Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

This is the card to beat for Canadians who eat out, buy groceries and travel, because the 0% foreign transaction fee is rare and the 5x on food categories is genuinely strong. On CAD 12,000 of grocery and dining spend that's 60,000 Scene+ points a year, and the no-FX-fee perk alone can save you the CAD 120 fee if you spend a few thousand abroad. The catch is Amex acceptance, which is thinner than Visa at smaller Canadian merchants, so keep a backup; verify the earn caps and fee on Scotiabank's site.

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card at a glance

Rewards & perks

• Pick up 5x Scene+ points on groceries, dining and entertainment
• Earn 3x Scene+ points on fuel, transit and select streaming services
• Pay no foreign transaction fee on any purchase
• Includes a wide-ranging travel insurance package

Pros

• Top-tier earn rate on food and entertainment spending
• Skipping the FX fee is an uncommon perk for travellers
• Comes with solid insurance coverage

Cons

• Carries an annual fee
• Amex is accepted at fewer places than Visa or Mastercard
• Approval depends on meeting an income threshold

Who should apply

• Live in Canada and meet your province's age of majority
• Earn at least CAD 12,000 personally
• Hold a good to excellent credit record
• Clear Scotiabank's application review

Before you apply: card terms change often. Confirm the current annual fee, APR, welcome offer and rewards on the official Scotiabank site. CreditCardCompare is an independent comparison resource, not the card issuer, and this is not financial advice.