Scotiabank American Express Card

Scotiabank American Express Card

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

Scotiabank American Express Card
Scotiabank®No-Fee Amex

Scotiabank American Express® Card

Our take: strongest for groceries — about 3% back in value (est.) with no annual fee, plus a welcome bonus* we value at roughly $100.

#7 No annual fee

Welcome bonusUp to 10,000 Scene+ points welcome bonus, for accounts opened by Nov 1, 2026*
Get $55 Mint Rebate – Apply Now

  • Mint Rebate paid by MoneyMint
  • Our review

Enter your email to get a claim code, then finish your application on Scotiabank’s site. MoneyMint earns a commission, which pays for the Mint Rebate (terms). Or skip the Mint Rebate and apply now.

The Scotiabank American Express Card is a no-fee, entry-level Amex that earns Scene+ points on everyday spending like groceries, dining, and gas without any annual cost. It’s positioned as the accessible starting point in Scotiabank’s Amex lineup, trading the travel insurance, fee-free foreign spending, and larger welcome bonuses of the Gold and Platinum Amex cards for a $0 price tag.

3.9out of 5

MoneyMint rating

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

Rewards value
4/10
Insurance
4/10
Flexibility
6/10
Welcome bonus
1/10
Fee value
10/10
Perks
2/10

≈ $502

estimated first-year value after the annual fee, on a typical $2,050/month budget. Points are converted to dollars using MoneyMint’s own valuations — see our points value calculator for how each program is valued. See it for your spending →

At a Glance

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Up to 3x Scene+ pointson groceries; 2x dining/gas/transit

Welcome Bonus

Up to 10,000 Scene+ points*in the first 3 months; open by Nov 1, 2026

Rewards

~3%on groceries (est. value)

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.5%unlike fee-free Gold/Platinum Amex siblings

Credit Score Needed

Fairestimate; Scotiabank publishes no official minimum

Purchase APR 21.99%

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • No annual fee, making it low-risk for building Scene+ points
  • 3x/2x tiered earning on common everyday categories (groceries, dining, gas/transit) is competitive for a free card
  • Includes basic purchase protection, extended warranty, and mobile device insurance (up to $500) at no cost, plus access to American Express Invites

Cons

  • Charges a 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside Canada or in foreign currency
  • No trip cancellation/interruption or travel medical insurance, unlike Gold and Platinum Amex
  • Everyday spending outside the bonus categories earns only a base 1x rate

Rewards & Earn Rates

Grocery (Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, etc.)3xParticipating grocery banners only
Dining, food delivery and food subscriptions, other eligible grocery stores, entertainment (movies, theatre, ticket agencies), gas & daily transit, streaming2x
Hotels and car rentals booked through Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia4x1x base + 3x extra
All other purchases1x3x/2x rates apply to the first $50,000 in category spend each calendar year, then 1x
This card charges a 2.5% foreign transaction fee, a real differentiator from its Gold and Platinum Amex siblings, both of which have none. It also has no travel insurance package, unlike Gold/Platinum, so frequent travelers should weigh those cards instead.

Who It’s For

Best for

  • Consumers who want to earn Scene+ points on everyday domestic spending without paying an annual fee
  • Occasional Amex users who don’t need travel insurance or frequent foreign-currency purchases

Not ideal for

  • Frequent international travelers, who will pay 2.5% on foreign transactions and get no travel insurance coverage
  • Higher spenders who would earn a stronger return and larger welcome bonus from the Gold or Platinum Amex instead
IssuerScotiabank
Annual fee$0
Welcome bonusUp to 10,000 Scene+ points*
Foreign transaction fee2.5%
MoneyMint rating3.9 / 5

Get $55 Mint Rebate – Apply Now

Get a MoneyMint claim code, then apply on Scotiabank’s site — we pay you $55 by Interac e-Transfer once Scotiabank confirms your approval (terms). MoneyMint earns a commission, which funds the Mint Rebate; it doesn’t affect our rating. Apply without the Mint Rebate instead.

