Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®
Which one is better? Both cards worked out on the same spending: rewards, welcome bonus, fees and perks, line by line.
Welcome bonus
Each offer as the issuer words it. The numbers below show whether your spending reaches it.
The offer
The offer
Earn up to $950 in welcome offers, first year rewards and savings value, and up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points.1
- To be eligible for 30,000 bonus Scene+ points (the “30,000 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.
Offer Validity: July 2, 2026 – November 1, 2026
- Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points
- New American Express® Gold Rewards Cardmembers, earn 5,000 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 in net purchases on your Card
What each card is worth
Rewards, the welcome bonus and any Finly rebate in, the annual fee and FX fees out, all on your spending.
Worked out on a typical $2,000 a month of spending. Enter yours to see your own numbers.
$1,217
First-year value
$1,427
$517
Every year after
$287
Amex Gold is worth $210 more to you in year one.
From year two, Scotia Amex Gold pulls ahead by $230 a year.
How the first year adds up
Annual rewards
$636.6
63,660 points a year
Welcome bonus
+ $500
first year only
Annual fee
− $120
Finly rebate
paid by FinlyWealth
First-year value
$1,216.6
Annual rewards
$536.71
28,248 points a year
Welcome bonus
+ $1,140
first year only
Annual fee
− $250
First-year value
$1,426.71
Where each card earns
A year of your spending at each card's own reward rates, most first.
5xFood and drinks, Groceries and Entertainment
37,692 pts
$376.92
3xGas, Rental Car & Taxi, Public Transportation
8,844 pts
$88.44
6xGrocery stores participating in Scene+ Reward program
5,412 pts
$54.12
3xAmex eligible Streaming Subscriptions
1,440 pts
$14.4
1xAll other purchases
10,272 pts
$102.72
2xGas, Groceries, Pharmacy
9,804 pts
$186.28
2xTravel
2,400 pts
$45.6
1xAll other purchases
16,044 pts
$304.84
Fees, rates and eligibility
What each card costs to hold and to use abroad, and who it's for.
Annual fee
Additional cards
Foreign transaction fee
Interest rates
Interest rates
Purchase:
21.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99%
Balance Transfer:
22.99%
Purchase:
21.99%2
Cash Advance:
21.99%2
2 Subject to approval. The preferred rate for purchases is 21.99% and funds advances is 21.99%. If you have Missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99% and/or 29.99%. See the information box included with the application for the definition of Missed Payment and which rates apply to charges on your account and other details.
Recommended credit score
Recommended credit score
Income required
Income required
Min Personal Income:
$12,000
Min Household Income:
$12,000
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
How each card earns
The earn rates and caps, as each issuer sets them.
- Earn 6x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more*
- Earn 5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.*
- Earn 5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purposes. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.*
- Earn 3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more*
- Earn 3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services*
- Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
- Earn additional benefits + up to 4x Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
- Rates, fees and other information are effective as of July 2, 2026. Subject to change.
- 2x points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and drugstore purchases
- 2x points per $1 spent on travel (eligible flights, hotels, tours and more)
- 1x point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Points and how we value them
Points become dollars at each card's best redemption. Here's the value we used, and every other way to spend them.
Loyalty program
Loyalty program
We count each point at 1¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Entertainment, its best value. Every dollar figure above uses that value.
We count each point at 1.9¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Transfer to Airline Partners, its best value. Every dollar figure above uses that value.
Point redemption options
Point redemption options
Merchandise
0.76¢ / pointGift Cards
0.74¢ / pointStatement Credits (Cash)
0.7¢ / pointMost Optimal
Entertainment
1¢ / pointTravel
1¢ / pointGroceries (Sobeys)
1¢ / pointRestaurants
1¢ / point
Statement Credits (Cash)
1¢ / pointGift Cards
0.91¢ / pointMerchandise
0.63¢ / pointMost Optimal
Transfer to Airline Partners
1.9¢ / pointFixed Point Travel Program
1.16¢ / pointTransfer to Hotel Partners
1.08¢ / pointFlexible Points Travel Program
1¢ / point
Amazon.ca
0.7¢ / point
Insurance and perks
What both cards include comes first in each list.
