7,000 Scene+ points 
$120 First-year value The Scotiabank American Express Card is Scotiabank’s entry-level travel rewards credit card on the American Express network.
This card is best-suited to casual travellers who are looking to avoid credit card annual fees, while earning points in important bonus categories to reduce travel expenses.
Bonuses & Fees
The Scotiabank American Express Card is offering a modest welcome bonus of up to 7,000 Scene+ points for new applicants, distributed as follows:
- Earn 5,000 Scene+ points upon spending $750 in the first three months
- Earn an additional 2,000 Scene+ points upon spending $5,000 in the first year
The card has no annual fee for the primary or supplementary cardholders.
Earning Rewards
The Scotiabank American Express Card offers an elevated 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent on dining, groceries, movies, gas, transit, and streaming services – equivalent to a flat 2% return.
As part of a partnership with Empire grocery stores, you can earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent on Empire grocery stores such as Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, and FreshCo.
There is an earning rate of 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Keep in mind that accelerated earning rates are capped at $50,000 per calendar year and not per category. You’ll earn 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent thereafter.
For a no-fee card, these elevated earning rates are excellent, representing mostly all average daily spending categories. This is definitely a card you want to consider as a daily driver if you’re just starting out.
If you’re interested in stronger returns from your spending, consider the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, which comes with a stronger 5x earning rate on groceries, dining, and entertainment – all with a reasonable annual fee of $120.
Redeeming Rewards
Scene+ is one of the most flexible fixed-value points programs in Canada. Points have a value of 1 cent per point, and can be easily credited towards any travel expense.
This is far superior to fixed-value points programs from Canada’s other major banks, which force you to book your travel through their in-house travel agencies. With those programs, you’re effectively limited to using your points for flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacations.
On the other hand, with Scene+ points, you can apply your points to things like Airbnbs, train tickets, and award taxes and fees. Simply charge the travel expense to your credit card, and then redeem points to “offset” the charge within a 90-day period.
Your points won’t expire for as long as you’re a cardholder. If you cancel the card, you’ll have 60 days to redeem your Scene+ points before they’re gone.
Perks & Benefits
Despite not being issued by American Express, this card still gets many of the perks of being on the American Express payment network.
You’ll be able to register for some Amex Offers including Shop Small, use Amex Front of the Line for presale event tickets, and use American Express Invites for exclusive experiences.
Insurance Coverage
The insurance on the Scotiabank American Express Card is for a no-fee product. Coverage includes:
- Mobile device insurance of up to $500 in the event a new phone or tablet is lost, damaged, or stolen.
- Extended warranty of up to one more year and purchase protection of 90 days against damage, loss, or theft of new items.