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Side by Side Credit Cards Comparison
Which one is better?

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
4.9
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
4.7
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to $850 in welcome offers, first year rewards and savings value, and up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points.(1)
Welcome Bonus
New American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Cardmembers can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points. Earn 60,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months. Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $2,500 in purchases in month 13. You could earn up to $4,400 in value within your first 13 months. When you combine the Welcome Bonus offer of up to $1,700 in value, your earn potential in accelerated and everyday spend earn rate categories with approximately $1,760 in value, and the $1,000 in value you get from exceptional benefits, you can earn up to $4,400 or more in value within your first 13 months. Terms and usage assumptions apply.
Our Cash Offer
$75 $150 Cash Rebate offer from FinlyWealth
Promotional rebate expires on Mar 1, 2026
Our Cash Offer
N/A
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$703.5
Scene+
First Year Bonus Value
+
$450
Scene+
Annual Fee
-
$120
Finly Rebate
Exclusive Offer
First Year Value
$1,183.5
$583.5 in years after
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$590.41
Aeroplan
First Year Bonus Value
+
$0
Aeroplan
Annual Fee
-
$599
First Year Value
-$8.59
Based on a hypothetical $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
While the first year bonus value here may show $0, the actual welcome bonus offer for this credit card is Earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan® points, which we value at $1,445 when you meet the minimum spending or other listed requirements. The value of $0 here was derived based on numbers in the spending inputs and whether you meet the minimum listed requirements.
How to Earn Rewards
How to Earn Rewards
Insurance Included
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Extended Warranty
Purchase Protection
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Mobile Device Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance (65+)
Insurance Included
Lost or Stolen Baggage
Baggage Delay
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
Extended Warranty
Purchase Protection
Hotel Burglary Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance
Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Flight Delay
Extra Benefits
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Concierge Services
Discount
American Express® Experiences
Extra Benefits
Companion Voucher
Status lift
Status lift
Status lift
Status lift
Free first checked bag
Extra points
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Nexus Program Rebate
Priority Travel
Priority Travel
Airport Lounge - Maple Leaf and AirCanada Cafes
Airport Lounge - Priority Pass
Amex Experiences™
Interest Rates
Purchase:
20.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Interest Rates
Purchase:
21.99%2
Cash Advance:
21.99%2
2 If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 29.99%.
Annual Fee
$120
Annual Fee
$599
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
$12,000
Min Household Income:
$12,000
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Point Redemption Options
Travel
Merchandise
Gift Cards
Entertainment
Groceries (Sobeys)
Restaurants
Statement Credits (Cash)
Point Redemption Options
Travel
Merchandise
Gift Cards
Most Optimal
Aeroplan® Flights
Car Rentals
Is this card worth it?
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of our favorite cards. It has a very solid rewards program, earning one of the highest rewards among all credit cards in Canada. In addition, it offers comprehensive travel benefits, including the rare and valuable no foreign transaction fee benefit, making it a great and balanced credit card in terms of both rewards and benefits. The first-year annual fee waiver is the cherry on top, providing even greater value to cardholders.
Is this card worth it?
If you are a frequent Air Canada traveler, having an Aeroplan card for perks like free checked bags and priority service can be very beneficial. Many financial institutions offer Aeroplan cards, but I don't believe the American Express version is the best one. Opting for another option might be better. However, the Amex card does have a very large sign-up bonus, making it a great choice for those specifically seeking that.
