Overall rating
First year value
$0
Get this card if you:
- reside in Quebec or Ontario
- want a generous cash back card with basic travel perks like discounted lounge access
Scores by category
Cash Back 3.5
Rewards 3.0
Travel 2.2
At a glance
The Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard is a premium credit card offering elevated cash back rates on categories such as groceries, dining, entertainment, and alternative transportation. It also provides benefits like mobile device insurance, travel insurance for short trips, and discounts on car rentals, catering to individuals seeking both rewards and comprehensive coverage.
Highlights
$100
Annual fee
$30 for an additional card
Interest Rates
20.9%
Purchase APR
21.9%
Cash advance APR
Eligibility
Good
Recommended credit score
$80,000
Required annual personal income
$150,000
Required annual household income
Quick overview of the Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard
The Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard is a premium cash back credit card that offers up to 4% cash back on everyday categories and decent travel insurance coverage for a $100 annual fee ($30 for an additional card). Cash back with the card is automatically redeemed when cardholders accumulate $100 cash back. It’s a hassle-free card for those who prefer something low-maintenance.
Who’s the Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard for?
The Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard is designed for high-income earners, frequent spenders, travelers, cash back enthusiasts and those seeking premium benefits.
Pros
-
Generous rewards: Earn up to 4% back on everyday purchases.
-
Manageable annual fee: $100 annual fee is slightly lower than similar cards from other issuers.
Cons
-
Spending caps: Cash back on groceries is capped at $10,000 in spending per year while dining is capped after $6,000 in spending per year.
-
No welcome bonus: Desjardins Bank does not offer welcome bonuses on its credit cards.
-
Limited insurance: The card provides some travel insurance but the coverage is smaller than you might find elsewhere.
Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard welcome bonus
The Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard does not currently offer a welcome bonus.
The Desjardins World Elite Mastercard is the bank’s premier cash back card; as such, it offers the bank’s best rewards on select purchases:
- Earn up to 4% back on grocery store purchases
- Earn up to 3% back on restaurants, entertainment and alternative transportation
- Earn 1% back on all other purchases
You probably noticed that the first two spending categories are listed as earning “up to” a certain amount. That’s because two of those categories are capped. After you reach those spending caps, you’ll earn unlimited 1% cash back on purchases in that category until the end of the year. Here are the spending caps:
Cardholders can also earn additional cash back with the Mastercard Travel Rewards program when using the Cash Back World Elite Mastercard outside of Canada.
What qualifies as “alternative transportation”?
Cash Back World Elite Mastercard holders earn 3% back on alternative transportation, but what exactly does that mean? Desjardins Bank classifies the following purchases as “alternative transport”:
- Commuter passenger transportation
- Taxis
- Limousines
- Buses
- Public charging stations
Redeeming cash back with the Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard is simple — so simple that you don’t need to do anything at all. Your account is automatically credited when you accumulate $100 cash back.
Cash back rewards
The big selling point of the Desjardins Cash Back Card is its lucrative cash back rewards. Those rewards include up to 4% back on groceries and 3% back on dining, although these categories are capped at $10,000 and $6,000 annually, respectively.
Despite these caps, the card is a lucrative earner. According to Desjardins, if cardholders spend $800 a month on groceries, they stand to earn $32 cash back every month ($800 x 4% of your purchases), or $384 a year for that category.
Travel benefits
While the Cash Back World Elite Mastercard is a cash back card at heart, it still provides some travel benefits that may entice potential applicants. Chief among those perks is airport lounge access through DragonPass:
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges in more than 140 countries, courtesy of Mastercard Travel Pass External link provided by DragonPass.
It’s worth noting that this lounge benefit does not provide any free visits. Instead, the Mastercard Travel Pass is just that — a pass, with visits requiring a separate charge.
The card also provides another unique travel perk: free travel insurance for you and your family for up to three days. Should you need more travel insurance? Desjardins offers a quick online process to get.
Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard insurance coverage
- Get up to 25% off and several other advantages when you use your Desjardins credit card to rent a car at Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar
- Unlock a complimentary Flexiroam International eSIM Plan. Enjoy seamless, hassle-free connectivity. The World Elite Mastercard unlocks a complimentary three x 1GB Global Data Roaming eSIM Plan and 15% off on future purchases of eSim Plans
- Mastercard World Elite benefits and travel perks
What people have to say about the Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard
The consensus with many cardholders is that the card is solid but lacks something special to make it a better option than cards from rivals. User Kiraly noted on an online forum that the Desjardins Cash Back World Elite is a ”decent card for the low-ish annual fee. But I still prefer my Meridian Visa, the same rewards on groceries, plus 4% on gas and a superior insurance package.”
