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NerdWallet CA
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Great for travellers who collect Scene+ points.
If you’re looking for an Amex that earns extra Scene+ points and you’ve always wanted a Priority Pass membership, this card may be worth considering.
Learn more about our star rating methodology.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express is one of four Amex cards offered by Scotiabank. Cardholders earn Scene+ points on select grocery, restaurant, entertainment, transit and streaming purchases. However, points can’t be spent outside of the Scene+ platform.
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
Annual Fee
$120
Interest Rates
20.99% / 22.99%
20.99% on purchases. 22.99% on cash advances.
Rewards Rate
1x-6x Points
Earn 6x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more. Earn 5x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions. Earn 5x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purchases. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores. Earn 3x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more. Earn 3x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services. Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.
Intro Offer
Up to 45,000 Points
To qualify for the 45,000 bonus Scene+ points offer: 1. Earn 25,000 bonus Scene+ points by having at least $1,000 in eligible purchases posted to your new Account in the first 3 months of the Account open date. 2. You are eligible to earn an additional 20,000 Scene+ point bonus when you have at least $7,500 in eligible purchases posted to your new Account in the first year (12 months) of Account open date. Offer ends October 31, 2024.
Product details
- Earn up to $950* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points.¹
- Earn 6x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more
- Earn 5x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
- Earn 5x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purchases. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.
- Earn 3x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more
- Earn 3x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services
- Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases
- No Foreign Transaction Fee
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance coverage
- AMEX Offers®
- AMEX Front of the Line®
- American Express Invites®
- Complimentary Concierge Services
- Rates, fees and other information are effective as of July 02, 2024. Subject to change.
- Terms and Conditions Apply. Click ‘Apply Now’ for complete details.
Jump to
- Full review
- Customer ratings
- Eligibility
- Rewards
- How to apply
- Amex Gold vs Cobalt
- Card facts
- Rating methodology
- FAQs
Scotiabank Gold American Express full review
The Scotiabank Gold American Express is one of three Amex cards offered by the bank. You can earn Scene+ points on select grocery, restaurant, entertainment, transit and streaming purchases. However, you can’t earn cash back, and points can’t be spent outside of the Scene+ platform.
Benefits of the Scotiabank Gold Amex
- 24/7 concierge customer service.
- Discounted membership to Priority Pass, which grants access to more than 1,200 airport lounges worldwide.
- Extensive travel insurance perks, including hotel burglary, flight cancellation and lost luggage coverage.
- No foreign transaction fees, which means you just pay the exchange rate.
Drawbacks of the Scotiabank Gold Amex
- No cash-back rewards.
- Points can’t be used or transferred outside of the Scene+ platform.
Who should get the Scotiabank Gold American Express card?
The Scotiabank Gold American Express card is a great choice if you:
- Collect Scene+ points. Scene+ points can be used to purchase a range of products and services, such as movie tickets, flights, groceries and more.
- Don’t plan to carry a balance month-to-month. While not unusually high, the card’s 20.99% purchase APR is among the highest of Scotiabank’s credit cards. Therefore, this card may be a better fit if you’re confident you will pay off the balance in full each month.
Is the Scotiabank Gold American Express worth it?
Whether the Scotiabank Gold Amex makes sense for your wallet depends on how you want to earn rewards. If you’re looking for a card that offers Scene+ points, has Amex perks and a low income requirement, this card may be worth it. However, if you want a card that offers cash back rewards or low interest rates, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Scotia Bank customer ratings
- Below average in customer satisfaction: Scotiabank ranks 7th out of 13 issuers in J.D. Power’s 2023 Canada Credit Card Satisfaction Study.
- Poor Trustpilot rating: 1.2 out of 5 possible stars based on more than 860 customer reviews, as of this writing.
- Low Better Business Bureau rating: 1.17 out of 5 possible stars based on more than 100 customer reviews, as of this writing. Scotiabank is not accredited by the BBB itself.
Scotiabank Gold American Express eligibility
Who qualifies for the Scotiabank Gold American Express card?
To qualify for the Scotiabank Gold Amex, you must:
- Be a Canadian resident.
- Be at least the age of majority.
- Have no history of bankruptcy in the last seven years.
- Have a minimum annual gross income of $12,000.
Approximate credit score needed for approval
Canadian credit card issuers rarely disclose required credit scores, which makes it hard to know your chances of approval when comparing credit cards. What we do know is that higher scores have better chances of approval — that’s true no matter what type of credit you’re applying for.
Want to learn more? Visit our “What Credit Score Is Needed for a Credit Card?” page.
