Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

Flytrippers opinion: A good offer on this card with one of the best earn rates.
Flytrippers Valuation
of Welcome bonus (net value)
ends July 1st

via Scotia secure application link
$ 655

Rewards: $775*

Card fee: $120

Earn Scene+ points
more simple rewards

Uses: for literally any
travel expense
How to unlock bonus
spend $7,500 in 1y (or $1000)

(*minimum value: $775
*maximum value: $775)
Card eligibility
minimum income required: $12k

Welcome bonus eligibility
must not have had a Scotia card for 2 years (incl. joint card)
Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Scotia is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "Apply Now" to see most up-to-date information.

Summary of Flytrippers' review

WHY GET THIS CARD

  • Excellent welcome bonus of $655
  • Option with minimum spend of just $1000 in 3 months ($130 net value)
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Easy-to-use fixed-value rewards applicable to any travel expense
  • Great earn rates (6% at certain grocery stores and 5% at the others)
  • Excellent insurance coverage

WHO SHOULD GET THIS CARD

  • Those who want one of the best earn rates in Canada
  • Those who don’t want to pay foreign transaction fees (especially those with frequent US trips)
  • Those who want points that are less valuable but way simpler
  • Those who want great insurance coverage with a low minimum income requirement

Card details

Welcome bonus structure (2 separate bonuses)
(INCREASED OFFER)

20,000 points Bonus after spending $1,000 (in a maximum of 3 months)
20,000 points Bonus after spending $7,500 total (in a maximum of 12 months)

40,000 points Total with the 2 parts of the bonus

Earn on the minimum spending requirement

5,000 points Estimated earn on the minimum spending requirement of $1,000 (at multiplier earn rate of 5 pts/$)
32,500 points Estimated earn on the minimum spending requirement of $6,500 more (at multiplier earn rate of 5 pts/$)

Total rewards by unlocking the welcome bonus

77,500 points Welcome bonus + earn on the minimum spending requirement to unlock it

Apply for the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

Value of the welcome bonus offer
(at our Flytrippers Valuation of 1¢/pt)

$200 Bonus after $1000 (20,000 pts)
$200 Bonus after an extra $6500 (20,000 pts)
$50 Earn on the min. spending of $1000 (5,000 pts)
$325 Earn on the min. spending of $6500 (32,500 pts)
–$120 Card fee (deducted from Valuation)

$655 Total net value by unlocking the welcome bonus alone

Learn more about our Flytrippers Valuation of welcome bonuses

Effective return rate

8.7% Return on the minimum spending requirement ($655 on $7,500 in 12 months)

‣Learn more about effective return rates (coming soon)

Rewards acquisition summary

$775 Rewards you get for $120

Value of redemption options (welcome bonus)

For each available redemption option, here is the value of the 77,500 Scene+ points you get by unlocking the welcome bonus:

$775 Travel booked on any website
$775 Travel booked on the Scene+ website
$775 Merchandise at participating stores
≈$543-$775 Gift cards
≈$543 Merchandise
$543 Statement credit

‣Learn more about the best redemptions of Scene+ points (coming soon)

Value of redemption options (per point)

For each available redemption option, here is the value per Scene+ point to help you understand:

Travel booked on any website
Travel booked on the Scene+ website
Merchandise at participating stores
≈ 0.7¢-1¢ Gift cards
≈ 0.7¢ Merchandise
$0.7¢ Statement credit

‣Learn more about the basics of the values per point (coming soon)

Redemptions for travel (any website)

The more simple type of rewards redemption, with a fixed value. It is worth less but gives you more flexibility. Scene+ points are really as simple as points can be, as you can use them to simply erase any travel expense booked on any site.

Redeem your 77,500 Scene+ points for:

77,500 pts Discount of $775 on travel booked on any website

‣Learn more about the best redemptions of Scene+ points (coming soon)

Redemptions for travel (Scene+ website)

Another more simple type of rewards redemption, with a fixed value. There’s really no reason to use them this way though, as you don’t get more value.

Redeem your 77,500 Scene+ points for:

77,500 pts Discount of $775 on travel booked on the Scene+ website

‣Learn more about the best redemptions of Scene+ points (coming soon)

Redemptions for merchandise (participating retailers)

Another more simple type of rewards redemption, with a fixed value. It’s one of the extremely rare instances where you should use points for something other than travel, as you get the same value if you use them for merchandise at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland, IGA (QC), Home Hardware, Recipe Unlimited’s many restaurant brands, Cineplex, etc.

