Scotiabank American Express Card Review

30-second take

• Get this card if you want flexible rewards points and comprehensive travel insurance coverage for zero annual fee.

• Choose something else if you’re looking for a cashback program or want more Scene+ points per dollar.

• You must have a minimum annual income of $12,000 to qualify for this card.

The basics

If you’re not interested in paying an annual fee but want a decent return on rewards along with a few other bells and whistles, then the Scotiabank American Express Card might be the right fit for you.

Earn 3 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more, 2 Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible grocery, dining, entertainment, gas, daily transit and select streaming services purchases Plus, earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on on all other eligible everyday purchases. And don’t forget to ask about exclusive offers on travel and entertainment, as well as hard-to-beat insurance packages.

Use your card to book travel through Scotia Rewards Travel Service, a full-service travel agency. Another alternative is to redeem points for a wide range of brand-name merchandise rewards or prepaid/gift cards. If you’re feeling particularly generous, you can even donate your points to charity.

The perks

• Welcome offer. Earn up to 5,000 bonus Scene+ points. Earn 2,500 bonus Scene+ points when you make $250 in everyday purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, earn 2,500 Scene+ points when you spend $1,000 in everyday purchases in the first 3 months. Apply by July 1, 2025.
• Earn points. Earn 3 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more, 2 Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on eligible grocery, dining, entertainment, gas, daily transit and select streaming services purchases Plus, earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on on all other eligible everyday purchases.
• No annual fee. Avoid the annual charge to your balance when you sign up for this fee-free card.
• Product and warranty insurance. Get extended warranty and insurance coverage to cover theft, loss or damage on most items purchased with your card. Many purchases are also protected in case of a price drop within 90-days of purchase.
• Travel insurance. Make use of a wide suite of travel insurance including flight interruption, car rental and other incidentals, as well as Travel Accident Insurance and Travel Emergency Medical Insurance.
• Promotional offers. Take advantage of a number of hot-ticket discounts along with special access offers for a wealth of experiences unique to American Express card holders with American Express Invites.
• Save on car rentals. Get up to 25% discount at participating Budget and AVIS car rental locations in Canada and the US.
• World class service. Contact customer service 24/7 to report issues with your account and troubleshoot problems by speaking directly to an agent.

What to watch out for

• Not as widely accepted overseas. The Scotiabank American Express Card may not be accepted in certain location overseas.
• Penalty APR. Missing or losing track of payments could cost you an arm and a leg with an APR as high as 24.99% on purchases.

Scotiabank American Express Card interest rates

Interest Type	Interest Rate
Purchase interest rate	19.99%
Cash advance rate	22.99%
Standard balance transfer rate	22.99%

What do other customers say?

Many customers enjoy the flexibility of Scene+ points, which can be exchanged for travel, merchandise, SCENE points and more. Some cardholders appreciate having no annual fee, however one limitation of the Scotiabank American Express Card is that customers can’t use American Express cards as easily overseas.

What should I know before I apply

• Eligibility requirements

  To apply for the Scotiabank American Express Card you need to:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
  • Be at the age of majority in province/territory of residence.
  • Have an annual gross income of at least $12,000.

• Required documents and information

  • Your name, residential status and contact information.
  • Your social insurance number (SIN) and date of birth.
  • Your email address and phone number.

How to apply for the Scotiabank American Express Card

1. Go to the Scotiabank website to start filling out the online application.
2. Read through the Disclosure Statement details and click Accept & Continue.
3. Complete the application with details that include your name, email address, social insurance number and birth date.
4. Review and submit your application.

Bottom line

The Scotiabank American Express Card offers a full suite of perks and benefits with no annual fee. This card offers 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on eligible purchases, along with comprehensive purchase and travel insurance. American Express customers also get exclusive entertainment and dining deals with American Express Invites. If you’re looking to maximize your Scene+ points, you might like to check out the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. If you want a more targeted travel rewards program, you can look into the ScotiaGold Passport Visa Card.

Pictures: scotiabank.com/ca