Insurance
Insurance
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500/person, $1,000/tripBaggage Delay
$500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hoursCar Rental Damage & Theft
$65K up to 48 daysCommon Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500K/person, $1M/occurrenceExtended Warranty
Up to 1 yearPurchase Protection
90 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000/occurrenceTravel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
$1M, Up to 25 daysTrip Cancellation
$1,500/person, $10,000/tripTrip Interruption
$1,500/person, $10,000/tripFlight Delay
$500/personMobile Device Insurance
$1,000Travel Medical Insurance (65 to 75)
$1M, Up to 3 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500Baggage Delay
$500Car Rental Damage & Theft
yesCommon Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500,000Extended Warranty
Up to 1 yearPurchase Protection
90 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$500Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
15 daysTrip Cancellation
$1,500 per person, $3,000 combinedTrip Interruption
$1,500 per person, $6,000 combinedFlight Delay
$500
Perks
Perks

American Express® Experiences
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CADGas Discount2
Get up to 12¢/L in value on fuel purchases at Shell stationsConcierge Services
Discount
Discount on PriorityPass Membership

American Express® Experiences
Status lift
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty programExtra points
Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offersTravel Credit
$100Nexus Program Rebate
$50 statement credit every 4 yearsComplimentary Hotel Benefits
Hotels booked American Express TravelAirport Lounge - Priority Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!Airport Lounge - Plaza Premium
4 Free complimentary visits
Our take
Why we like it
Why we like 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 American Express® Gold Rewards Card is an excellent choice for travelers seeking an entry-level card that offers a strong balance of generous travel benefits without excessive costs. With a relatively low annual fee, this card provides flexibility and a range of perks that make it stand out among other options. It’s ideal for those who want to maximize their travel rewards without being tied to a specific airline or compromising on the benefits offered.
Pros
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Well-rounded rewards
- Shell Fuel Savings
- Comprehensive insurance
- Flexible redemptions
- Flexible rewards
- Travel perks
- Comprehensive insurance
- Multiple redemption options
- Instant decision. No credit impact.
Cons
Cons
- Limited acceptance
- No lounge access
- Annual fee
- High annual fee
- Foreign transaction fees
- Limited senior travel insurance
- Limited acceptance
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card vs American Express Gold Rewards Card®: When to go for one over the other
Annual Fees and Requirements
The Scotiabank Gold American Express card has a significantly lower annual fee compared to the American Express Gold Rewards card, with the latter nearly double the cost. Both cards cater to individuals with good to excellent credit, though the higher fee for the American Express Gold Rewards card may be a deciding factor for some. Scotiabank specifies a minimum personal income, while American Express does not outline specific income requirements.
Rewards Comparison
Both cards offer similar annual rewards, but their earning categories differ. The Scotiabank Gold American Express card offers higher rewards in everyday categories like groceries, dining, and entertainment. In contrast, the American Express Gold Rewards card focuses more on travel and broader categories like gas and drugstore purchases. While the rewards are comparable in value, the American Express Gold Rewards card often has a larger welcome bonus.
Reward Redemption Options
The American Express Gold Rewards card offers more flexibility in redemption compared to the Scotiabank Gold American Express. With American Express, you can convert points into statement credits, allowing you to use your rewards to directly pay off your balance, making it more versatile. Scotiabank’s redemption options include travel, merchandise, and groceries, but the lack of a statement credit option makes it less flexible overall.
Benefits and Insurance
Both cards provide extensive insurance coverage, but their benefits differ. The Scotiabank Gold American Express card shines with its no foreign transaction fee, offering significant savings on international purchases, making it ideal for frequent travelers looking to reduce costs. On the other hand, the American Express Gold Rewards card focuses on luxury travel perks, such as a $100 annual travel credit and lounge access, which appeal to those seeking premium experiences.
Conclusion
Although the annual rewards are similar, the key difference lies in the benefits and annual fee. The Scotiabank Gold American Express card, with its no foreign transaction fee, is a strong choice for those focused on saving money while traveling abroad. However, the American Express Gold Rewards card offers greater flexibility in how rewards can be redeemed, including the ability to turn points into statement credits. For those seeking luxury perks and flexible redemptions, the American Express Gold Rewards card, despite its higher fee, might be the better option.
More comparisons
Other cards we've put each of these up against.

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Legal
^Additional 3¢/L Fuel Discount Offer: Offer Valid from October 5, 2026 to December 31, 2026 ("Promotional Period"), eligible Scotiabank credit and debit cardholders enrolled in the Shell Fuel Benefits Program who have linked an eligible Scotiabank payment card (an "Eligible Card") to their Shell Go+ account will receive an additional instant fuel discount of 3 cents per litre on eligible fuel purchases at participating Shell-branded retail locations in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories (the "Eligible Provinces") excluding Shell Flying J locations. Fuel purchases made outside the Eligible Provinces are not eligible for this offer.
To receive the additional fuel discount, customers must pay with their linked Eligible Card at the time of purchase.
The additional fuel discount is in addition to the fuel savings available through the Shell Fuel Benefits Program and may be combined with other eligible fuel discounts, rewards programs, and promotional fuel offers unless otherwise stated in the applicable offer terms and conditions.
