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Mr. Loonie
Scotia Momentum® No-Fee VISA Card

Scotia Momentum® No-Fee VISA Card

7.9
Good
Expert Score · 7 reviews How we score

Best for: People who want cash back on groceries, gas and bills with no annual fee

Your spending a month
What’s in each?
Light:
Groceries $400, restaurants $100, gas $100, recurring bills $100, everything else (base rate) $250, foreign currency $50
Typical:
Groceries $800, restaurants $250, gas $250, recurring bills $250, travel $150, everything else (base rate) $650, foreign currency $150
Big:
Groceries $1,200, restaurants $500, gas $400, recurring bills $400, travel $500, everything else (base rate) $1,600, foreign currency $400
Yours:
Your own amounts, saved on this device only
Every year
$180

Ranked #123 of 176 for year one. See the list

See how we worked it out
Balance transfers
0.99% for 9 months
2% fee, then 22.99%
Annual fee
None
Apply now on Scotiabank’s site (opens in a new tab)
Needs $12,000 personal income
We may get paid if you apply through this link. It never changes our score.

Have this card?

Details from Scotiabank’s site. Banks can update terms at any time, so give them a quick look before you apply. Source

Is it for me? What you’d earn Can I get it? Fees Similar cards
2 quick questions

Is it for me?

Is your personal income $12,000 or more?

Do you pay your card off in full most months?

Answer the 2 questions to see if it fits.

From the numbers

The good and the bad

Stands out

  • Good: 1% back on groceries, food delivery, pharmacy and gas
  • Good: 0.99% on moved balances for 9 months A 2% fee to move them.
  • Good: No annual fee It costs nothing to keep.

Watch for

  • Watch for: Everything else earns 0.5% back That’s low for everyday spending.
  • Watch for: 22.99% after the 9 months Whatever you haven’t paid off by then is charged the regular rate.
  • Watch for: 2.5% on foreign purchases Use a no foreign fee card when you travel.

Worked out from the card’s rates and fees.

Show your work

What you’d earn

With typical spending of $2,500 a month.

  • Groceries $96
    1% back $800 a month · $96 a year
  • Restaurants $15
    0.5% back $250 a month · $15 a year
  • Gas $30
    1% back $250 a month · $30 a year
  • Recurring bills $27
    1% back $250 a month · $27 a year
  • Travel $9
    0.5% back $150 a month · $9 a year
  • Everything else $39
    0.5% back $650 a month · $39 a year
  • Foreign currency $9
    0.5% back $150 a month · $9 a year
For you Year one Later years
Cash back you earn $225 $225
Annual fee $0 $0
Foreign currency fee2.5% on $1,800 a year −$45 −$45
Total $180 $180

Rows are rounded to the dollar.

What counts in each category
Groceries
1% back Up to $15,000 in spending per year (shared with other categories).
Food delivery
1% back Up to $15,000 in spending per year (shared with other categories). Including electric vehicle charging
Pharmacy
1% back Up to $15,000 in spending per year (shared with other categories). On eligible recurring payments, including streaming services (music and video), utilities, and gym memberships
Gas
1% back Up to $15,000 in spending per year (shared with other categories). Including EV charging
Transit
1% back Up to $15,000 in spending per year (shared with other categories). Including taxis and rideshare
Recurring bills
1% back Up to $15,000 in spending per year (shared with other categories).
Streaming
1% back Up to $15,000 in spending per year (shared with other categories).
Everything else (base rate)
0.5% back
  • 1% cash back on daily transit like buses, taxis, and rideshares
  • 1% cash back on food delivery and food subscription services

These are example budgets to compare cards side by side, not averages. Your own spending will give a different number.

Checked on Nov 8, 2026. Source

Before you apply

Can I get it?

  • Age 18 or older 19 or older in BC, NB, NL, NS and the territories
  • Where you live Canada
  • Personal income $12,000 or more Issuer says
  • Newcomer program Scotiabank StartRight For permanent residents in Canada 5 years or less, international students and foreign workers. No Canadian credit history needed, with a limit up to $15,000. Foreign workers need a letter from their employer confirming income.
  • Credit score No minimum on record Most banks don’t publish one, and we don’t guess.

