Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

Apply Now
Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

Apply Now

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card: Which one is better?


Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

4.9


RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

4.3


RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

Finly Rebate

Now $150 until Nov 30, 2024

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$644.5

Scene+


First Year Bonus

$450

Scene+


Annual Fee

$120


First Year Value

$1,094.5

$524.5 in years after

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

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$343.9

Scene+


First Year Bonus

$250

Scene+


Annual Fee

$150


First Year Value

$443.9

$193.9 in years after

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

Insurance Included

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $500/person, $1000/trip
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $500/person, $1,000/trip After 4 hours
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65K up to 48 days
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500K/person, $1M/occurrence
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to 1 year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1000/occurrence
  • 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
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $1500/person, $10,000/trip
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person

  • mobile device insurance

    Mobile Device Insurance

    $1,000

Insurance Included

  • lost baggage

    Lost or Stolen Baggage

    $1000
  • hourglass timer

    Baggage Delay

    $1000
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $65,000 up to 48 days
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500,000/insured, $1M combined
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    1 year
  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $1,000
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Out of province Medical

    $2M/insured up to 25 days
  • travel accident medical

    Emergency Medical Over 65

    $2M/insured up to 3 days
  • cancel airplane

    Trip Cancellation

    $1,500/person, $10,000/trip
  • pause

    Trip Interruption

    $2,500/person, $10,000/trip
  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500/person after 4 hours

Extra Benefits

  • 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
  • Amex logo

    American Express® Experiences

Extra Benefits

  • exchange money

    No Foreign Transaction Fees

  • concierge

    Concierge Services


  • exclusive

    Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits

  • alcohol cheers

    Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass

    6 Free complimentary visits
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Avis® Preferred Plus membership

Interest Rates

Purchase:

20.99%

Cash Advance:

22.99%

Balance Transfer:

22.99%

Interest Rates

Purchase:

20.99%

Cash Advance:

22.99%

Annual Fee

$120

$0

First Year Waived

Annual Fee

$150

Income Required

Min Personal Income:

$12,000

Min Household Income:

$12,000

Income Required

Min Personal Income:

$60,000

Min Household Income:

$100,000

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 25,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, another 10,000 bonus Scene+ points after making $40,000 of purchases annually.

Rewards Rate

  • 6 Points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
  • 5 Points per $1 spent on eligible dining, other grocery stores, entertainment purchases including movies, theatre, and ticket agencies
  • 3 Points per $1 spent on rides which includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subways and more
  • 3 Points per $1 spent on eligible streaming service payments (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Crave and more)
  • 1 Point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

Rewards Rate

  • 3 Points on on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops
  • 2 Points dining and at other eligible grocery stores,entertainment purchases which includes movies, theatre, and ticket agencies and Rides which includes rideshare,buses,taxis, subways and more
  • 1 Point on everything else

Loyalty Program

Loyalty Program

Point Redemption Options

  • entertainment popcorn

    Entertainment

    1¢ / point
  • travel - plane

    Travel

    1¢ / point
  • groceries

    Groceries (Sobeys)

    1¢ / point
  • food location

    Restaurants

    1¢ / point
  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.76¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.74¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits (Cash)

    0.7¢ / point

Point Redemption Options

  • entertainment popcorn

    Entertainment

    1¢ / point
  • travel - plane

    Travel

    1¢ / point
  • groceries

    Groceries (Sobeys)

    1¢ / point
  • food location

    Restaurants

    1¢ / point
  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.76¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.74¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits (Cash)

    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 Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is a strong choice for frequent travelers, especially those who value flexibility and premium perks. It stands out with its rare benefit of no foreign transaction fees, making international purchases more cost-effective. Additionally, the card offers a valuable blend of travel perks, including airport lounge access, comprehensive insurance coverage, and flexible rewards, making it an ideal companion for those who frequently travel abroad and want to avoid extra fees while enjoying premium benefits.

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

  • High Rewards on Select Purchases: Earn up to 3 points per $1 spent on select categories.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: Shop abroad without additional charges.
  • Comprehensive Insurance: Includes 11 types of insurance coverage.
  • Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy up to 6 airport lounge passes per year through the Visa Airport Companion program.

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

  • High Income Requirements: Requires $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income.
  • Lower Overall Rewards: Rewards potential is lower compared to premium credit cards.
  • High Annual Fee: Comes with a significant annual fee.
  • Average Insurance Coverage: Insurance benefits are standard, not exceptional.
  • Mediocre Earnings Potential: The card’s rewards structure might not offer the highest returns for every spender.

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card vs Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card: When to go for one over the other


Annual Fees and Requirements

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card has a lower income requirement compared to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card, which requires a higher personal or household income to qualify. Both cards have similar annual fees, but the Passport Visa Infinite has a slightly higher fee. Depending on your income level, the Gold American Express may be easier to qualify for.

Rewards Comparison

Both cards offer strong rewards, but the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card provides more points per dollar spent in key categories like groceries, dining, and entertainment. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite offers lower earning rates across these categories but includes travel-related perks. The Gold American Express is generally better for those looking to maximize rewards in daily spending categories, while frequent travelers may appreciate the balance of perks with the Visa Infinite.

Reward Redemption Options

Both cards use the Scene+ loyalty program, offering flexible redemption options for travel, entertainment, and groceries. While point values are similar across both, cashback is always more versatile. Neither card offers cashback, but both allow you to redeem points for various purchases. If flexibility is key, they are on equal footing in terms of redeeming points.

Benefits and Insurance

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card includes additional perks such as airport lounge access and Visa Infinite exclusive benefits, making it more attractive for frequent travelers. Both cards offer no foreign transaction fees and comprehensive travel insurance. However, the Gold American Express lacks the free lounge access included with the Passport Visa Infinite. If lounge access is important, the Visa card is more appealing.

Network Differences

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is less widely accepted compared to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card. American Express is not accepted in as many locations, including Costco, while Visa is accepted nearly everywhere. This makes the Visa card a better option for users who want more flexibility with where they can use their card.

Conclusion

For everyday spending and maximizing rewards, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is the better option for most people. However, frequent travelers or those who need wider card acceptance and airport lounge access should consider the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card. Choose based on your priorities: rewards for everyday spending or travel perks and flexibility.

We may earn a commission for some of the products featured on this site. The content and reviews on FinlyWealth are independent and not influenced by advertisers. For the latest details on any product, please visit the advertiser's official website. The content provided on this website, including any credit card recommendations, is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. The owner and author(s) of this website are not financial, legal, or tax professionals. All views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and may not reflect the best choice for your unique situation. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. The owner and author(s) of this website shall not be held liable for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions in the content or any resulting actions taken by readers.

Copyright © FinlyWealth 2024 All Rights Reserved.