Overall rating
First year value
$1,382
Get this card if you:
- want exclusive travel benefits like no foreign exchange fees
- need comprehensive travel insurance benefits
- want to access exclusive Amex offers
Highlights
$1,382
First year value
up to $780 in value
Welcome bonus
$120
Annual fee
$29 for each supplementary card
Interest Rates
20.99%
Purchase APR
22.99%
Balance transfer APR
22.99%
Cash advance APR
Eligibility
Very Good
Recommended credit score
Quick overview of the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card has “Scene” better days. I was actually using this card for a secret point scheme to fly my wife’s friend to visit her in France. All was going well until they migrated over to Scene points! Which, while not bad (we’ll dive into why below) are definitely nerfed in a big way for travel-fiends.
That’s not to say it’s all doom and gloom, though. For every-day-purchasers, Scene+ points can pack a punch and are relatively valuable when applied to things like groceries, paying down your balance and (of course) movie tickets. Plus, one for my fellow travellers, the Scotiabank American Express Gold saves you on foreign exchange fees when abroad, which adds up if you’re away for a while. Your savings might even help you pay off the not-insubstantial $120 fee. And on top of that, it offers wildly good travel-related insurance, including emergency medical, trip cancellation, flight delay, lost baggage and more.
Who’s the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card for?
There’s sort of a melange going on with the Scotiabank Gold Amex that makes it hard to pin to a certain type of person. The Scene+ points are earned on everyday purchases, with big bonuses on earning them from participating grocery stores, dining and movies. But then there’s the fact that it’s an Amex, making consistent daily spending tough (you’re out of luck Loblaws fans). And on top of that, though the waived foreign exchange fees are going to tempt travellers (plus a discount on Priority Pass for lounges), the Scene+ points aren’t nearly as good as Amex or Aeroplan for travel. In essence, the Scotiabank Gold Amex is a grab bag, with morsels that will appeal to several demographics without directly catering to one.
Pros and cons
Pros
-
Lots of daily spend options to earn multiplied point bonuses
-
Swanky Amex perks like Front of the Line presale concert tickets
-
Save on foreign transaction fees when abroad
-
Fantastic insurance coverage, especially for travel
Cons
-
Relatively low-value welcome bonus
-
$120 annual fee that chews into your point value substantially
-
Scene points redeem poorly for travel
Scotiabank American Express Gold welcome bonus
- Earn up to $780* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points..
How to earn membership rewards points on Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
As I mentioned before, the best way to use this card is as your daily spender. You get a whopping 6x points on every $1 you spend at participating grocery stores (Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and Foodland), and 5x on dining out or ordering in via the popular apps. This 5x multiplier also extends to Scene’s old bread and butter – the movies – plus, live theater and ticket agencies. A 3x points bonus is offered for money spent on public transit, gas and even rideshares and taxis. This 3x earn rate is also offered for eligible streaming services.
That is actually pretty good. While the welcome bonus isn’t exactly compelling, achieving minimum spend on basically all life-requirement purchases should be a cinch, and you’ll be racking up big points in the meantime. My advice? Before leaping in, check where you spend your money. That grocery bonus looks pretty sweet, but if your local store is a Loblaws, your SOL. Oh, and just like Loblaws, many places still don’t take Amex cards. Make sure your regular haunts do, or you might find the Scene point stream cut down to a trickle.
How to redeem membership rewards points on Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
If I’ve given Scene points a bit of a ribbing, it’s because they’re “meh” for travel. But what they are decent for is just about everything else. You can redeem them for gift cards to your local grocery store, movie tickets, participating restaurants, pay off your credit card – the list goes on. And it’s all super easy to do, the Scene Plus website is your one stop shop, and I’ve always found it pretty slick and easy to navigate.
As for travel, you have two options. One (and this is a bit better bang for your point-buck but limits your options) is to book through the Expedia (a Scotiabank partner) portal, accessible through Scene Plus. But if the trip you're planning is a bit too specific for an Expedia offering, your alternative is simply redeeming Scene+ points to pay off travel purchases on your credit card statements (like flights, hotels, car rentals, etc.) This is slightly more efficient than just paying down a standard balance, but still falls short of the value real travel cards offer.
