Scotia Momentum® No-Fee Visa* Card for Students Review
The Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students allows students to build credit and collect cash back simultaneously.
Jul 30, 2026 5:53 PM
The Bottom Line
If you're looking to optimize your gas, grocery and other common expenses, all while creating a credit history, you might want to consider the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students.
Skip to: Detailed Review
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Earn 5% Cash Back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).1
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
20.99 / 22.99%
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
Welcome Bonus Details
- Earn 5% Cash Back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).1
- Plus, get a 0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months (2% fee per cash advance, 22.99% after that; annual fee $0).1
- You will earn 1% on all eligible purchases of Transit, Rideshare and Food Delivery.¹
- Offer Validity: July 2, 2026 – November 1, 2026
- Rates, fees, offers and other information are effective as of July 2, 2026. Subject to change.
Card Details
Interest Rates
Purchase APR
20.99
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Balance Transfer APR
22.99%
Promotional Balance Transfer Rate
Promotional Rate
0
Promotional Period
6 months
Transfer Fee
2%
Fees
Annual Fee
$0
Additional Cards
$0
Eligibility
Minimum Individual Income
N/A
Minimum Household Income
N/A
Credit Score Estimate
Poor
Type
Card Type
Credit
Reward Type
Cash BackPros & Cons
Pros
- No annual fee
- Generous welcome bonus
- Simple starter rewards card
- Car rental discounts
- Gas discounts
Cons
- No insurance
- Relatively lower earn rate
Our Detailed Review
How to Earn Rewards with the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students
Earning cash back with the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students is quite straightforward.
Students can expect:
- 1% cash back on gas, groceries, drug store, transit, rideshare, food delivery and recurring payments
- 0.5% cash back on all other credit card purchases (unlimited)
Effectively then, students can earn cash back whilst contributing to a credit history. A credit history is an important determining factor for future finances like loans, mortgages, rental applications, and credit card upgrades.
How to Redeem Rewards with the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students
Once you have at least $25 collected in cash back, you can redeem your rewards via Scotiabank's mobile app or online banking. Cash back is redeemed as a statement credit towards any eligible account.
Benefits and Perks
4 Benefits of the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students
There are a handful of benefits that make the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students one of the best student credit cards in Canada.
For starters, the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students avoids any annual fees, so you can focus all of your income on your studies.
Although the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card's rewards system isn't the most lucrative, collecting cash back on common expenses and being able to redeem that cash back as a statement credit is both convenient and versatile.
Need a set of wheels? Students save up to 25% off base rates at participating Avis and Budget establishments across Canada and the US. To unlock these savings, all you have to do is pay for your rental using your Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students.
Students also save up to 7¢/L in value at Shell stations when they link their Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students to a Shell Go+ account.
Drawbacks and Considerations
3 Downsides to the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students
Before sending in that application, there are still a few drawbacks to consider.
Unfortunately, the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students lacks insurance coverage. Even basic purchase protection and extended warranty insurance.
Compared to other student credit cards on the Canadian market, the cash back earn rate on the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students is relatively low.
Unlike many student credit cards, the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students requires students to have a small personal annual income to qualify.
Compare to Similar Cards
Comparison to Other Leading Student Credit Cards in Canada
In this section, we're going to compare the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students against other top student credit cards in Canada.

Tangerine
4.4
Annual Fee
$0
$0
$0
$119.88
$0
Interest Rates
Purchase
20.99
Cash advance
22.99%
Balance transfer
22.99%
Purchase
21.99%
Cash advance
23.99%
21.99%
Balance transfer
23.99%
21.99%
Purchase
20.95%*
Cash advance
22.95%*
Balance transfer
22.95%*
Rate details
Purchase
19.99% - 29.99%
19.99% - 24.99%
Cash advance
22.99% - 31.99%
22.99% - 25.99%
Balance transfer
22.99% - 31.99%
Purchase
21.99%*
Cash advance
22.99%*
Balance transfer
22.99%*
Rate details
Welcome Bonus
Earn 5% Cash Back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).1
5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,500 in spend
10% Cash Back (up to $100 value) + 1.95% balance transfer promo rate for 6 months
$25 bonus upon approval for new clients
Earn up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months.
Rewards
$252.42
First year rewards
$335.93
First year rewards
$382.86
First year rewards
0% - 1%
$291.92
First year rewards
on Scotiabank's website
on BMO's website
on Tangerine's website
on Neo Financial's website
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus Details
Earn Rates
Insurance Coverage
Extra Benefits
Requirements
Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students vs BMO Student Cash Back Mastercard
For better cash back rates on groceries and recurring purchases, look no further than the BMO Student Cash Back Mastercard. Unlike the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students, this contender includes extended warranty and purchase protection insurance, plus extra perks like hotel, entertainment, and Instacart discounts. Luckily, this card also avoids annual income requirements.
Verdict: The BMO Student Cash Back Mastercard is a stronger cash back credit card for students that's more accessible and yields better value overall.
Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students vs Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard
The Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard provides students with customizable cash back. With this competitor, students can pick two earn categories out of the 13 offered Tangerine, plus a third when they deposit their earnings into a Tangerine Savings Account. The card also includes extended warranty and purchase protection insurance, but lacks any added benefits. Like the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students, this contender also has a small annual income requirement.
Verdict: For better coverage and more control over how you earn cash back, consider the Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard instead.
Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students vs Neo Secured Mastercard
Crave the comfort of guaranteed approval? The Neo Secured Mastercard is easy to qualify for and earns students decent cash back on grocery and gas purchases. Students can also earn even more cash back when they purchase from Neo Partners. That said, this card lacks any added coverage or perks.
Verdict: The Neo Secured Mastercard is a great plan b for student struggling with credit card approval.
Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Infinite Card for Students vs Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students
Perhaps you'd prefer to pocket Scene+ points over cash back. If so, check out the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students. This card earns valuable Scene+ points on partner grocery, home improvement, Cineplex, and travel purchases. While this competitor lacks insurance coverage, it includes similar car rental discounts and better fuel savings at Shell stations. The best part? Students don't need to meet any annual income requirements to qualify.
Verdict: The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students is a great points alternative that yields better annual value.
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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