The additional fuel discount is available on up to 1,000 litres of eligible fuel purchases per calendar month for each Eligible Card. The 1,000-litre limit resets at the beginning of each calendar month.
The additional fuel discount is non-transferable, is not redeemable for cash, and cannot be substituted or exchanged.
Participation in the Shell Fuel Benefits Program is subject to the applicable program terms and conditions available at Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
Shell Canada reserves the right to make changes to this offer and to terminate the offer at any time, for any reason and without notice.
All other applicable terms and conditions of the Shell Fuel Benefits Program, Shell Go+, Scotiabank continue to apply.
®™ Shell trademarks are owned by Shell Brands International AG. Used under license.
* Savings and point earn potential in first 12 months includes welcome offer value, first year point earn potential and foreign transaction fee savings as of May 22, 2026:
$300 in travel points (30,000 bonus Scene+ points) for new Scotiabank Gold American Express Card clients who spend $2,000 within the first 3 months
$200 in travel points (20,000 bonus Scene+ points) when you spend $7,500 within the first 12 months
$59 in foreign transaction fee savings based on average annual foreign spend per active account over the last 24 months (don't pay the 2.5% foreign transaction fee markup typically charged by other card issuers)
$398 in first year point earn potential (38,500 Scene+ points) on everyday purchases based on average annual spend per active account over the last 24 months with an average spend of 28% in 6X, 5X and 3X accelerator categories combined
Potential First Year Value = up to $957 (rounded down to $950)
Actual offers, savings and points earned will depend on individual card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.
1. Offer Description and Conditions: The 50,000 Bonus Scene+ Points (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scotiabank Gold American Express credit card accounts (“Accounts”) opened between July 2, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the Account) and is subject to the conditions below.
To be eligible for 30,000 bonus Scene+ points (the “30,000 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 30,000 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 30,000 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.
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: 21.99% 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.
2. Get up to 7 cents per litre in instant fuel discounts for a limited time and earn up to 5 cents per litre in Scene+ points value with a Scotiabank Gold American Express Card linked to a Shell Go+ Account:
- Instant 3 cents per Litre Discount on Fuel Purchases (All Grades): Receive an instant 3 cents per litre discount on purchases of fuel (all grades) (“Fuel Purchases (All Grades)”) at participating Shell locations in Canada when you use any eligible Scotiabank debit card or credit card linked to a Shell Go+ Account, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month per Scotiabank debit card and per Scotiabank credit card account. This total limit resets at the start of each new month per payment card account. This discount is subject to the Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
- Instant 4 cents per Litre Discount on Premium Fuel: Between May 26, 2026 and June 1, 2027 (“Promotional Period”), receive an instant 4 cents per litre discount on purchases of V-Power® gasoline, or V-Power® diesel (“Premium Fuel Purchases”) at participating Shell locations in Canada when you use any eligible Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points linked to a Shell Go+ Account, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month per credit card account. This total limit resets at the start of each new month per credit card account. This promotional offer, including the Promotional Period, may be changed, extended, or withdrawn at any time without notice. These promotional offer terms are in addition to the Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
- Earn up to 5 cents per Litre in Scene+ points Value (Equivalent) on Fuel Purchases: Each time you use your linked Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points on Fuel Purchases (All Grades) at participating Shell locations in Canada, you will earn at least 3 Scene+ point per $1 spent. Plus, as a Scene+ Member you will also automatically earn 1 Scene+ point for each litre in Fuel Purchases (All Grades), and as a Shell Go+ member, automatically earn 1 additional Scene+ point for each litre in Premium Fuel Purchases, made with your linked Scotiabank credit card. This means that for every litre in fuel purchased with your linked credit card, you can earn the equivalent of up to 5 cents of redeemable Scene+ points value based on a redemption value of $10 for every 1,000 Scene+ points redeemed for fuel purchases at participating Shell locations. Actual value may be lower depending on how you choose to redeem your Scene+ points. Earn and redemption limits may apply. See the Scene+ Program Terms and Conditions available at sceneplus.ca/terms-and-conditionsopens in a new tab for full details including redemption options and additional terms.
Note: Highest value of 12 cents per litre assumes a Premium Fuel Purchase made with a Scotiabank Gold American Express Card linked to a Shell Go+ Account. Actual value will vary depending on payment card used and whether or not the card is linked, fuel grade purchased, and how you choose to redeem your Scene+ points.
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.
Subject to approval. The preferred rate for purchases is 21.99% and funds advances is 21.99%. If you have Missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99% and/or 29.99%. See the information box included with the application for the definition of Missed Payment and which rates apply to charges on your account and other details.
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.






