Scotiabank Platinum American Express® card
Best for: Frequent travellers who want lounge visits and no foreign transaction fee
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
Ranked #22 of 176 for year one. See the list
See how we worked it out- Welcome offer you’d get
- $700
- All of year one’s offer. Up to 80,000 Scene+ points.
- Annual fee
- $399 a year
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?
Do you spend $700 or more a month on hotels?
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.
The good and the bad
Stands out
- Good: 5 points per $1 on hotels At our value for these points, that’s about 5% back.
- Good: 9.99% on purchases The usual rate is 20.99%.
- Good: Welcome offer up to 80,000 Scene+ points About $800 at our value for these points.
Watch for
- Watch for: $399 a year You need about $700 a month on hotels to earn it back.
Worked out from the card’s rates and fees.
What you’d earn
With typical spending of $2,500 a month.
Scene+ points valued at 1¢ each.
Rows are rounded to the dollar. Insurance counts at what the same cover costs on its own, and only pays when you charge the trip, rental or phone to the card.
What counts in each category
- Hotels
- 5 points per $1 Up to $100,000 in spending per year. Hotels and car rentals booked through Scene+ Travel
- Everything else (base rate)
- 2 points per $1 Up to $100,000 in spending per year.
- 4 points per $1 spent (on first $100000 spent) on entertainment
- You can convert your Scotia Rewards points to SCENE or your SCENE points to Scotia Rewards points instantly, anytime you want.
How Scene+ points work, and why 1¢
We count Scene+ points at 1¢ each, a typical value when you use them well. Depending on how you use them, they’re usually worth 0.6¢ to 1¢.
We set one value per points program and use it on every card in that program, so you can compare points cards and cash back cards on the same scale.
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
Can your spending get the full offer?
At $2,500 a month, here’s when you’d reach each step.
-
1
45,000 Scene+ points · about $450
Spend $5,000 in your first 6 months.
You’d reach it in month 2.
- On purchases within the first 3 months
- Earn another 20000 points when you spend at least $10000 in your first 6 months
- Plus, for a limited time, you are eligible to earn a 20,000 points bonus when you make at least one eligible purchase that is posted to your new Account during the 14th month after the month the Account was opened
-
2
25,000 Scene+ points · about $250
Spend $10,000 in your first 12 months.
You’d reach it in month 4.
-
3
10,000 Scene+ points · about $100
Keep the card for a year.
- Make at least one eligible purchase; during the 14th month after you open your account
Offer ends Jul 1, 2027.
Offer checked on Nov 8, 2026. Source
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.
Checked on Nov 8, 2026. Source
Mr. Loonie’s tip Each application shows up on your credit file. Leave a few months between card applications.
Other reviewers on this card
-
Frugal Flyer (opens in a new tab) May 2026
“The Scotiabank Platinum American Express card commands a higher annual fee, and as such, offers the most valuable benefits available on a Scotiabank credit card. If you desire additional lounge passes but don’t quite want to commit to a card with an even higher annual fee that offers unlimited airport lounge access, the Scotiabank Platinum American Express card can be a good middle-ground option.”
-
NerdWallet (opens in a new tab) Sep 202510
“Scotiabank’s Platinum Amex doesn’t just offer top-tier travel perks — such as emergency medical coverage and airport lounge access — it also comes with a low 9.99% interest rate on purchases and a flat earn rate of 2x Scene+ points per $1 spent. The high $399 annual fee, however, may be too steep for some users.”
-
Rewards Canada (opens in a new tab) Jun 2023
“The Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card is a hidden gem in the Canadian rewards credit card market. It doesn't get a lot coverage as it tends to be overshadowed by other Ultra Premium Cards like The Platinum Card from American Express and the Aeroplan Infinite Privilege or Reserve Cards. But, if you don't need Aeroplan points or the extra bells and whistles that Amex's own Platinum card provides, this is the perfect Ultra Premium card for you.”
-
Hardbacon (opens in a new tab) Jul 20229.6
“The Scotiabank Platinum American Express card gives you a crazy-low interest rate, a flexible points program with no spending limits, and top-shelf features not available on lower-level cards. Unlimited points that you can redeem however you want, plus access to luxury “insiders only” perks make this card well worth the fee. You can live the high life at cruising altitude and at sea level, whether you globetrot or not.”
-
5.4
“Its low income requirements, generous welcome bonus, and bonus earn rate for a variety of everyday spending categories may make it seem like a solid choice, but there are similar premium travel credit cards that may offer you more for your money.”
-
My Rate Compass (opens in a new tab) Jan 20218.2
“Scotiabank®* Platinum American Express® Card is a premium credit card with exclusive benefits and 7 types of insurance coverage. Aside from its high return rates, the Scotiabank®* Platinum American Express® Card provides an impressive list of purchase and travel insurance benefits that justifies the annual fee. The best credit card for insurance coverage in Canada, it provides peace of mind and comprehensive protection on the road and the longest extended warranty and purchase protection.”
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What comes with it
- Car rental damage Included
- Extended warranty Included
- Purchase protection Included
- Price protection Included
- Travel accident Included
- Travel medical $2,000,000 per person
- Trip cancellation Included
- Trip interruption Included
- Flight delay Included
- Baggage delay Included
- Lost baggage Included
- Hotel burglary Included
- Mobile device $1,000 per device
- Lounges: Priority pass 10 free visits
- American Express Invites
- Complimentary membership to Priority Pass Airport Lounges Worldwide
- Hertz #1 Club Gold Membership
- Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance
- Delayed and Lost Baggage Insurance
- Flight Delay Insurance
- Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption Insurance
Coverage limits
We haven’t recorded the coverage limits for this card yet. Read Scotiabank’s insurance certificate before you count on any coverage.
What it costs
- Annual fee
- $399 a year
- Purchase interest
- 9.99%
- Cash advance interest
- 9.99%
- Foreign currency fee
- None
All fees and rates
Fees
- Extra cards
- $99
- 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
- 9.99%
- Source
- Issuer page
Read the card terms and conditions for the full terms.
Checked on Nov 8, 2026. Source
Similar cards for the same spending
With typical spending. This card: $1,206 year one, $506 every year after.
-
American Express Cobalt™
Year one $1,651Every year after $1,396 -
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
Year one $1,825Every year after $1,055 -
RBC Ion+ Visa
Year one $1,245Every year after $1,007 -
National Bank World Elite Mastercard
Year one $1,099Every year after $904
See all cards ranked for your spending
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Questions people ask
What is the annual fee on the Scotiabank Platinum American Express® card?
$399 a year. Each extra card costs $99.
How much is the Scotiabank Platinum American Express® card welcome offer worth?
Up to 80,000 Scene+ points, about $800. You get it in 3 steps: 45,000 Scene+ points after you spend $5,000 in the first 6 months; 25,000 Scene+ points after you spend $10,000 in the first 12 months; 10,000 Scene+ points on your first card anniversary.
What income do I need?
Scotiabank asks for $12,000 in personal income.
Does it charge a foreign transaction fee?
No. Purchases in other currencies have no extra fee.
What is the interest rate?
9.99% on purchases. Cash advances are 9.99%.
Does it include insurance?
It lists extended warranty, purchase protection, price protection and hotel/motel burglary insurance. 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.
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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.
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