Scotiabank Gold American Express rewards
Welcome offer
Ongoing rewards
Points value breakdown
Earn up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points. Spend at least $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of card ownership and receive 25,000 points. Earn an additional 20,000 points if you spend at least $7,500 in the first year (offer available for limited time and only to new cardholders).
You can earn Scene+ points on the following purchases.
- 6x points on purchases at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more.
- 5x points on eligible restaurants, food delivery and grocery stores.
- 5x points on eligible ticket purchases to movies and theatres.
- 3x points on gas and daily transit, including rideshare.
- 3x points on select streaming services.
- 1x points on everything else.
The value of Scotiabank Scene+ points may vary based on the redemption method you choose, but according to NerdWallet analysis, you can expect to get around 1 cent per point on travel, movies, dining, entertainment, banking, and retail, pharmacy and grocery shopping.
In the first year, you could potentially earn $730 in travel rewards, according to the Scotiabank website. The welcome bonus of 45,000 Scene+ points is equal to $450 in travel rewards. Plus, a year of everyday purchases can generate an average $247 in travel rewards, as well as $33 in foreign transaction fee savings, on average.
How to apply for the Scotiabank Gold Amex
You can apply for the Scotiabank Gold Amex via the company’s website. Follow the below steps to apply.
- Log in or sign up for a new account.
- Enter any personal details like name and email address.
- Create username and password, if you do not already have an account. .
- Verify your identity.
- Enter any employment or financial information requested.
- Review the card’s terms and conditions before you submit your application.
Scotiabank Gold Amex vs Amex Cobalt
If you’re not committed to Scotiabank’s Scene+ program, and you’re simply looking for an Amex that earns rewards, you might consider the American Express Cobalt. The card has a similar annual fee to the Scotiabank Gold Amex but earns Amex Membership Rewards points instead.
| Scotiabank Gold American Express | American Express Cobalt | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fees | $120. | $155.88. |
| Minimum annual income | $12,000. | None published. |
| Rewards |
|
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| Benefits |
|
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Reasons you might want a different card
You may want to consider a different card if you:
- Want to earn cash back or non-Scene+ points.
- Want a card with customizable spending categories.
» MORE: Best American Express credit cards
Scotiabank Gold American Express facts
| Scotiabank Gold American Express | |
|---|---|
| Card type | Rewards credit card. |
| Fees and interest rates | |
| Annual fee | $120. |
| Regular/purchase APR | 20.99% / 22.99%. |
| Penalty APR | 25.99% (27.99% on cash advances) if two or more payments are missed in a 12 month period. Penalty is removed after you make the minimum payment for 12 consecutive months. |
| Cash advance APR | 22.99%. |
| Balance transfer APR | 22.99%. |
| Foreign transaction fee | No foreign transaction fee. |
| Rewards and benefits | |
| Intro offer | New cardholders can earn up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points in the first year. Earn 25,000 if you spend at least $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months. Earn an additional 20,000 if you spend at least $7,500 on eligible purchases in the first year. Terms and conditions apply. |
| Reward earn rates | Earn between 1x and 6x Scene+ points on eligible purchases, such as groceries, gas and streaming services. |
| Other perks |
|
| Insurance coverage | |
| Travel accident | Up to $500,000 ($1 million per occurrence). |
| Travel medical | Up to $1 million per insured person per trip. |
| Flight delay | Up to $500 for necessary expenses, such as accommodation, meals and sundries. |
| Baggage delay | Up to $1,000 of coverage per trip for all insured persons. |
| Lost or stolen baggage | Up to $1,000 of coverage per trip for all insured persons. |
| Hotel burglary | Up to $1,000 of coverage. |
| Rental car theft/damage | For up to 48 days. |
| Extended warranty | Up to one additional year. |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days. |
| Mobile Device Protection | Up to $1,000 of mobile device protection in case of loss, theft, accidental damage or mechanical issues. Conditions apply. |
Rating Methodology
NerdWallet Canada rates credit cards according to overall consumer value and their suitability for specific kinds of consumers. Factors inour evaluation methodologyinclude annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as airline or hotel perks or the ability to transfer points.
Frequently asked questions about Scotiabank Gold American Express
What is the minimum income for Scotiabank Gold American Express?
You must have a minimum gross income of $12,000 to apply for the Scotiabank Gold American Express card.
Does Scotiabank Gold Amex have lounge access?
Yes, for a discount. The Scotiabank Gold American Express card offers a discount on Priority Pass membership, which grants access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide.
About the Author
Georgia Rose
Georgia Rose is a lead writer on the international team at NerdWallet. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Independent and The Associated…
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