Best ATB Financial credit cards in Canada

Fact checked by Cory Santos

Updated Mar 3, 2025

If you live in Alberta and are in the market for a credit card, you may want to consider ATB Financial — before you settle on a credit card from one of the Big 6 Banks. Find the top credit cards from ATB Financial, Alberta’s financial leader.

While we adhere to strict editorial guidelines, partners on this page may provide us earnings.

Enjoy exclusive rewards, low rates and premium benefits tailored to your lifestyle with the best ATB credit cards.

ATB Financial has nine credit cards in its lineup, including a top-tier travel rewards card, a no-fee cash back card and a flexible, low-interest rate card. Read on, as we cover the best ATB cards here or check out our Best Credit Cards Canada guide to compare all cards).

  • Why you can trust Money.ca's best ATB Financial credit cards in Canada list

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    Money.ca rates all credit cards on a numeric scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest rating, respectively. Money.ca’s proprietary scoring formulas break down the confusing language, complex points, rewards and earn rates to give you the real data that caters to your needs first, not ours.

    Our partnerships have no impact on our ratings, which are solely determined by the merits of each card. To learn more about how we researched and ranked these cards, read our full credit card review methodology.

Best overall

Best ATB credit card overall

ATB World Elite Mastercard®

4.0

$0

First Year Value

$0

Annual Value

Credit unions and smaller financial institutions are not known for their rewards credit cards, but the ATB World Elite Mastercard is an exception. While its welcome offer is somewhat pedestrian (first year’s annual fee waived ($120 value) and ($200) when you make your first purchase), it offers an impressive 8 points for every $1 spent on airlines, hotels, motels and car rental companies and 6 points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases on groceries, gas, digital streaming services and/or subscriptions, and entertainment. All other eligible purchases earn 2x. But it doesn’t stop there. The card comes with four complimentary airport lounge passes yearly and a long list of 15 different insurance coverages. The annual fee for this card is $120 and $35 for each additional card. 

We like the card because its huge points haul is matched by it's equally impressive lounge access. And that's before mentioning the comprehensive travel insurance, welcome bonus and everything else there is to like about the ATB World Elite Mastercard. 

Disclosures:

  • Terms and Conditions Apply
Best value

Best ATB credit card for value

ATB Gold My Rewards Mastercard®

3.0

$0

First Year Value

$0

Annual Value

The ATB Gold My Rewards Mastercard may be the best value credit card ATB offers, depending on your spending habits. In comparison, the World Elite card has better rewards but comes with a high $120 annual fee. The Gold Cash Rewards doesn’t charge a yearly fee, but it has fewer insurance coverages than the Gold My Rewards. This card has no annual fee, earns 3 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries, gas, digital streaming services and/or subscriptions, and entertainment., 3 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases on groceries, gas, digital streaming services and/or subscriptions, and entertainment., 1.5x on everything else, plus offers seven types of insurance coverage and purchase assurance and extended warranty. 

We love the Gold My Rewards for a bunch of great reasons:

  • points per dollar on gas, groceries, digital streaming and/or subscriptions and entertainment
  • Seven different insurance coverages 
  • Purchase assurance and extended warranty 
  • No fee for additional cards 

Disclosures:

  • Terms and Conditions Apply
Best cash back

Best ATB credit card for cash back

ATB Gold Cash Rewards Mastercard®

3.0

$0

First Year Value

$0

Annual Value

The ATB Gold Cash Rewards Mastercard is ATB Financial’s premier cash back card. And while its 1% cash back rate lags behind the best cash back credit cards in Canada, it doesn’t charge an annual fee. It also includes worthwhile benefits, such as car rental collision/damage waiver insurance, common carrier and car rental insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment coverage. 

There's a whole lot to like about the Gold Cash Rewards Card, including:

  • No annual fee 
  • Unlimited cash back on all purchases
  • Solid insurance offering for a no-fee card 
  • Avis and Budget car rental discounts

Disclosures: 

  • Terms and Conditions Apply
Best no fee

Best for no fee: ATB Alberta Mastercard

If you’re looking for a no-fee, no-frills credit card, the ATB Alberta Mastercard is it. It comes in two versions — regular and secured — the latter geared to those trying to build or repair previous bad credit. The card offers a standard cash purchase rate of 19.99% (22.99% for cash advances), and you can personalize your card from over 80 card designs. There’s no reward-earning, but cardholders are eligible for Avis and Budget car rental discounts of up to 25%. 

We like the card because:

  • No annual fee 
  • Choose from over 80 card designs
  • Secured card option is available for bad credit
  • Sound starter card for Alberta residents that are new to credit cards
Best balance transfer

Best for balance transfers: ATB Preferred Fixed-Rate Mastercard

Are you looking to pay off a higher-interest credit card from another financial institution? A debt consolidation loan may be an option, or you could transfer the balance to the low-rate ATB Preferred Fixed-Rate Mastercard. This card charges a fixed rate of 10.90% on purchases, cash advances and balance transfers. For balance transfers, a fee of up to 3% of the transfer amount also applies. The card does not offer rewards and there is a modest annual fee of $29. 