Redeem your 77,500 Scene+ points for:

77,500 pts Discount of $775 at participating retailers

‣Learn more about the best redemptions of Scene+ points (coming soon)

Redemptions for anything other than travel (except at participating stores)

Should always be avoided, as with all rewards!

‣Learn more about why you should always redeem your rewards for travel (coming soon)

Expiry
Scene+ points never expire as long as you have the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card. And even if you no longer have the card, you can easily extend the expiration indefinitely.

‣Learn more about Scene+ points expiry (coming soon)

Pooling
Scene+ points cannot be pooled with travel companions. But this isn’t really an obstacle to using them in multi-player mode.

‣Learn more about pooling rewards (coming soon)

Logistics
Scene+ points can be used directly on the Scene+ website/app or at the cash register at participating retailers.

‣Learn more about how to get started with Scene+ rewards (coming soon)

Program summary
Rewards: Scene+ points
Source: Bank/retailer rewards
Type: More simple
Flytrippers Valuation: 1¢ per point
Minimum value: 1¢ per point
Maximum value: 1¢ per point
Transferable: No

‣Learn more about rewards programs basics (coming soon)

Earn rates

6 points per $ (6%):

  • Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland, Co-Ops, IGA, Thrifty Foods, other Empire grocery banners
  • Voilà grocery delivery
  • Indirectly at all retailers offering gift cards at the grocery store

5 points per $ (5%):

3 points per $ (3%):

  • Gas stations
  • Transit (rideshares, taxis, buses, subways, and more)
  • Streaming services

1 point per $ (1%):

  • Everywhere else

NOTE: Multiplier rates do not apply to foreign currency transactions

Earning with additional cards

Fee for additional cards: $29
Quantity allowed: N/A
Minimum age: N/A

‣Learn more about additional cards (coming soon)

No foreign transaction fees
One of the few cards in Canada that does not charge a 2.5% fee for all foreign currency transactions. It’s worth mentioning that apart from the US, other international destinations don’t have as many merchants who accept Amex cards.

‣Learn more on foreign transaction fees (coming soon)

24/7 concierge service
You have access to a concierge service that can make restaurant reservations, organize deliveries for flowers or other things, and complete various research tasks for you.

‣Learn more about the Scotia Platinum concierge service (coming soon)

Amex Offers program
Access to discounts, credits, and special offers throughout the year.

Learn more about the Amex Offers program

American Express Experiences program
Access to exclusive virtual and in-person experiences and pre-sale tickets to lots of events.

‣Learn more about the American Express Experiences program (coming soon)

Free membership in the Priority Pass airport lounge network
Warning: Many cards offer free membership AND free passes; this one just gives membership and no free passes.

Learn more about the airport lounge access

Insurance included

Medical travel insurance for 25 days (64 years and under)
Medical travel insurance for 3 days (65 years and above)
Flight delay insurance ($500, 4hr minimum)
Car rental insurance
Baggage & personal effects insurance
Trip cancellation insurance
Trip interruption insurance
Travel accident insurance
Hotel burglary insurance
Mobile device insurance
Purchase protection
Extended warranty

‣Learn more about the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card’s insurance coverage (coming soon)

Insurance not included

None

‣Learn more about the different types of insurance coverage (coming soon)

Card eligibility
Minimum income: $12,000 (personal)
Age: Majority in your province
Estimated credit score: Good or Excellent
Credit bureau: TransUnion Canada

Learn more about credit card eligibility requirements (coming soon)

Welcome bonus eligibility
You must not have had a Scotia card in the past 2 years.

Learn more about credit card welcome bonus eligibility rules (coming soon)

Offer end date
Offer ends July 1st, 2024

Subscribe to Flytrippers’ free travel rewards newsletter to get all card updates

Card details
Issuer: Scotiabank
Network: American Express
Card Type: Credit card
Product Type: Personal card

‣Learn more about credit card types (coming soon)

Fees and rates
Card fee: $120/year
Fee for additional card: $29
Foreign transaction fee: 0%
Purchases annual interest rate: 20.99%
Cash advance annual interest rate: 22.99%
Balance transfer annual interest rate: 22.99%
Cash advance fee: $5
Balance transfer fee: $5
Return payment fee: $48

Learn more about why Flytrippers recommends ignoring fees and rates (coming soon)

• Earn up to $650* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points¹

• Earn 6x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more

• Earn 5x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.