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card key benefits
- Great welcome bonus
- Great earn multipliers on participating groceries, restaurants and movies
- Save money on foreign exchange fees when spending in foreign currency
Scotiabank Gold American Express® travel insurance coverage
This has to be one of the few cards I’ve actually been excited to write about the insurance for. If the points aren’t appealing to travellers, the insurance coverage definitely is.
- Travel emergency medical insurance: $1 million of coverage for 25 consecutive days, for card holders under 65 plus their spouses and dependents, while travelling outside their home province.
- Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance: Card holders and their immediate family are eligible up to $1,500 each for travel expenses (up to $10k) when at least 75% of trip expenses were put on the Scotiabank Amex Gold.
- Flight delay insurance: Charge 75% of your trip expenses to this card and you’ll be covered for hotels, meals and emergency items in the event your flight is delayed.
- Delayed and lost baggage insurance: If you pay the full cost of your travel ticket, you’re covered up to $1,000 in the event your luggage is lost or delayed.
- Travel accident insurance: If three quarters of your trip was bought on the Scotiabank Amex Gold, you and your immediate family are insured against accidental loss of life up to $500,000 (or $1,000,000 total, per occurrence).
- Rental car collision loss/damage insurance: Rent a car fully on your Amex and you're fully covered (unless the vehicle you rented is valued at more than $65k).
- Hotel/motel burglary insurance: Use this card to book a hotel or motel and you’ll have up to $1,000 in coverage in case your room is broken into and your stuff is stolen.
- New mobile device insurance: For devices purchased after October 1, 2022, you’ll be covered up to $1,000 if it's lost, stolen, damaged or breaks.
- Purchase security and extended warranty protection: Most items (Scotiabank neglects to state the exceptions) purchased on this card receive 90 days of coverage from the date of purchase, and they also double the manufacturer's warranty for up to a year.
Extra benefits
- Amex perks like Amex Front of the Line for presale tickets and American Express Invites for access to special offers and events
- Complimentary concierge service for making reservations, booking tickets and more
- Priority Pass discount and access to 1,200 VIP lounges worldwide
What people have to say about this card
I would say the biggest reasons to take the Scotia card are if you will spend a lot in the 5x entertainment category, and if you really value the trip cancellation and interruption insurance. No foreign exchange fee is nice but if you are travelling outside of North America, Amex is pretty bad for acceptance.
/u/bohemian_plantsody
The sentiment here is more or less how I feel. If you can really maximize your spending in the big earning categories (/u/bohemian_plantsody only mentions entertainment, but groceries is even better at 6x) you can clean up on this card.
Where it gets weird is if you’re looking at it for travel. Yes, Amex is bad abroad (though it can be used for tickets, hotels, and basically anything online) and yes, its travel redemption isn’t stellar. But damn if the foreign exchange fees waived and the high-unmatched travel coverage won’t tempt some folks. Really, it’s a matter of assessing your individual needs.
How Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card compares
Scotiabank Gold American Express® vs. American Express Gold
up to 60k pts
Welcome Bonus
$1,070
First Year Value
$470
Annual Value
Welcome Bonus: up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points* by earning 5,000 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000
Get this card if you...
Annual Fee & Annual Interest Rates
$250
Annual Fee
21.99%
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Advance
-
Our Take
American Express® Gold Rewards Card ReviewThe American Express® Gold Rewards Card is a travel credit card that allows cardholders to earn points on everyday purchases, with accelerated rates for categories such as gas, groceries, and travel. These points can be flexibly redeemed for travel bookings, merchandise, or transferred to various airline and hotel loyalty programs, offering versatility for those seeking to maximize rewards on routine expenditures.
