Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card

Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card

Reviewed by Jen, founder of MoneyMint · Updated September 25, 2026

Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card
Scotiabank®No-Fee Cash Back

Scotia Momentum® No-Fee Visa* Card

Our take: strongest for groceries and gas — about 1% back in value (est.) with no annual fee.

Welcome offer5% cash back for 3 months (up to $100) + 0.99% intro balance-transfer rate, for accounts opened by Nov 1, 2026*
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The Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card is Scotiabank’s no-annual-fee, Visa-network cash back card, offering 1% back on everyday categories like groceries, gas, and recurring bills, and 0.5% on everything else. It’s a distinct product from the Mastercard-network Scotia Momentum® Mastercard®* already covered on this site, same issuer and similar cash-back concept, but a different network, rewards structure, and redemption mechanics.

2.8out of 5

MoneyMint rating

#29 of 34 no-fee rewards cards · How we rate

Rewards value
1/10
Insurance
0/10
Flexibility
10/10
Welcome bonus
1/10
Fee value
10/10
Perks
0/10

≈ $241

estimated first-year value after the annual fee, on a typical $2,050/month budget. See it for your spending →

At a Glance

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

1% on everyday categoriesup to $15,000/yr combined spend; 0.5% elsewhere

Welcome Bonus

5% cash back for 3 months*up to $100, plus 0.99% intro balance-transfer rate for 9 months; open by Nov 1, 2026

Rewards

~1%on groceries (est. value)

Foreign Transaction Fee

~2.5% (est.)not explicitly restated on this card’s page; standard Scotiabank pattern

Credit Score Needed

Fairestimate; low stated income minimum suggests accessible eligibility

Purchase APR 20.99%

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • No annual fee makes it accessible for everyday and building-credit use
  • 1% cash back on common household categories (groceries, gas, transit, bills)
  • Cash back can be redeemed anytime with no minimum holding period beyond $25, and never expires

Cons

  • 0.5% base rate outside bonus categories trails many competing no-fee cash back cards
  • 2.5% foreign transaction fee makes it a poor choice for international spending
  • Bonus-category cash back is capped at $15,000 in combined annual spend, after which it drops to 0.5%

Rewards & Earn Rates

Groceries, gas/EV, transit/rideshare, food delivery, drugstores, recurring bills1%combined $15,000/yr cap
All other purchases0.5%
This is a distinct, currently-offered product from the already-published Scotia Momentum Mastercard (no-fee) — same issuer and no-fee positioning, but a different card network and rewards mechanics. Its 1%/0.5% earn rate is lower than the $49 Momentum Visa’s 2%/1%, and its welcome offer (5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $100*) is modest but real for a no-fee card. Students can apply for the student version of this card, which has the same earn rates and offer.

Who It’s For

Best for

  • Canadians who want a genuinely no-fee cash back card for everyday domestic spending and don’t need premium travel perks
  • Applicants building or maintaining credit who want low eligibility barriers

Not ideal for

  • Frequent international spenders or travelers, given the 2.5% estimated FX fee and lack of travel insurance
  • Higher spenders who would exceed the $15,000 bonus-category cap and want uncapped elevated cash back
IssuerScotiabank
Annual fee$0
Welcome bonus5% cash back for 3 months (up to $100)*
Foreign transaction fee~2.5% (est.)
MoneyMint rating2.8 / 5

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+ Compare with other cards

Not Sure? Three Cards People Compare It With

All everyday spending cards →

Neo World Mastercard – Shop & Dine

Neo World Mastercard – Shop & Dine

Pick this instead if most of your spending is dining (~2% est.).

Fee $0Rating 2.7 ★

Read review

Scotia Momentum Mastercard

Scotia Momentum Mastercard

Pick this instead if most of your spending is groceries (~1% est.).

Fee $0Rating 2.7 ★

Read review

TD U.S. Dollar Visa Card

TD U.S. Dollar Visa Card

Pick this instead if travel insurance matters more to you.

Fee $39Rating 3.5 ★

Read review

2.8MoneyMint rating

Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card

Best for groceries and gas · No annual fee · ~$100 welcome bonus (est.)* · $55 Mint Rebate from MoneyMint

Get $55 Mint Rebate – Apply NowFind a better fit

J

Jen, founder of MoneyMint

Reviewed by Jen. Every figure on this page was checked against Scotiabank’s official card page on September 25, 2026. How we rate cards →

This is general information, not personalized financial advice — consider your own spending habits and consult a professional for decisions specific to your situation. Rates, fees, and offers are set by Scotiabank and can change without notice; always confirm current terms on the issuer’s official page before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the annual fee for the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card?

The Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card has an annual fee of $0 (primary and supplementary cards).

What is the rewards rate on the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card?

The Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card offers: 1% cash back on groceries, gas/EV charging, transit/rideshare, food delivery, drugstores, recurring bill payments (combined $15,000/yr cap); 0.5% on all other purchases

Does the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card have a welcome bonus?

Yes. As of Sept 30, 2026, Scotiabank’s page shows 5% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months* (on up to $2,000 in purchases, so up to $100 in bonus cash back), plus a 0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months (2% transfer fee, then 22.99%). The offer applies to new accounts opened between July 2 and November 1, 2026. Confirm the live offer before applying.