• Earn 5x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purposes.Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores. 

• Earn 3x Scene+ points¹ 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+ points¹ for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming sevices

• Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases

• No Foreign Transaction Fee

• Comprehensive Travel Insurance coverage 

• AMEX Offers®

• AMEX Front of the Line®

• American Express Invites®

•Complimentary Concierge Services

• Rates, fees and other information are effective as of Nov.1, 2023. Subject to change.

Savings and reward potential in first 12 months based on the following card usage and offers:

$400 in travel rewards (40,000 bonus Scene+ points) when you spend $1,000 within your first 3 months (to earn 20,000 points) and when you spend $7,500 within your first 12 months (to earn an additional 20,000 points); 

$33 in foreign transaction fee savings based on average first year annual foreign spend per account (save the 2.5% foreign transaction fee typically charged by other card issuers);

$247 in travel rewards (24,709 Scene+ points) on everyday purchases based on average annual first year spend on the Account with an average spend of 21% in 5x accelerator and 7% in 3X accelerator categories.

Potential First Year Value = up to $680

Actual savings and rewards earned will depend on individual card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.

¹ Offer Description and Conditions: The 40,000 Bonus Scene+ Points Offer (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scotiabank Gold American Express credit card accounts (“Accounts”) opened by July 1, 2024 and is subject to the conditions below. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended without notice at any time and cannot be combined with any other offers. 

40,000 Bonus Scene+ Point Offer Description and Conditions: To be eligible for 20,000 bonus Scene+ points (the “20,000 Point Bonus”), you must open a new Account by July 1, 2024 and have at least $1,000 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 “Annual 20,000 Point Bonus”), you must have at least $7,500 in eligible purchases posted to your new Account in your 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. 

The 20,000 Point Bonus will be credited to the primary cardholder’s Scene+ account within approximately 2-3 business days after the qualifying $1,000 in eligible purchases being posted to your Account within the first 3 months of Account open date, provided the Account is open and in good standing. The Annual 20,000 Point Bonus will be credited to the primary cardholder’s Scene+ account within approximately 2-3 business days after you have met the $7,500 annual spend threshold on the Account, provided your Account is open and in good standing. 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.

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.

To qualify for these offers make sure to open a new Scotiabank Gold American Express credit card account by July 1, 2024.

To qualify for the 40,000 bonus Scene+ points offer:

1. Earn 20,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months.

2. Plus, for a limited time, you are eligible to earn a 20,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $7,500 in everyday eligible purchases in your first year. 

Once you qualify, we’ll credit your account in 2 instalments:

1. 20,000 bonus Scene+ points will be credited to your account within approximately 2-3 business days following the qualifying $1,000 in net purchases being posted to your Scene+ membership Account in your first 3 months. 

2. An additional 20,000 bonus Scene+ points will be credited to your Scene+ membership account within approximately 2-3 business days after you have met the $7,500 annual spend threshold in your first year. 

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 this offer.

See terms and conditions below¹ for full details

*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.

Start earning rewards today

And make sure to download our free checklist for when you get a new card—it includes very important mistakes to avoid
(it will open in a separate tab, or you can click here)

via Scotia secure application

*Beta version of card page. Sign up to get updated guide soon.*

Terms & conditions — Travel rewards

Terms and conditions apply.

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Financial institutions are not responsible for updating or ensuring the accuracy of the information on Flytrippers’ website. All the information was independently collected by Flytrippers and not provided by financial institutions.

All offers described on the Flytrippers website are subject to the financial institutions’ latest terms and conditions, which can be found on their official website. No efforts are spared to ensure this page is up to date but offers from financial institutions change quickly. It is your responsibility to ensure the accuracy of these offers on their website. Flytrippers will not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the offers or the result of your actions.

Flytrippers’ website does not contain all available credit card offers or all available credit card products on the market. In addition, Flytrippers never shares an offer if it is not considered advantageous for some travelers, at its sole discretion.

No author on Flytrippers’ website is a financial advisor, a financial planner, a legal professional, or a tax professional. No author on Flytrippers’ website can in any way be considered as such.

All articles, pages, and content on Flytrippers’ website are merely personal opinions of a general nature and are for informational purposes only and should not be considered advice for specific situations. It is your responsibility to perform your own personal research to ensure that travel rewards are appropriate for your own situation.

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