Cardholder Murray Bell was left frustrated by the addition of spending caps in summer of 2024:
“This card was 5 stars until I received a notice this month that they are cutting back on their rewards effective Jan 1, 2024. You still get 4% on groceries and 3% on restaurants but there is now an annual spend limit… will limit the rewards you can receive.”
How the Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard compares
Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard vs. BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*
up to 10% cash back
Welcome Bonus
$1,025
First Year Value
$570
Annual Value
Welcome Bonus: Get up to 10% cash back in your first 3 months, $75 cash back bonus when you spend $25,000 in your first year, and the $120 annual fee waived in the first year†. Expires Jun 01, 2025
Get this card if you...
-
are a high-earner looking to earn cash back
-
want great perks like travel insurance and concierge services
-
value a great welcome offer
Annual Fee & Annual Interest Rates
$120
Annual Fee
21.99%
Purchase
23.99%
Cash Advance
23.99%
Balance Transfer
Our Take
The BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* is a premium credit card offering elevated cash back rates on categories such as groceries, transit, gas, and recurring bill payments. Cardholders benefit from complimentary roadside assistance, comprehensive insurance coverage, and flexible cash back redemption options, so you can maximize your rewards on everyday spending.
Eligibility
Excellent (740+)
Recommended Credit Score
$80,000
Required Annual Personal Income
$150,000
Required Annual Household Income
Pros
-
Valuable sign-up bonus
-
High 5% cash back rate on groceries
-
Free roadside assistance
-
Excellent extended warranty and purchase protection terms
Cons
-
Restrictive spending limits for most cash back categories
-
Sign-up bonus structure is head-scratchingly complicated
-
High minimum income requirements
Annual Interest Rates
21.99%
Purchase
23.99%
Cash Advance
23.99%
Balance Transfer
Fees
$120
Annual Fee
2.50%
Foreign Transaction
Rewards cash back
5%
Groceries: 5% cash back up to $500 spent per month ($25 in cash back)*
4%
Transit: 4% cash back up to $300 spent per month ($12 in cash back)*
3%
Gas: 3% cash back up to $300 spent per month ($9 in cash back)*
2%
Recurring Bills: 2% cash back up to $500 spent per month ($10 in cash back)*
1%
Everything Else: 1% cash back, unlimited*
Insurance Benefits
$2,000,000
Emergency medical insurance amount
$500,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$65,000
Rental car insurance amount
Get up to 10% cash back in your first 3 months and earn an additional $75 cash back bonus when you spend $25,000 in your first year. Plus, we'll waive the $120 annual fee in the first year.†
†Terms and Conditions apply,
Our Take
The BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* is a premium credit card offering elevated cash back rates on categories such as groceries, transit, gas, and recurring bill payments. Cardholders benefit from complimentary roadside assistance, comprehensive insurance coverage, and flexible cash back redemption options, so you can maximize your rewards on everyday spending.
Eligibility
Excellent (740+)
Recommended Credit Score
$80,000
Required Annual Personal Income
$150,000
Required Annual Household Income
Pros
-
Valuable sign-up bonus
-
High 5% cash back rate on groceries
-
Free roadside assistance
-
Excellent extended warranty and purchase protection terms
Cons
-
Restrictive spending limits for most cash back categories
-
Sign-up bonus structure is head-scratchingly complicated
-
High minimum income requirements
Annual Interest Rates
21.99%
Purchase
23.99%
Cash Advance
23.99%
Balance Transfer
Fees
$120
Annual Fee
2.50%
Foreign Transaction
Rewards cash back
5%
Groceries: 5% cash back up to $500 spent per month ($25 in cash back)*
4%
Transit: 4% cash back up to $300 spent per month ($12 in cash back)*
3%
Gas: 3% cash back up to $300 spent per month ($9 in cash back)*
2%
Recurring Bills: 2% cash back up to $500 spent per month ($10 in cash back)*
1%
Everything Else: 1% cash back, unlimited*
Insurance Benefits
$2,000,000
Emergency medical insurance amount
$500,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$65,000
Rental car insurance amount
Get up to 10% cash back in your first 3 months and earn an additional $75 cash back bonus when you spend $25,000 in your first year. Plus, we'll waive the $120 annual fee in the first year.†
†Terms and Conditions apply,
The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard is an impressive cash back card. For the card’s $120 annual fee, you get a high 5% cash back up to $500 spent per month on groceries, 4% cash back on transit, including ride sharing, taxis and public transportation, 3% cash back on gas and EV charging, 2% cash back on recurring bills and 1% back on everything else.
Even better, there’s bonus cash back for the first few months of card membership: Get up to 10% cash back in your first three months and the $120 annual fee waived on the first anniversary.
There are some great travel features, too. Enjoy a complimentary membership in the Dominion Automobile Association (DAA) - a $69 value. Plus there’s travel insurance, flight and baggage delay protection and more.
