Scotiabank Gold American Express
Annual fee: $120
Welcome offer: Earn up to $850 in welcome offers, first-year rewards and savings value, and up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points. Offer ends July 1, 2026.
Map data
| Interest rates | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers |
| Income required | $12,000 per year |
| Credit score | 725 or higher |
| Point value | 1 Scene+ point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel, retail purchases, and food and beverages at Cineplex and Scene partners |
Scotiabank Gold American Express
Scotiabank Gold American Express Benefits
1. You earn a lot of Scene+ points
The earning rate is 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent at eligible restaurants, grocery stores and drinking establishments, including some popular meal delivery and subscription services (such as Skip The Dishes and Hello Fresh). You’ll earn 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent in Cineplex theaters. You’ll earn 3 Scene+ points per $1 on gas and transportation, including ride-sharing, public transit and taxis, and on streaming services like Netflix. Everything else is added at 1 point per $1 spent.
2. Scene+ points are more versatile than you might think
That’s possible redeem your Scene+ points for cinema tickets, but also for so much more. You can use them to book travel through Scene+ Travel, powered by Expedia, and with restaurants and other entertainment partners. If you want more than just experiences, you can also exchange them for gift cards at major retailers and even credit on your credit card or bank account.
3. There is a valuable sign-up bonus
New cardholders can earn 25,000 Scene+ bonus points by making at least $2,000 in daily eligible purchases in the first 3 months. Earn an additional bonus of 20,000 Scene+ points when you spend at least $7,500 on daily eligible purchases in your first year.
4. The card comes with excellent travel insurance coverage
The included travel insurance package is great and ranks as one of the key benefits of the card. When cardholders use Scotiabank Gold American Express for their travel expenses, they receive up to $1 million in travel medical coverage for 25 days and $1 million in travel accident insurance (if you’re over 65, this only applies for up to 3 days). You also get up to $1,500 per person in trip cancellation or interruption coverage (up to a maximum of $10,000) when you charge at least 75% of your trip to your card; protection against flight and baggage delays; and coverage for car rental loss and damage. You also get an extended warranty on selection purchases and hotel/motel burglary insurance.
5. There are no foreign transaction fees charged
When you make a purchase in a foreign currency in person or online, you are typically charged a 2.5% to 3% fee on top of the currency conversion. These are foreign transaction fees and they can add up quickly. Credit cards without foreign transaction fees are rare for Canadian consumers, and Scotia is the only major bank to offer this benefit. When consumers shop at the Scotiabank Gold Amex, this fee is waived. This is exceptional value for online shoppers or those who travel frequently, especially in the United States where American Express is widely accepted. In addition to waiving fees, Scotiabank Gold Amex earns you 1 point per $1 on all foreign currency purchases.
6. There are benefits to being an Amex cardholder
As American Express members, cardholders are entitled to the company’s Amex Offers and Amex Front of the Line programs. After free registration, Amex Offers gives members access to coupons, discounts or opportunities to earn points on spend at participating retailers. As the name suggests, Front of the Line offers Amex members priority access to advance tickets and reserved seating at concerts, musicals and other live events.
7. You probably won’t pay for a movie anytime soon
If you like watching the latest movies, you should really consider this card. You’ll earn 5 Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on everyday purchases like gas and groceries (not to mention at restaurants and at the theater itself). Since a general admission ticket or a 3D movie earns 1,250 points, you’ll earn a free ticket for every $250 you spend in those essential categories, which you’ll likely hit or exceed each month.
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Are there any disadvantages to the Scotiabank Gold American Express?
While the Scotiabank Gold Amex card is robust, especially for travelers, there are a few things to consider before signing up. First, American Express is not as widely accepted in Canada as it is in Canada Visa or Mastercard. If you routinely shop at stores like Costco and Loblaws, you won’t be able to use your card, which could seriously hurt the earning potential on food and groceries that makes this card so strong. (You can find some retailers that do accept Amex here.)
What are the best ways to take advantage of this card?
The Scotiabank Gold American Express works best as a points card for travel. The 1% redemption value in this category and the flexible rewards mean you can really get started quickly. Add to that the above-average travel insurance package and the foreign transaction fee waiver, and this card is a win for any traveler’s wallet.
Consider getting a second backup credit card for free, for example Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card,* for merchants who don’t accept Amex. This way you can still collect rewards or get cash back on your purchases. As far as travel rewards cards go, the Scotiabank Gold American Express is worth your serious consideration.
What does the * mean?
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