Pros
Pros
Cons
Cons
vs Scotiabank Value® Visa* Card
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Privilege Card
vs Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Scotia Momentum® No-Fee Visa* Card
vs Scotia Momentum® Mastercard®* Credit Card
vs Scotiabank® Scene+ Visa Card
vs Scotiabank American Express® Card
vs Neo World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express Platinum Card®
vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
vs CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard®
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express® Green Card
vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs Rogers Red Mastercard®
vs TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs American Express Cobalt® Card
vs Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
vs SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express
vs American Express® Green Card
vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
vs American Express Platinum Card®
vs SimplyCash® Card from American Express
vs Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card
vs CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
vs Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card
vs American Express Cobalt® Card
Legal
* Savings and reward potential in first 12 months includes welcome offer value, first year point earn potential and foreign transaction fee savings as of November 4, 2025:
$450 in travel rewards (45,000 bonus Scene+ points) for new Scotiabank Gold American Express Card clients who spend $2,000 within the first 3 months (to earn 25,000 points) and who spend $7,500 within the first 12 months (to earn an additional 20,000 points);
$58 in foreign transaction fee savings based on average annual foreign spend per account over the last 24 months (save the 2.5% foreign transaction fee markup typically charged by other card issuers);
$386 in first year point earn potential (38,500 Scene+ points) on everyday purchases based on average annual spend per account over the last 24 months with an average spend of 30% in 6X, 5X and 3X accelerator categories.
Potential First Year Value = up to $894 (rounded down to $850)
Actual offers, savings and rewards earned will depend on individual card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.
1Offer Description and Conditions: The 45,000 Bonus Scene+ Points and First Year Annual Fee Waiver (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scotiabank Gold American Express credit card accounts (“Accounts”) opened between January 2, 2026 and July 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the Account) and is subject to the conditions below.
45,000 Bonus Scene+ Point Offer Description and Conditions: To be eligible for 25,000 bonus Scene+ points (the “25,000 Point Bonus”), you must have at least $2,000 in eligible purchases posted to your new Account in the first 3 months of the Account open date. To be eligible for an additional 20,000 bonus Scene+ points (the “Additional 20,000 Point Bonus”), you must have at least $7,500 in eligible purchases posted to your new Account in the first year (12 months) of Account open date. Eligible purchases include purchases (less any refunds, returns or other similar credits) but do not include payments, cash advances (including balance transfers or cash-like transactions), interest, fees or other charges.
Point Bonus Fulfillment: The applicable point Bonus(es) will be credited to the Scene+ account within approximately 8 weeks after qualifying for a Bonus, provided the Account is open and in good standing. For Joint Accounts with a Primary Borrower and Co-borrower, the applicable point Bonus will be credited as follows: (i) the 25,000 Point Bonus and Additional 20,000 Point Bonus will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the Account of the borrower that completed the last transaction to meet the qualifying amount of eligible purchases (i.e., $2,000 or $7,500) in the appropriate time frame (i.e., first 3 months or first 12 months). If a supplementary cardholder completes the last qualifying transaction to meet the qualifying amount of eligible purchases for the 25,000 Point Bonus or the Additional 20,000 Point Bonus, the applicable point Bonus will be credited to the Primary Borrower’s Scene+ account linked to the Account. Points can be transferred between Primary and Co-Borrower or Supplementary Cardholder’s Scene+ accounts by contacting Scene+. The Account is considered in good standing if it is not past due or over limit and the Cardholder(s) is not in breach of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the Account. All other terms and conditions of the Program Terms continue to apply during the Offer period. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended without notice at any time and cannot be combined with any other offers.
First Year Annual Fee Waiver Offer Description and Conditions: We will waive the annual fee for the primary card issued between October 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026 on the Account for the first year only.
Eligibility and Exclusions: Individuals who are currently or were previously primary or secondary cardholders of a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past 2 years, including those that switch from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card, as well as employees of Scotiabank, are not eligible for the Offer. Subject to the above exclusions, Scotiabank small business credit cardholders are also eligible for the Offer.
Rates and Fees: The current annual fee is $120 for the primary card and $29 for each additional card (including those issued to co-borrowers and supplementary cardholders).
The current preferred annual interest rates for the Account are: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and cash-like transactions).
All rates, fees, features and benefits are outlined in the Application Disclosure Statement and are subject to change.
Terms and conditions apply. See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.
*Terms and conditions apply.
If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 29.99%.
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
Earn a non-promotional rate of up to 3% on your savings + an exclusive $50 bonus!
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