Eligibility
Very Good (671 - 739)
Recommended Credit Score
-
Pros
Cons
-
-
Annual Interest Rates
21.99%
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Advance
30.00%
Penalty
Fees
$250
Annual Fee
$2.5
Foreign Transaction
$2.75
Cash Advance
$29
Over The Limit Penalty
$45
Return Penalty
-
Rewards Membership Rewards
2
Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases at eligible gas stations, grocery stores and drugstores in Canada
2
Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel purchases, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and more
1
Earn 1 point for every $1 in Card purchases everywhere else
1
Earn 1 additional Membership Rewards point for every $1 you charge to your Gold Rewards Card on eligible hotel or car rental bookings made with American Express Travel
Insurance Benefits
$5,000,000
Emergency medical insurance amount
$500,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$500
Hotel burglary insurance
$85,000
Rental car insurance amount
-
Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points* by earning 5,000 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 on your Card in your first year as a new Cardmember.*
That’s up to $600 towards your next vacation.
*Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for this offer. Other terms apply.
Our Take
The American Express® Gold Rewards Card is a travel credit card that allows cardholders to earn points on everyday purchases, with accelerated rates for categories such as gas, groceries, and travel. These points can be flexibly redeemed for travel bookings, merchandise, or transferred to various airline and hotel loyalty programs, offering versatility for those seeking to maximize rewards on routine expenditures.
Eligibility
Very Good (671 - 739)
Recommended Credit Score
Pros
Cons
Annual Interest Rates
21.99%
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Advance
30.00%
Penalty
Fees
$250
Annual Fee
$2.5
Foreign Transaction
$2.75
Cash Advance
$29
Over The Limit Penalty
$45
Return Penalty
Rewards Membership Rewards
2
Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases at eligible gas stations, grocery stores and drugstores in Canada
2
Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel purchases, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and more
1
Earn 1 point for every $1 in Card purchases everywhere else
1
Earn 1 additional Membership Rewards point for every $1 you charge to your Gold Rewards Card on eligible hotel or car rental bookings made with American Express Travel
Insurance Benefits
$5,000,000
Emergency medical insurance amount
$500,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$500
Hotel burglary insurance
$85,000
Rental car insurance amount
Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points* by earning 5,000 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 on your Card in your first year as a new Cardmember.*
That’s up to $600 towards your next vacation.
*Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for this offer. Other terms apply.
The Amex Gold was, is and probably will remain the king of the (relatively) accessible travel card. It's a big ole welcome bonus. Plus it has tons of perks, great lounge access, travel credit and insurance that rivals or surpasses the Scotiabank Gold Amex.
That said, its annual fee, is more than double that of American Express Gold Scotiabank. So – is travel twice as important to you compared to, say, groceries and movies? If so, the Amex Gold is the clear winner. But for a daily collector and a lukewarm traveler, I might give the nod to Scotiabank on this one.
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.
Scotiabank Gold American Express® vs. Scotiabank Platinum American Express
up to $2500 in value
Welcome Bonus
$2,133
First Year Value
$0
Annual Value
Welcome Bonus: Earn up to $2,500* in value in the first 14 months, including up to 80,000 bonus Scene+ points. Expires Oct 31, 2025
Get this card if you...
Annual Fee & Annual Interest Rates
$399
Annual Fee
9.99%
Purchase
9.99%
Cash Advance
9.99%
Balance Transfer
-
Our Take
Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card ReviewThe Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card is a premium travel rewards credit card offering elevated earn rates on all eligible purchases, with additional benefits such as complimentary airport lounge access and comprehensive travel insurance. It charges no foreign transaction fees and provides access to exclusive events.
Eligibility
Good (620 - 670)
Recommended Credit Score
$12,000
Required Annual Personal Income
-
Pros
Cons
-
-
Annual Interest Rates
9.99%
Purchase
9.99%
Cash Advance
9.99%
Balance Transfer
Fees
$399
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction
5.00%
Balance Transfer
$5
Cash Advance
$29
Over The Limit Penalty
-
Rewards Scene+
2x
Scene+ points for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
4x
Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
0%
No foreign transaction fees
10
Complimentary airport lounge passes per year
Insurance Benefits
$1,000
Mobile device insurance amount
$2,000,000
Emergency medical insurance amount
$10
Emergency medical insurance over 65 days
$500,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$1,000
Hotel burglary insurance
$65,000
Rental car insurance amount
-
To qualify for this Offer make sure to open a new Scotiabank Platinum American Express credit card account (“Account”) opened between January 3, 2025 and October 31, 2025.
