Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card vs American Express® Green Card: Which one is better?


Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

4.9

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RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

American Express® Green Card

American Express® Green Card

3.8

More Details

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

Finly Rebate

Now +$200 until Oct 31, 2024

Finly Rebate

N/A

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$613.54

Scene+


Welcome Bonus

$450

Scene+


Annual Fee

$120


First Year Value

$1,063.54

$493.54 in years after

Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$457.03

American Express Membership Rewards


Welcome Bonus

$210

American Express Membership Rewards


Annual Fee

$0


First Year Value

$667.03

$457.03 in years after

Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.

Insurance Included

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year

  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $1M, Up to 25 days
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    $1M, Up to 3 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1500/person, $10000/trip
  • travel - plane

    Trip Interruption

    $1500/person, $10,000/trip
  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500/person, $1000/trip
  • baggage on roller

    Baggage Delay

    $500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hours
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500K/person, $1M/occurrence
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65K up to 48 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1000/occurrence
  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000

Insurance Included*

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year

Extra Benefits

  • Amex logo

    American Express Experiences


  • exchange money

    No Foreign Transaction Fees

    Avoid the 2.5% foreign transaction fees incurred when spending in non $CAD
  • concierge

    Concierge Services

  • discount

    Discount

    Discount on PriorityPass Membership

Extra Benefits*

  • Amex logo

    American Express Experiences


  • reward cup

    Extra points

    2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases

Interest Rates

Purchase:

20.99%

Cash Advance:

22.99%

Balance Transfer:

22.99%

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

21.99%2

Cash Advance:

21.99%2

Annual Fee

$120

$0

First Year Waived

Annual Fee*

$0

Income Required

Min Personal Income:

$12,000

Min Household Income:

N/A

Income Required*

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Welcome Bonus

Earn 25,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. 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.

Welcome Bonus*

Earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months.

Rewards Rate

  • 6 Points on on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
  • 5 Points dining and at other eligible grocery stores, entertainment purchases which includes movies, theatre, and ticket agencies
  • 3 Point on Rides which includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subways and more
  • 3 Points on eligible streaming services (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Crave and more)
  • 1 Point on everything else

Rewards Rate*

  • 1x point per $1 spent on all purchases

Loyalty Program

Point Redemption Options

  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.76¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.74¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits

    0.7¢ / point

  • entertainment popcorn

    Entertainment

    1¢ / point
  • baggage on roller

    Travel

    1¢ / point
  • groceries

    Groceries (Sobeys)

    1¢ / point
  • food location

    Restaurants

    1¢ / point

Point Redemption Options*

  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.76¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.74¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits

    0.7¢ / point

  • Most Optimal

    plane

    Transfer to Airline Partners

    2.1¢ / point
  • travel

    Fixed Point Travel Program

    1.66¢ / point
  • hotel

    Transfer to Hotel Partners

    1.66¢ / point
  • amazon logo

    Amazon.ca

    0.7¢ / point

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?

The American Express® Green Card is a great option for those looking for a no-frills card that earns rewards on all purchases without any annual fee or minimum income requirement. It's an accessible card with no cap on rewards, making it ideal for those who want to earn points without the higher costs and complexities of premium cards. However, it does come with lower rewards earnings across most categories and a modest welcome bonus.

Pros

  • No foreign transaction fee saves you 2.5% on all non-CAD purchases.
  • Rewards cover all high-spending categories, including food, groceries, entertainment, and gas.
  • Comprehensive coverage of all travel insurance.

Pros

  • No Spending Limits: Earn unlimited rewards with no caps.
  • Flexible Redemption: Transfer points to other loyalty programs for maximum value.
  • VIP Perks: Access a variety of exclusive benefits through American Express Experiences.
  • Eco-Friendly: The card is made from 99% recycled plastic.

Cons

  • The card network is American Express, which might not be widely accepted in some countries, making it a bit harder to use the no foreign transaction fee benefit.
  • Having a lounge pass would have made this card even more perfect, but there is access to a discount code for lounge access pass purchases.

Cons

  • Lower Reward Rates: Earn rates are lower compared to other no-fee cards.
  • Limited Travel Perks: Lacks some of the travel benefits and insurance options provided by other cards.

Legal


*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. Check for full details and current product information.
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 28.99%.

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