Disclosures:
- *Terms and conditions apply.
-
BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.
Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard vs. CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card
10% cash back†
Welcome Bonus
$878
First Year Value
$558
Annual Value
Welcome Bonus: Earn 10% cash back for the first 4 statements on net purchases of up to $2,000.† Plus, get a first-year annual fee rebate for you and up to three Authorized Users.†
Get this card if you...
-
want high cash back rates on groceries, gas and recurring bills
-
value comprehensive insurance benefits
-
value a great welcome offer
Annual Fee & Annual Interest Rates
$120
Annual Fee
20.99%†
Purchase
22.99%†
Cash Advance
22.99%†
Balance Transfer
Our Take
The CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card is a cash back credit card offering elevated earn rates on categories such as groceries, gas, transportation, dining, and recurring payments. Cardholders benefit from features like purchase security, extended protection, and optional insurance coverages. It's a good option for those seeking to maximize cash back on everyday spending.
Eligibility
Good (620 - 670)
Recommended Credit Score
$60,000
Required Annual Personal Income
$100,000
Required Annual Household Income
Pros
-
First-year annual fee rebate†
-
10% cash back welcome bonus up to $2,000† spend
-
4% cash back on gas, electric vehicle charging and grocery stores
-
2% cash back on transportation, dining and recurring payments
-
High annual spending cap on benefits ($20,000 in bonus categories or $80,000 total)
Cons
-
High income requirement
-
Sparse travel insurance offering
Annual Interest Rates
20.99%†
Purchase
22.99%†
Cash Advance
22.99%†
Balance Transfer
25.99%†
Penalty
Fees
$120
Annual Fee
2.50%†
Foreign Transaction
$29
Over The Limit Penalty
$42.5
Return Penalty
Rewards cash back
4%
cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, and grocery purchases.†
2%
cash back on eligible transportation, dining purchases and recurring payments†
1%
cash back on all other purchases†
10 cents
save up to 10 cents per litre† at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations.†
Insurance Benefits
$1,000
Mobile device insurance amount
$5,000,000
Emergency medical insurance amount
$500,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$65,000
Rental car insurance amount
Get a first-year annual fee rebate for you and up to three Authorized Users† and earn 10% cash back for the first 4 statements on net purchases of up to $2,000†.
Our Take
The CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card is a cash back credit card offering elevated earn rates on categories such as groceries, gas, transportation, dining, and recurring payments. Cardholders benefit from features like purchase security, extended protection, and optional insurance coverages. It's a good option for those seeking to maximize cash back on everyday spending.
Eligibility
Good (620 - 670)
Recommended Credit Score
$60,000
Required Annual Personal Income
$100,000
Required Annual Household Income
Pros
-
First-year annual fee rebate†
-
10% cash back welcome bonus up to $2,000† spend
-
4% cash back on gas, electric vehicle charging and grocery stores
-
2% cash back on transportation, dining and recurring payments
-
High annual spending cap on benefits ($20,000 in bonus categories or $80,000 total)
Cons
-
High income requirement
-
Sparse travel insurance offering
Annual Interest Rates
20.99%†
Purchase
22.99%†
Cash Advance
22.99%†
Balance Transfer
25.99%†
Penalty
Fees
$120
Annual Fee
2.50%†
Foreign Transaction
$29
Over The Limit Penalty
$42.5
Return Penalty
Rewards cash back
4%
cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, and grocery purchases.†
2%
cash back on eligible transportation, dining purchases and recurring payments†
1%
cash back on all other purchases†
10 cents
save up to 10 cents per litre† at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations.†
Insurance Benefits
$1,000
Mobile device insurance amount
$5,000,000
Emergency medical insurance amount
$500,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$65,000
Rental car insurance amount
Get a first-year annual fee rebate for you and up to three Authorized Users† and earn 10% cash back for the first 4 statements on net purchases of up to $2,000†.
The CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card is another premium cash back card that charges a $120 annual fee, though CIBC waives that charge for the first year. Like the Desjardins card, the Dividend Visa Infinite earns 4% back on groceries — but that 4% cash back also applies to gas and eligible EV charging purchases. Additionally, that 4% back is capped at a much higher $$20,000 per year, significantly more than the Desjardins Cash Back.
The Dividend Visa Infinite also offers a welcome bonus, something lacking with Desjardins:
-
Get a first-year annual fee rebate for you and up to three Authorized Users† and earn 10% cash back for the first 4 statements on net purchases of up to $2,000†.
Disclosures:
- †Terms and Conditions Apply. This offer is not available for the residents of Quebec.
- The information for the CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card has been collected independently by Money.ca. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard vs SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express
bonus 10% cash back
Welcome Bonus
$742
First Year Value
$492
Annual Value
Welcome Bonus: Earn a bonus 10% cash back on purchases in your first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases).