To qualify for the 80,000 bonus Scene+ points:
4. Earn 60,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $3,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months.
5. Plus, for a limited time, you are eligible to earn a 20,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $10,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 14 months.
Once you qualify, we’ll credit your account in 2 instalments:
4. 60,000 bonus Scene+ points will be credited to the applicable Scene+ membership account approximately 8 weeks after the qualifying $3,000 in eligible purchases being posted to your Account within the first 3 months of Account opening.
5. An additional 20,000 bonus Scene+ points will be credited to the applicable Scene+ membership account approximately 8 weeks after you have met the $10,000 spend threshold in your Account within the first 14 months of Account opening.
Note: For joint Accounts, the applicable bonus will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the Account of the borrower that completed the last transaction to meet the qualifying amount of eligible purchases in the case of the 60,000 Point Bonus and the Additional 20,000 Point Bonus.
Individuals who are currently or were previously primary or secondary cardholders of a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past 2 years, including those that switch from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card, as well as employees of Scotiabank, are not eligible for this offer.
See terms and conditions for full details.
Our Take
The Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card is a premium travel rewards credit card offering elevated earn rates on all eligible purchases, with additional benefits such as complimentary airport lounge access and comprehensive travel insurance. It charges no foreign transaction fees and provides access to exclusive events.
Eligibility
Good (620 - 670)
Recommended Credit Score
$12,000
Required Annual Personal Income
Pros
Cons
Annual Interest Rates
9.99%
Purchase
9.99%
Cash Advance
9.99%
Balance Transfer
Fees
$399
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction
5.00%
Balance Transfer
$5
Cash Advance
$29
Over The Limit Penalty
Rewards Scene+
2x
Scene+ points for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
4x
Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia
0%
No foreign transaction fees
10
Complimentary airport lounge passes per year
Insurance Benefits
$1,000
Mobile device insurance amount
$2,000,000
Emergency medical insurance amount
$10
Emergency medical insurance over 65 days
$500,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$1,000
Hotel burglary insurance
$65,000
Rental car insurance amount
To qualify for this Offer make sure to open a new Scotiabank Platinum American Express credit card account (“Account”) opened between January 3, 2025 and October 31, 2025. |
The best points, the best perks, and a sexy metal card to boot. For point-heads, it's hard to beat Scotiabank Platinum American Express. But all that comes with an hefty annual fee, something anyone but the travel-obsessed or incredibly well-to-do would grow squamish at.
Basically, if you’re looking at the Scotiabank Amex Gold, you’re probably not considering the Platinum. I think this is essentially a Venn Diagram where the only comparison in the middle is, “I like a concierge service attached to my credit card.”
Disclosures:
- Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card to learn more.*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.
Scotiabank Gold American Express® vs. American Express Cobalt
up to 15k pts
Welcome Bonus
$679.02
First Year Value
$529.02
Annual Value
Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points* by earning 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 on your Card in your first year as a new Cardmember. This could add up to 15,000 points in a year.*
Get this card if you...
Annual Fee & Annual Interest Rates
$155.88
Annual Fee
21.99%
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Advance
-
Our Take
American Express Cobalt® Card ReviewThe American Express Cobalt® Card is a versatile rewards credit card designed for individuals who frequently spend on dining, groceries and travel-related expenses. It offers flexible redemption options and includes various travel and purchase protections, making it a comprehensive choice for those seeking to maximize rewards on everyday spending.
