National Bank Platinum Mastercard® Review
The National Bank Platinum Mastercard is an affordable travel-point collector, complete with comprehensive coverage.
Oct 19, 2026 11:01 AM
The Bottom Line
For a more accessible and affordable alternative to most travel point credit cards in Canada, opt for the National Bank Platinum Mastercard. That said, there are higher-fee competitors that offer better points, protections, and perks.
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on National Bank's website
Finly Special Offer
Welcome Bonus
Get up to 40,000 points(1)
Annual Fee
$70 $0
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.49%
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
Finly Special Offer
Welcome Bonus Details
Get up to 40,000 points1:
- 10,000 points when enrolling in credit card payment insurance for at least the first three months
- 15,000 points if you made $2,500 in purchases within the first three months
- 15,000 points if you made $10,000 in purchases within the first 12 months
Offer available June 30, 2026 to November 4, 2026
Card Details
Interest Rates
Purchase APR
20.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.49%
Balance Transfer APR
22.49%
Fees
Annual Fee
$70
$0 first year
Additional Cards
$35
Eligibility
Minimum Individual Income
N/A
Minimum Household Income
N/A
Credit Score Estimate
Good
Type
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Decent optimization
- Extensive Coverage
- Good for travel
Cons
- Low base earn rate
- Monthly reward cap
Our Detailed Review
How to Earn Rewards with the National Bank Platinum Mastercard
Here's how you pocket National Bank Rewards points using the National Bank Platinum Mastercard:
- 2x points per $1 spent on eligible grocery and restaurant purchases (max $1,000 spent per month - 1.5 points after)
- 1.5x points per $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, recurring bills, and travel booked through À La Carte Rewards
- 1x point per $1.5 (0.66x point per $1) spent on all other eligible purchases
How to Redeem Rewards with the National Bank Platinum Mastercard
Once you collect enough National Bank Rewards points, you can redeem them towards the following categories, ranked from most valuable to least valuable:
- Travel Through À La Carte Travel
- Travel
- Financial Products
- Merchandise
- Gift Cards
- Statement Credits (Cash)
Redeeming your points towards À La Carte Travel yields the highest 1 cent-per-point (cpp) value.
To learn more about each redemption category and the rewards program as a whole, check out our Credit Card Points Value Calculator page.
Benefits and Perks
4 Benefits of the National Bank Platinum Mastercard
There are a few perks that make the of one of the best National Bank credit cards in Canada.
Currently, the National Bank Platinum Mastercard is providing new cardholders with bonus points upon enrolling in credit card payment insurance for at least three months, plus additional points when certain spending thresholds are met within the first year of membership.
The National Bank Platinum Mastercard offers travel rewards and extensive insurance for a relatively low annual fee. In fact, this fee is waived for the first year of membership, making it extremely affordable up front.
This card also avoids annual income requirements, making it accessible to low-income applicants who want to collect travel points and coverage.
As mentioned, the National Bank Platinum Mastercard comes with tons of coverage categories, including trip interruption, trip cancellation, and travel medical insurance.
Drawbacks and Considerations
3 Downsides to the National Bank Platinum Mastercard
There are also a few downsides to consider before submitting an application.
The amount of National Bank Rewards points cardholders collect on non-specialized purchases is below average.
The highest earn rate cardholders receive on eligible grocery and restaurant purchases is capped monthly. Once the monthly threshold is met, the earn rate decreases.
While the National Bank Platinum Mastercard includes impressive travel insurance coverage, it lacks travel perks.
Compare to Similar Cards
In this section, we're going to compare the National Bank Platinum Mastercard against some top travel point credit cards that optimize similar categories.

National Bank
3.6

American Express
4.9
Limited offer

Scotiabank
5.0
Annual Fee
$70
$0 first year
$191.88
$120
Interest Rates
Purchase
20.99%
Cash advance
22.49%
Balance transfer
22.49%
Purchase
21.99%*
Cash advance
21.99%*
Rate details
Purchase
21.99%
Cash advance
22.99%
Balance transfer
22.99%
Welcome Bonus
Get up to 40,000 points(1)
Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points
Earn up to $950 in welcome offers, first year rewards and savings value, and up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points.
Rewards
$689.56
First year rewards
$1,072.15
First year rewards
$1,016.6
First year rewards
on National Bank's website
on American Express' website
Apply with Confidence — won't impact your credit score
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus Details
Earn Rates
Insurance Coverage
Extra Benefits
Requirements
National Bank Platinum Mastercard vs American Express Cobalt Card
Another top credit card in Canada is the American Express Cobalt Card. As one of the best dining credit cards in Canada, it's no surprise that this contender offers more points on eligible food and drinks, including groceries and food delivery. The reward rate on gas is also higher. That said, the National Bank Platinum Mastercard has better coverage, but the Cobalt Card comes with superior perks, like a hotel-oriented travel credit. To account for its value, the Cobalt Card has a higher annual fee.
Verdict: The American Express Cobalt Card is one of the most valuable credit cards for everyday optimization that can later be redeemed towards travel.
National Bank Platinum Mastercard vs Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
For tons of Scene+ points on groceries, dining, entertainment, transit, streaming, and travel, apply for the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, another one of the best travel credit cards in Canada. The coverage on this card is more comprehensive, plus cardholders receive valuable perks like no foreign transaction fees, concierge services, and a discount on a Priority Pass membership. Sure, the annual is pretty steep, but luckily the income requirements are small.
Verdict: The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card offers more value through its points, coverage, and perks.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you're looking for a low-fee, comprehensive travel coverage credit card without income requirements, the National Bank Platinum Mastercard is a decent option.
Your National Bank Rewards points are the most valuable when put towards Travel through À La Carte Travel.
Unfortunately, no. The National Bank Platinum Mastercard lacks added travel perks like travel credits, airport lounge memberships, or no foreign transaction fees.
About the author

Sara Skodak
Lead Writer
Since graduating from the University of Western Ontario, Sara has built a diverse writing portfolio, covering topics in the travel, business, and wellness sectors. As a self-started freelance content ...
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National Bank Platinum Mastercard®
3.6
FinlyWealth Rating
on National Bank's website
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