Get this card if you...
-
want to earn cash back faster
-
need comprehensive insurance benefits
-
want a generous welcome offer to maximize rewards
Annual Fee & Annual Interest Rates
$119.88
Annual Fee
21.99%
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Advance
Our Take
The SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express is a cash back credit card offering elevated earn rates on eligible gas and grocery purchases in Canada, with a standard rate on all other purchases. Cardholders benefit from a welcome bonus, as well as additional perks such as rental car insurance and travel accident coverage; however, the card carries a monthly fee, and cash back is redeemed annually each September.
Eligibility
Excellent (740+)
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
-
Competitive cash back rates: Up to 4% on gas and groceries, and more
-
Refer-a-friend bonus up to $750 annually
-
Extra benefits like rental car insurance and travel accident coverage
-
Manufacturer's warranty doubled on purchases
Cons
-
$9.99/month fee ($119.88 annually)
-
Cash back redeemed annually in September
-
Not all benefits may be relevant to all users
-
Limited to American Express acceptance
Annual Interest Rates
21.99%
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Advance
28.99%
Penalty
Fees
$119.88
Annual Fee
2.50%
Foreign Transaction
$29
Over The Limit Penalty
Rewards cash back
4%
cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada
4%
cash back on eligible grocery store purchases in Canada (up to $1,200 cash back annually)
2%
cash back on all other purchases
Insurance Benefits
$1,000
Mobile device insurance amount
$5,000,000
Emergency medical insurance amount
$100,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$500
Hotel burglary insurance
$85,000
Rental car insurance amount
Earn a bonus 10% cash back on purchases in your first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases). That’s on top of your everyday cash back earn rates.
Plus, earn a $50 statement credit* when you make a purchase in month 13.*
This could add up to $250 in bonus value in your first 13 months.
*Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for this offer. Other terms apply.
Our Take
The SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express is a cash back credit card offering elevated earn rates on eligible gas and grocery purchases in Canada, with a standard rate on all other purchases. Cardholders benefit from a welcome bonus, as well as additional perks such as rental car insurance and travel accident coverage; however, the card carries a monthly fee, and cash back is redeemed annually each September.
Eligibility
Excellent (740+)
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
-
Competitive cash back rates: Up to 4% on gas and groceries, and more
-
Refer-a-friend bonus up to $750 annually
-
Extra benefits like rental car insurance and travel accident coverage
-
Manufacturer's warranty doubled on purchases
Cons
-
$9.99/month fee ($119.88 annually)
-
Cash back redeemed annually in September
-
Not all benefits may be relevant to all users
-
Limited to American Express acceptance
Annual Interest Rates
21.99%
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Advance
28.99%
Penalty
Fees
$119.88
Annual Fee
2.50%
Foreign Transaction
$29
Over The Limit Penalty
Rewards cash back
4%
cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada
4%
cash back on eligible grocery store purchases in Canada (up to $1,200 cash back annually)
2%
cash back on all other purchases
Insurance Benefits
$1,000
Mobile device insurance amount
$5,000,000
Emergency medical insurance amount
$100,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$500
Hotel burglary insurance
$85,000
Rental car insurance amount
Earn a bonus 10% cash back on purchases in your first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases). That’s on top of your everyday cash back earn rates.
Plus, earn a $50 statement credit* when you make a purchase in month 13.*
This could add up to $250 in bonus value in your first 13 months.
*Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for this offer. Other terms apply.
The SimplyCash® Preferred Card is the premium cash back option of American Express. The card earns similar rewards to the Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard, earning 4% back on eligible gas and groceries in Canada. That cash back on groceries is capped at $$1,200 cash back annually, a higher spend cap than Desjardins provides. Cardholders also earn 2% back on all other purchases.
The SimplyCash Preferred also provides a juicy welcome offer for new accounts:
- Earn a bonus 10% cash back on purchases in your first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases).
Disclosures:
-
Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
Is the Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard worth it?
The Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard is worth considering if you're a frequent spender in categories like groceries, restaurants, entertainment and public transit. The card’s annual fee is reasonable and the earn rates and spending caps are fairly generous. However, if you're a frequent international traveler or take longer trips, you might want to consider a card with more comprehensive travel benefits and no foreign transaction fees.
You’ll need to meet the following criteria to qualify for the Desjardins Bank Cash Back World Elite Mastercard:
- Canadian resident of the age of majority in your province or territory
- Good credit score
- $80,000 minimum personal income or $150,000 annual income
Cory Santos is a finance writer, editor and credit card expert with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance. Cory joined Wise Publishing from BestCards, with bylines in numerous print and digital publications across North America, including the Miami Herald, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Debt.ca, AOL, MSN and Medium as well as financial podcasts like KOFE Talk.
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†Terms and Conditions apply.