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Mr. Loonie
Scotia Momentum® Visa Card

Scotia Momentum® Visa Card

7.7
Good
Expert Score · 4 reviews How we score

Best for: People who want more cash back on groceries, gas and bills for a modest 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
$362

Ranked #95 of 176 for year one. See the list

See how we worked it out
Balance transfers
0.99% for 9 months
2% (minimum fee of $5.00) fee, then 22.99%
Annual fee
$49 a year
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
3 quick questions

Is it for me?

Do you spend $250 or more a month on groceries, food delivery and pharmacy?

Is your personal income $12,000 or more?

Do you pay your card off in full most months?

Answer the 3 questions to see if it fits.

From the numbers

The good and the bad

Stands out

  • Good: 2% back on groceries, food delivery, pharmacy and gas
  • Good: 0.99% on moved balances for 9 months A 2% fee to move them.

Watch for

  • Watch for: $49 a year You need about $250 a month on groceries, food delivery and pharmacy to earn it back.
  • 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 $192
    2% back $800 a month · $192 a year
  • Restaurants $30
    1% back $250 a month · $30 a year
  • Gas $60
    2% back $250 a month · $60 a year
  • Recurring bills $60
    2% back $250 a month · $60 a year
  • Travel $18
    1% back $150 a month · $18 a year
  • Everything else $78
    1% back $650 a month · $78 a year
  • Foreign currency $18
    1% back $150 a month · $18 a year
For you Year one Later years
Cash back you earn $456 $456
Annual fee −$49 −$49
Foreign currency fee2.5% on $1,800 a year −$45 −$45
Total $362 $362

Rows are rounded to the dollar.

What counts in each category
Groceries
2% back Up to $25,000 in spending per year (shared with other categories).
Food delivery
2% back Up to $25,000 in spending per year (shared with other categories). On electric vehicle charging
Pharmacy
2% back Up to $25,000 in spending per year (shared with other categories). On eligible recurring payments, including streaming services (music and video), utilities, and gym memberships
Gas
2% back Up to $25,000 in spending per year (shared with other categories). Including EV charging
Transit
2% back Up to $25,000 in spending per year (shared with other categories). Including taxis and rideshare
Recurring bills
2% back Up to $25,000 in spending per year (shared with other categories).
Streaming
2% back Up to $25,000 in spending per year (shared with other categories).
Everything else (base rate)
1% back
  • 2% cash back on daily transit like buses, taxis, and rideshares
  • 2% cash back on food delivery, food subscription services, and drugstore purchases

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

7.7
Good
Expert Score How we score
  • SAVVY New Canadians (opens in a new tab) Sep 2022
    8.4

    “The Scotia Momentum Visa card offers an acceptable level of cash back rewards. Using the $25,000 limit for 2% earnings, you can earn up to $500 in cash back from your annual spending on groceries, gas, recurring bill payments, and drugstore purchases. This does not include the 1% cash back rate on all other purchases and the 1% earned when you spend more than $25K on these four specific categories. Add in the fact that this card offers a very competitive 0% balance transfer rate for 6 months, and it starts to look really good.”

  • MoneyGenius (opens in a new tab) Feb 2021
    6.8

    “While lacking premium perks and benefits, this Scotiabank cash back credit card has a solid earn rate in 4 everyday spending categories, includes extended warranty and purchase protection, and it's all for a low annual fee. It lost some points for having minimal included insurance, lacking most other credit card perks and benefits, and for being a low fee rather than a no fee credit card. All in all, however, this is a solid cash back card for such a reasonable fee.”

  • My Rate Compass (opens in a new tab) Sep 2020
    8.4

    “The Scotia Momentum® Visa* Card can be considered much better than its counterpart, the Scotia Momentum® Mastercard® * Credit Card. However, it also requires you to pay a $39 annual fee. This card gives you 2% back on all your purchases, which includes gas stations, purchases, recurring bill payments and drug stores.”

  • Hustler MoneyBlog (opens in a new tab) Apr 2019
    8

    “It offers up to 2% cashback on gas, groceries and recurring payments with an additional 1% cashback on all other eligible purchases. There is a low annual fee of $39 but it is justified by the many bonuses and benefits that this card has to offer. If you’re looking for an everyday card, then definitely consider the Scotia Momentum® Visa Card.”

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

  • Extended warranty Included
  • Purchase protection Included
  • 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™ 
  • Get up to 7¢/L in value on fuel purchases at Shell stations
  • Mobile wallets Apple Pay, Google Pay
Coverage limits

We haven’t recorded the coverage limits for this card yet. Read Scotiabank’s insurance certificate before you count on any coverage.

Not included

Not listed for this card: travel medical, trip cancellation, trip interruption, flight delay, lost baggage, car rental damage and mobile device.

Fees and interest

What it costs

Annual fee
$49 a year
Purchase interest
20.99%
Cash advance interest
22.99%
Foreign currency fee
2.5%
All fees and rates

Fees

Extra cards
$15
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% (minimum fee of $5.00)
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: $362 year one, $362 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® Visa Card?

$49 a year. Each extra card costs $15.

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% (minimum fee of $5.00). After that, the rate is 22.99%.

Does it include insurance?

It lists extended warranty and purchase protection. Read the insurance certificate for the limits.

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

$362
a year for you
Apply now on Scotiabank’s site (opens in a new tab)
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