What credit score do I need to qualify for the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card?

Generally, you’ll want a fair credit score to be considered for the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card. Approval also depends on income and overall credit history, not credit score alone.

Does the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card charge foreign transaction fees?

~2.5% (standard Scotiabank pattern; not explicitly restated on this card’s own page)

Offer Terms and Conditions

*Terms and conditions apply. 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.

* Offer Description and Conditions: The 5% Cash Back and Introductory 0.99% Balance Transfer Rate Offer (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa credit card accounts (“Accounts”) that are opened between July 2, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the Account) and is subject to the below terms and conditions. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers.

5% Cash Back Offer Conditions: You will earn 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in eligible purchases you spend on your new Account within the first 3 months of the Account open date (the “Promotional Period”). Eligible purchases include purchases (less any refunds, returns or other similar credits) but do not include payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and cash-like transactions), interest, fees or other charges. After the Promotional Period, you will earn regular cash back on eligible purchases at the regular cash back rate (the “Regular Cash Back Program Rate”) as described in the Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Cash Back Program Terms and Conditions (the “Program Terms”). The 5% cash back rate for any category is made up of the sum of: (i) the Regular Cash Back Program Rate (variable by category as set out under the Program Terms); and (ii) a bonus rate that will vary depending on the Regular Cash Back Program Rate (the “Cash Back Top Up Rate”).

Cash back earned under this Offer can be redeemed to your Account, provided it is open and in good standing at the time of redemption:

1. Bonus Cash Back: The amount earned under the Cash Back Top Up Rate will be available for redemption to your Account after approximately 5 months from the Account open date or otherwise in accordance with the Program Terms.
2. Regular Cash Back: The amount earned under your Regular Cash Back Program Rate can be redeemed to your Account as described in the Program Terms.

EXAMPLE: If the Regular Cash Back Program Rate for the Groceries and Recurring Payments category is 1% then the Cash Back Top Up Rate will be 4% for that category so that you will earn a total of 5% on the amount of all eligible everyday purchases in that category during the Promotional Period up to a total of $2,000 in purchases. If you make $2,000 in eligible everyday purchases in the Groceries and Recurring Payments category, your cash back earnings will be as follows: (1) the Cash Back Top Up Rate earnings of $80 (4% x $2,000) (shown as an adjustment in your monthly statements), and (2) the Regular Cash Back Program Rate earnings of $20 (1% x $2,000) (shown as cash back earned in your monthly statements).

Introductory 0.99% Balance Transfer Rate Offer Description and Conditions: The Introductory 0.99% Balance Transfer Rate Offer (the “BT Rate Offer”) applies only to eligible cash advances (including balance transfers and cash-like transactions) (collectively “Cash Advances”) subject to the conditions below. This introductory rate applies for 9 months from date of Account opening (the “BT Promotional Period”). After the BT Promotional Period, the promotional 0.99% interest rate on any Cash Advances (including any amount of those Cash Advances that remain unpaid after the BT Promotional Period ends) will increase to the preferred interest rate on Cash Advances (currently 22.99%). A balance transfer fee of 2% of the amount of each Cash Advance transferred or made during the BT Promotional Period applies (minimum fee of $5.00).

This BT Rate Offer is subject to any Cash Advance limits on your Account. This BT Rate Offer is also subject to the approved credit limit that is being offered to you as of the date of this BT Rate Offer. This means if a balance transfer amount(s) requested exceeds your approved credit limit as of the date this BT Rate Offer was provided to you, it may not be processed. This BT Rate Offer cannot be used for any Scotiabank account including to transfer a balance from another Scotiabank account, or to make a payment or deposit to another Scotiabank account.

Losing your promotional rate: If we don’t receive the minimum payment on your Account by the payment due date on your statement, two consecutive times, you will lose the benefit of this promotional Rate Offer and the interest rates that apply on any unpaid balance will increase to the standard annual interest rates that apply to your Account (currently 25.99% on purchases and 27.99% on Cash Advances). All other terms and conditions of the Program Terms continue to apply during the Offer period.

How we apply payments: For Quebec residents: In general, if you have different interest rate(s) that apply to your Account, we apply payments to transactions based on the interest rate(s) that applies to those transactions on your Account (from highest to lowest rates). For non-Quebec residents: In general, if you make a payment that exceeds the minimum payment on your statement, we will apply your payment on a proportionate basis among each group of billed charges on your Account. We group charges based on the interest rate that applies to the group of charges. Your payment cannot be applied to the balance(s) of your choice. See your credit card agreement for more information about how we apply payments to your Account.

Eligibility and Exclusions: 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 switched to an existing Scotiabank personal credit card are not eligible for the Offer (and subject to the above exclusions, individuals with a Scotiabank business credit card are also eligible for the Offer). By accepting this Offer you confirm you meet all Offer eligibility requirements. We reserve the right to revoke this Offer at any time if we determine you do not meet the Offer eligibility requirements, including after you have accepted the Offer or been approved for the Account.

Rates and Fees: There is currently no annual fee for the primary card and no fee for each additional card (including those issued to co-borrowers and supplementary cardholders). The current preferred annual interest rates for the Account are: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on Cash Advances. All rates, fees, features and benefits are outlined in the Application Disclosure Statement and are subject to change.