Low Balance Transfer Rate: Benefit from a 2.99% rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months.
- No Welcome Bonus: No initial sign-up bonus, keeping things straightforward.
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: Only basic insurance is included.
- Annual Rewards Payout: Cash back rewards are paid out once a year as a statement credit.
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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