+ Compare with other cards

Not Sure? Three Cards People Compare It With

All everyday spending cards →

BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students

BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students

Pick this instead if most of your spending is groceries (~3% est.).

Fee $0Rating 3.7 ★Bonus $125

Read review

Triangle World Elite Mastercard

Triangle World Elite Mastercard

Pick this instead if travel insurance matters more to you.

Fee $0Rating 4.4 ★

Read review

WestJet RBC Mastercard

WestJet RBC Mastercard

Pick this instead if travel insurance matters more to you.

Fee $39Rating 2.9 ★Bonus $150

Read review

3.9MoneyMint rating

Scotiabank American Express Card

Best for groceries · 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 Scotiabank American Express Card?

The Scotiabank American Express Card has an annual fee of $0/year (primary and supplementary cards).

What is the rewards rate on the Scotiabank American Express Card?

The Scotiabank American Express Card offers: 3 Scene+ points per $1 at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and other Sobeys-family grocery banners; 2 points per $1 on dining, food delivery and food subscriptions, other eligible grocery stores, entertainment, gas & daily transit, and select streaming (3x/2x apply to the first $50,000 in category spend per calendar year); up to 4 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through Scene+ Travel; 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Does the Scotiabank American Express Card have a welcome bonus?

Up to 10,000 Scene+ points within the first 3 months: 2,500 after $250 spend + 7,500 after $1,000 total spend*. Offer window May 1 – November 1, 2026 per Scotiabank’s official page; double-check before you apply.

What credit score do I need to qualify for the Scotiabank American Express Card?

Generally, you’ll want a fair credit score to be considered for the Scotiabank American Express Card. Approval also depends on income and overall credit history, not credit score alone.

Does the Scotiabank American Express 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 10,000 Bonus Scene+ Points Offer (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scotiabank American Express credit card accounts (“Account”) opened between May 1, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the Account) and is subject to the below terms and conditions.

To be eligible for 2,500 bonus Scene+ points (the “2,500 Point Bonus”), you must have at least $250 in eligible purchases posted to your new Account in the first 3 months of the Account open date. To be eligible for an additional 7,500 bonus Scene+ points (the “Additional 7,500 Point Bonus”), you must have at least $1,000 in eligible purchases posted to your new Account in your first 3 months of Account open date. Eligible purchases include purchases (less any refunds, returns or other similar credits) but do not include payments, cash advances (including balance transfers or cash-like transactions), interest, fees or other charges.

Point Bonus Fulfilment: The applicable point Bonus(es) will be credited to the Scene+ account within approximately 8 weeks after qualifying for a Bonus, provided the Account is open and in good standing. For Joint Accounts with a Primary Borrower and Co-borrower, the applicable point Bonus will be credited as follows: (i) the 2,500 Point Bonus and Additional 7,500 Point 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 (i.e., $250 or $1,000) in the appropriate time frame (i.e., first 3 months). If a supplementary cardholder completes the last qualifying transaction to meet the qualifying amount of eligible purchases for the 2,500 Point Bonus or the Additional 7,500 Point Bonus, the applicable point Bonus will be credited to the Primary Borrower’s Scene+ account linked to the Account. Points can be transferred between Primary and Co-Borrower or Supplementary Cardholder’s Scene+ accounts by contacting Scene. The Account is considered in good standing if it is not past due or over limit and the Cardholder(s) is not in breach of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the Account. All other terms and conditions of the Program Terms continue to apply during the Offer period. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended without notice at any time and cannot be combined with any other offers.

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 switch from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card, as well as employees of Scotiabank, are not eligible for the Offer. Subject to the above exclusions, Scotiabank small business credit cardholders are also eligible for the Offer.

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: 21.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and cash-like transactions). All rates, fees, features and benefits are outlined in the Application Disclosure Statement and are subject to change.