We like the card because:

  • Low $29 annual fee
  • Flexible credit with a fixed 10.9% interest rate — one rate for purchases, cash advances and balance transfers
  • Choose from over 80 card designs
  • Free additional cards 
  • Avis and Budget car rental discounts of up to 25% 
  • A variable-rate option is available 

What is ATB Financial?

ATB Financial is an Alberta-based financial institution wholly owned by the Alberta government. It’s the largest Alberta-based financial institution operating in the province. The Crown corporation has over $62 billion in assets. Its 5,000-plus employees serve over 800,000 clients across more than 250 branches. 

Benefits

Benefits of banking with ATB

ATB Financial is focused on delivering products and services that meet Albertans' needs. It offers chequing and savings accounts, credit cards, various investment products, GICs and mutual funds, loans, lines of credit, mortgages and even small business and commercial banking products. 

Standout features include attractive new account promotions for clients who move their banking to ATB Financial, high savings account interest rates (for Canadian and US currency accounts, and an excellent travel rewards credit card. 

Types of ATB cards

Types of credit cards offered by ATB Financial

There are nine cards in the ATB Financial credit card lineup, including a prepaid Mastercard. Here’s a summary of the different card types: 

  • Rewards: ATB Financial offers three rewards credit cards, including two no-fee cards that provide modest rewards. On the other hand, its premium World Elite Mastercard is a travel credit card to be reckoned with. It comes with high bonus earn rates, complimentary airport lounge passes, a long list of complimentary insurance coverages and more. 
  • Preferred rate: Customers can choose from two low-rate credit cards: fixed and variable. Both cards charge a low $29 annual fee. 
  • Basic: The ATB Alberta Mastercard is a basic no-annual-fee card, while the Alberta-Secured is a secured credit card for customers building or reestablishing their credit. 
  • US dollar: If you are a snowbird or travel frequently south of the border, this credit card allows you to spend in US dollars and avoid foreign transaction fees. It charges an annual fee of USD$19. 
  • Prepaid: If you want the convenience of a credit card without borrowing money, consider the ATB Load & Go prepaid Mastercard. No credit check is required, and you can load up to $10,000 daily onto the card with no maximum balance. There is a $1.25 monthly fee.
What to look for

What to look for in an ATB credit card

Before choosing a credit card, you’ll want to consider what’s most important to you. For example, if your priority is to maximize rewards, it will narrow your choice to the ATB World Elite, Gold Cash Rewards or Gold My Rewards cards. The World Elite offers the highest earning rates and the most benefits, but costs $120 annually. If you don’t spend enough with the card, it may not justify paying the annual fee. Hence, spending habits are another important consideration. The ATB Preferred (fixed or variable rate) will likely be your best option if you're looking for a low-rate card. 

Once you’ve chosen a card, find ways to maximize any available benefits. Here are a few tips: 

  1. 1.

    If a welcome offer exists, ensure you can meet the conditions to get the most value 

  2. 2.

    If you plan to carry a balance on the card, consider one of the low-rate cards. Of course, do your best not to carry a balance 

  3. 3.

    If you can earn bonus rewards for streaming services or other subscriptions, ensure they are charged to the card (instead of another card or your bank account) 

  4. 4.

    Take advantage of any discounts offered by the card. In the case of ATB credit cards, most include Avis and Budget car rental discounts 

Summary

Summary of best ATB credit card picks

Card Best for
ATB World Elite Mastercard Overall
ATB Gold My Rewards Mastercard Value
ATB Gold Cash Rewards Mastercard Cash back
ATB Alberta Mastercard No annual fee
ATB Preferred Fixed-Rate Mastercard Balance transfers and low APR
FAQs

FAQs

  • How many branches does ATB Financial have?

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    ATB Financial has 267 branches and agencies across Alberta, serving over 800,000 customers.

  • Can I open an account with ATB Financial if I don't live in Alberta?

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    No, as ATB Financial banking products are provided to residents and businesses in Alberta. If you have questions about a specific product or service, contact ATB Financial customer service at 1-800-332-8383.

  • Is ATB Financial covered by deposit insurance?

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    ATB Financial is not a Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) member, but that doesn’t mean your deposits are not protected. Instead, the Government of Alberta guarantees your eligible funds 100% through the ATB Financial Act. This includes all chequing and savings account balances (business and personal) and fixed-term investments, such as GICs.

  • How can I contact ATB Financial customer service?

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    You can contact ATB Financial customer service through its website, mobile app or local branch or by calling its Client Care department at 1-800-332-8383. Support is also available through ATB's social media channels.

Colin Graves Freelance Writer

Colin Graves is a Winnipeg-based financial writer and editor whose work has been featured in publications such as Time, MoneySense, MapleMoney, Retire Happy, The College Investor, and more. Before becoming a full-time writer, Colin was a bank manager for over 15 years.

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