Mr. Loonie’s tip Each application shows up on your credit file. Leave a few months between card applications.

What critics say

Other reviewers on this card

7.9
Good
Expert Score How we score
  • WalletBliss (opens in a new tab) Mar 2023
    9

    “Overall, you can’t make this wrong choice with this card if you’re looking for a no-fee credit card with competitive introductory balance transfer interest, car rental discounts, and optional comprehensive insurance.”

  • Wealth Rocket (opens in a new tab) Jan 2023
    9

    “The Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card is a great choice if you are looking to get your first credit card or require an affordable credit card without the bells and whistles. If you make daily purchases at grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations or use your credit card for recurring bill payments, this is the right card for your daily needs.”

  • SAVVY New Canadians (opens in a new tab) Jul 2022
    8

    “The Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa is a no-frills, no-fee cash back card from one of Canada’s big five banks. You can apply for this card with an average credit score and a personal annual income of $12,000. The card is convenient to use, offering a variety of quick payment options including Visa payWave, My Mobile Wallet, Visa Checkout, and Apple Pay. Its 1% cash back offer covers everyday purchases making it easy to actually earn cash back.”

  • creditcardGenius (opens in a new tab) Jun 2021
    6.6

    “Here we have a basic no annual fee credit card. But, it's far from perfect – there are better no annual fee credit cards out there.”

  • Hustler MoneyBlog (opens in a new tab) Mar 2019

    “If you are looking for a fee-free card that gives you a decent return on your daily purchases, we found the perfect credit card for you! The Scotia Momentum® No-Fee Visa Card will allow the cardholder to earn up to 1% cashback on gas, groceries, drug store purchases and recurring payments.”

  • LowestRates.ca (opens in a new tab) Aug 2017

    “The most attractive perk offered by the Scotia Momentum No-Fee VISA is the introductory special that freezes the interest rate at 7.99%—by comparison, the standard rate for most credit cards is 19.99%—for the first six months.”

What cardholders say

Ratings from people with this card

No ratings yet. If you have this card, tell others what it’s like.

Applied and weren’t approved?

Insurance and perks

What comes with it

  • Save up to 25% off base rates at participating AVIS and Budget locations in Canada and the US
  • Buy now and pay over time with Scotia SelectPay™
  • Mobile wallets Apple Pay, Google Pay
Fees and interest

What it costs

Annual fee
None
Purchase interest
20.99%
Cash advance interest
22.99%
Foreign currency fee
2.5%
All fees and rates

Fees

Extra cards
None
Cash advance fee
1%, Minimum of $5
Balance transfer fee
1%, Minimum of $5
Over-limit fee
$29
Late payment fee
None
Source
Issuer page

Interest rates

Balance transfer interest
22.99%
Intro rate: balance transfers
0.99% for 9 months, fee 2%
Source
Issuer page

Read the card terms and conditions for the full terms.

Checked on Nov 8, 2026. Source

Before you decide

Similar cards for the same spending

With typical spending. This card: $180 year one, $180 every year after.

See all cards ranked for your spending

Some of these links pay us when you apply, at no extra cost to you. Most don’t, and pay never changes our score. How we make money

Common questions

Questions people ask

What is the annual fee on the Scotia Momentum® No-Fee VISA Card?

There is no annual fee.

What income do I need?

Scotiabank asks for $12,000 in personal income.

Does it charge a foreign transaction fee?

Yes, 2.5% on purchases in other currencies.

What is the interest rate?

20.99% on purchases. Cash advances are 22.99%.

Does it have a balance transfer offer?

Yes, 0.99% for 9 months. The transfer fee is 2%. After that, the rate is 22.99%.

Rates, fees and offers come from the card issuers and change often. We work to keep this page accurate and current, but it may contain mistakes, so always check the issuer’s terms before you apply. This page is general information and isn’t financial advice.

Spot something wrong? We’ll check it with the bank. Suggest a correction

Card names, logos and trademarks belong to their owners. No issuer wrote, paid for or approved what we say about this card. Our scores and opinions are our own.

Mr. Loonie is independent and supported by affiliate links. We may earn a commission when you apply through some links, at no cost to you. How we make money

$180
a year for you
Apply now on Scotiabank’s site (opens in a new tab)
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