Scotia Momentum Visa Card Review: An Accessible Consideration
The Scotia Momentum Visa Card is a solid contender for everyday optimization. That said, there are similar credit cards on the Canadian market for no annual fee that may be worth considering.
Oct 19, 2026 11:20 AM
The Bottom Line
Since you can get similar rewards, better coverage, and more perks with similar no-fee contenders, it's best to consider all of your options before applying for the Scotia Momentum Visa Card. Just look out for income requirements while doing so.
Skip to: Detailed Review
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months
Annual Fee
$39
Interest Rates
19.99% / 22.99%
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
Welcome Bonus Details
- 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 $39).1
- Offer valid from Jul 2, 2026 - Jan 3, 2027.
Card Details
Interest Rates
Purchase APR
19.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Balance Transfer APR
22.99%
Promotional Balance Transfer Rate
Promotional Rate
2.99%
Promotional Period
6 months
Transfer Fee
0%
Fees
Annual Fee
$39
Additional Cards
$15
Eligibility
Minimum Individual Income
$12,000
Minimum Household Income
N/A
Credit Score Estimate
Good
Type
Card Type
Credit
Reward Type
Cash BackPros & Cons
Pros
- Decent optimization
- Low balance transfer rate
- Low annual fee
- Car rental discounts
Cons
- Limited insurance
- Annual redemption
Our Detailed Review
How You Earn Rewards with the Scotia Momentum Visa Card
To collect cashback using your Scotia Momentum Visa Card, simply purchase gas, groceries, drug store products, and make recurring payments using your card.
By doing so, you’ll receive:
- 2% cashback on gas, groceries, drug store, and recurring payments (maximum $500 annually)
- 1% cashback on all other credit card purchases
How You Redeem Rewards with the Scotia Momentum Visa Card
With the Scotia Momentum Visa Card, you can redeem your earned cashback towards a statement credit or deposit it into a Scotiabank account at any time, as long as you’ve accumulated a value of at least $25.
Redemptions can be made via the Scotia mobile app or online banking.
Benefits and Perks
5 Benefits of the Scotia Momentum Visa Card
There are a few benefits that make the Scotia Momentum Visa Card one of the best Scotiabank credit cards in Canada.
For starters, this card comes with a low annual fee, making it affordable for most applicants.
For a low-fee contender, this card also comes with decent cashback rates on everyday purchases.
For the first several months of membership, cardholders can enjoy a low balance transfer rate to help them catch up on missed payments.
Need a rental car? The Scotia Momentum Visa Card has you covered with discounts on Avis Rent a Car and Budget Rent a Car vehicles.
Link your Scotia Momentum Visa card and Scene+ account to Shell Go+ to save up to 7¢/L at participating Shell stations: 3¢/L off instantly, 2% cash back (about 2¢/L), and up to 2¢/L in Scene+ points. Limits and terms apply.
Drawbacks and Considerations
2 Downsides to the Scotia Momentum Visa Card
The Scotia Momentum Visa Card has a couple of drawbacks as well.
For starters this card only comes with standard purchase protection and extended warranty insurance. This is disappointing since there are some no-fee contenders that offer more coverage.
If you happen to be a big spender, note that your optimized cashback earnings on gas, groceries, drug store and recurring payments are capped at a maximum of $500 annually.
Compare to Similar Cards
Comparison to Other Low-Fee Cashback Credit Cards
Before you make a final decision, we’re going to compare the Scotia Momentum Visa Card against other top low-fee and no-fee contenders.
Here’s a sneak peek of the comparisons we’ll be making:

Tangerine
4.4

Neo Financial
3.4
Annual Fee
$39
$0
$0
$99
$0 first year
Interest Rates
Purchase
19.99%
Cash advance
22.99%
Balance transfer
22.99%
Purchase
20.95%*
Cash advance
22.95%*
Balance transfer
22.95%*
Rate details
Purchase
19.99% - 29.99%
19.99% - 23.99%
Cash advance
22.99% - 31.99%
Balance transfer
22.99% - 31.99%
Purchase
20.99%
Cash advance
22.99%
21.99%
Balance transfer
22.99%
Welcome Bonus
0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months
10% Cash Back (up to $100 value) + 1.95% balance transfer promo rate for 6 months
—
Earn up to $400 in value†
Rewards
$285.83
First year rewards
$382.86
First year rewards
$252.26
First year rewards
$712.96
First year rewards
on Scotiabank's website
on Tangerine's website
on Neo Financial's website
Welcome Bonus Details
Earn Rates
Insurance Coverage
Extra Benefits
Requirements
Scotia Momentum Visa Card vs Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard
For the option to earn cashback on gas, groceries, recurring bill payments, and/or drugstore purchases, you can also opt for the Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard, one of the best no-fee credit cards in Canada. This card will allow you to pick two of the above categories out of the 13 offered by Tangerine, plus a third when you deposit your rewards into a Tangerine Savings Account.
Verdict: With the Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard, you can easily optimize 2-3 of the earn categories offered by the Scotia Momentum Visa Card for no annual fee.
Scotia Momentum Visa Card vs Neo World Mastercard
Also available for no annual fee, the Neo World Mastercard earns cardholders similar cashback rates on groceries, gas, and recurring purchases. These rates can be boosted further when you purchase from Neo partners. In fact, you can also optimize your pharmacy purchases at partner retailers. Note, however, that this alternative has no added benefits and comes with income requirements.
Verdict: For those who qualify, the Neo World Mastercard offers a unique cashback system that boosts shared categories even more when you purchase from Neo partners and might be a better alternative than Scotia Momentum Visa card.
Scotia Momentum Visa Card vs CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa Card
For a slightly higher annual fee, one that’s waived during the first year of membership, cardholders can opt for the CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa Card instead. This card collects better cashback on gas and groceries, plus similar cashback on recurring bill payments. Transportation and dining are also optimized. On top of extended warranty and purchase protection insurance, you’ll receive car rental damage and theft insurance and travel accident insurance. In addition to rental car discounts, you can also expect gas discounts at participating pumps.
Verdict: Consider the CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa Card if you want better cashback on gas and groceries, plus more coverage and perks.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Scotia Momentum Visa Card is worthwhile for those who want to optimize gas, groceries, drugstore purchases, and recurring payments for a low annual fee. That said, there are competitors that offer similar reward rates for lower fees and include better perks and coverage. However, most of them require a higher income.
The Scotia Momentum Visa Card offers a low balance transfer promotional offer, making it a solid candidate for those who want to reduce the interest and earn rewards. However, there are other cards that are better suited for balance transfers specifically.
Read More: Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards in Canada
Yes. Currently, there are two Scotia Momentum credit cards with no annual fee: the Scotia Momentum Mastercard Credit Card and the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card.
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 ...
SEE FULL BIOAbout the editor

Abid Salahi
Co-founder
Abid leads the design and engineering of the FinlyWealth website, making sure everything runs smoothly and looks great. He’s a seasoned software engineer who follows best practices and designs interfa...
SEE FULL BIOGet personalized rewards estimates — see exactly how much you could earn.
Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card Cash Back Calculator
on Scotiabank's website