Eligibility
Fair (300 - 619)
Recommended Credit Score
$0
Required Annual Personal Income
$0
Required Annual Household Income
-
Pros
Cons
-
-
Annual Interest Rates
21.99%
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Advance
28.99%
Penalty
Fees
$155.88
Annual Fee
$2.5
Foreign Transaction
$2.75
Cash Advance
$29
Over The Limit Penalty
$45
Return Penalty
-
Rewards Membership Rewards
5x
the points on eligible eats & drinks purchases in Canada
3x
the points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
2x
the points on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
1x
the points on everything else
1
additional Membership Rewards point for every $1 you charge on eligible hotel or car rental bookings made with American Express Travel
$100 USD
Get up to $100 USD hotel credit to use on amenities like dining, spa or other leisure facilities when charged to the room
Insurance Benefits
$1,000
Mobile device insurance amount
$5,000,000
Emergency medical insurance amount
$250,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$500
Hotel burglary insurance
$85,000
Rental car insurance amount
-
Earn up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points* by earning 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 on your Card in your first year as a new Cardmember. This could add up to 15,000 points in a year.*
That’s up to $150 towards your next weekend getaway.
*Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for this offer. Other terms apply.
Our Take
The American Express Cobalt® Card is a versatile rewards credit card designed for individuals who frequently spend on dining, groceries and travel-related expenses. It offers flexible redemption options and includes various travel and purchase protections, making it a comprehensive choice for those seeking to maximize rewards on everyday spending.
Eligibility
Fair (300 - 619)
Recommended Credit Score
$0
Required Annual Personal Income
$0
Required Annual Household Income
Pros
Cons
Annual Interest Rates
21.99%
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Advance
28.99%
Penalty
Fees
$155.88
Annual Fee
$2.5
Foreign Transaction
$2.75
Cash Advance
$29
Over The Limit Penalty
$45
Return Penalty
Rewards Membership Rewards
5x
the points on eligible eats & drinks purchases in Canada
3x
the points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
2x
the points on eligible gas, transit & ride share in Canada
1x
the points on everything else
1
additional Membership Rewards point for every $1 you charge on eligible hotel or car rental bookings made with American Express Travel
$100 USD
Get up to $100 USD hotel credit to use on amenities like dining, spa or other leisure facilities when charged to the room
Insurance Benefits
$1,000
Mobile device insurance amount
$5,000,000
Emergency medical insurance amount
$250,000
Travel accident insurance amount
$500
Hotel burglary insurance
$85,000
Rental car insurance amount
Earn up to 15,000 Membership Rewards® points* by earning 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 on your Card in your first year as a new Cardmember. This could add up to 15,000 points in a year.*
That’s up to $150 towards your next weekend getaway.
*Current or former Cardmembers with this Card are not eligible for this offer. Other terms apply.
For a slightly higher annual fee, you can access Amex's flexible rewards program with the Amex Cobalt. However, if superior travel insurance coverage is your priority, the Scotiabank Gold Amex is the better choice.
Earn up to 15,000 Welcome Bonus Membership Rewards® points* – that’s up to $150 in value. with the Cobalt.
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 Scotiabank Gold American Express® worth it?
You know what? Yes! I think this card offers a lot for $120 a year, even if it’s target audience is a little vague. It’s a grab bag with a lot that will appeal to a lot of people, and while in and of itself isn’t going to allow you to pull off an incredible point scheme, I think it could definitely find a place in a lot of wallets. Don't forget to check out our best Scotiabank credit cards list to compare more great cards.
Disclosures:
- Conditions apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card to learn more.*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.
FAQs
Cam is a content marketer with a passion for saving, financial independence, and pulling off elaborate credit card point schemes. He has worked in Fintech and Finserve (specifically Group Retirement) and loves researching and writing about finance.
Explore the latest articles
How Trump’s tariffs will impact Canadian investors
The tariffs are expected to come into effect Feb. 1 — Here's the sectors are most vulnerable and which ones will prove to have greater resiliency to this economic pressure
Disclaimer
The content provided on Money.ca is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter. Advertisers are not responsible for the content of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any advertiser product, please visit their website.
†Terms and Conditions apply.