Scotia Momentum Visa Card

Scotia Momentum Visa Card

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

Scotia Momentum Visa Card
Scotiabank®Mid-Tier Cash Back

Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card

Our take: strongest for groceries and gas — about 2% back in value (est.) for $49 a year.

#7 Balance transfer

Welcome offer0.99% intro rate for 9 months on balance transfers*
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The Scotia Momentum Visa Card is Scotiabank’s mid-tier cash back credit card, sitting between the no-fee Momentum options and the premium Momentum Visa Infinite+. For a $49 annual fee, it offers 2% cash back on everyday categories like groceries, gas, and recurring bills, with 1% on everything else, a step up in earn rate from the no-fee cards but without the travel insurance and higher earn rates of the Infinite+ tier.

2.7out of 5

MoneyMint rating

#8 of 9 cash-back cards · How we rate

Rewards value
3/10
Insurance
4/10
Flexibility
10/10
Welcome bonus
0/10
Fee value
10/10
Perks
0/10

≈ $233

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

$49/yr$15/yr per supplementary card

Rewards Rate

2% on everyday categoriesup to $25,000/yr combined spend; 1% elsewhere

Welcome Bonus

0.99% intro rate, 9 months*on balance transfers, then 22.99%; not a cash bonus

Rewards

~2%on groceries (est. value)

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.5%

Credit Score Needed

Goodestimate; Scotiabank publishes no official minimum

Purchase APR 20.99%

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • 2% cash back on a wide, genuinely everyday set of categories (groceries, gas, transit/rideshare, food delivery, drugstores, recurring bills)
  • Flexible redemption — cash back can be redeemed anytime once it reaches $25, rather than waiting for an annual payout
  • Meaningfully higher earn rate than Scotiabank’s no-fee Momentum cards for a modest $49 fee

Cons

  • No travel medical insurance, trip cancellation/interruption, or other travel protections
  • 1% base rate on non-bonus spending is unremarkable, and the 2% categories cap at $25,000 in combined annual spend
  • No confirmed cash welcome bonus — the current promotional offer is a balance-transfer rate

Rewards & Earn Rates

Groceries, gas/EV, transit/rideshare, food delivery, drugstores, recurring bills2%combined $25,000/yr cap
All other purchases1%
Scotiabank’s own page shows no confirmed cash welcome bonus for this card currently — the live promotional offer is a 0.99% introductory balance-transfer rate for 9 months*, not a sign-up bonus. There’s a 2% transfer fee (minimum $5), and once the 9 months are up, any transferred balance you haven’t paid off moves to the 22.99% cash advance rate. One secondary source claims the $49 fee is waived the first year, but this isn’t stated on Scotiabank’s own current page, so don’t count on that waiver without confirming directly.

Who It’s For

Best for

  • Everyday spenders who want a straightforward, moderate-fee cash back card focused on groceries, gas, and bills without travel benefits they won’t use
  • Households already spending near or under the $25,000/year combined bonus-category cap who want a meaningful step up from a no-fee card’s earn rate

Not ideal for

  • Frequent travelers who want built-in travel medical insurance or trip protection — the Momentum Visa Infinite+ is the better fit at Scotiabank
  • Light spenders unlikely to earn enough 2% cash back to offset the $49 annual fee
IssuerScotiabank
Annual fee$49/yr
Welcome bonus0.99% intro rate, 9 months (balance transfers)*
Foreign transaction fee2.5%
MoneyMint rating2.7 / 5

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2.7MoneyMint rating

Scotia Momentum Visa Card

Best for groceries and gas · $49/year · $60 Mint Rebate from MoneyMint

Get $60 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 Visa Card?

The Scotia Momentum Visa Card has an annual fee of $49/yr primary; $15/yr per supplementary card.

What is the rewards rate on the Scotia Momentum Visa Card?

The Scotia Momentum Visa Card offers: 2% cash back on groceries, gas, EV charging, transit/rideshare, food delivery, drugstores/pharmacies, recurring bill payments (combined $25,000/yr cap); 1% on all other purchases

Does the Scotia Momentum Visa Card have a welcome bonus?

0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months* (2% balance transfer fee applies, minimum $5; any unpaid transferred balance moves to the 22.99% cash advance rate after 9 months). Offer for accounts opened July 2, 2026 – January 3, 2027 per Scotiabank’s official page; no confirmed cash sign-up bonus. Double-check the current terms before you apply.

What credit score do I need to qualify for the Scotia Momentum Visa Card?

Generally, you’ll want a good credit score to be considered for the Scotia Momentum Visa Card. Approval also depends on income and overall credit history, not credit score alone.

Does the Scotia Momentum Visa Card charge foreign transaction fees?

2.5%

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 Introductory 0.99% Balance Transfer Rate Offer (the “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 if the new Account is opened between July 2, 2026 and January 3, 2027 (regardless of the date you apply for the Account) and will continue for 9 months from date of Account opening (the “Promotional Period”). After the Promotional Period, the promotional 0.99% interest rate on any Cash Advances (including any amount of those Cash Advances that remain unpaid after the 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 Promotional Period applies (minimum fee of $5.00).

This Offer is subject to any Cash Advance limits on your Account. This Offer is also subject to the approved credit limit that is being offered to you as of the date of this Offer. This means if a balance transfer amount(s) requested exceeds your approved credit limit as of the date this Offer was provided to you, it may not be processed. This 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. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers.

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: Your payment cannot be applied to the balance(s) of your choice. 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. 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 these 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: The current annual fee is $49 for the primary card and $15 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.