BMO Ascend™ World Elite® Mastercard®
Best for: Travellers who want points on travel, dining and entertainment plus lounge passes
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 #18 of 176 for year one. See the list
See how we worked it out- Welcome offer you’d get
- $771
- The full offer. Up to 115,000 BMO Rewards points.
- Annual fee
- $0 first year
- Then $150 a year
Have this card?
Details from BMO’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 $400 or more a month on travel?
Is your personal income $80,000 or more, or your household’s $150,000 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 travel At our value for these points, that’s about 3.4% back.
- Good: 0% on moved balances for 12 months A 2% fee to move them.
- Good: No fee in the first year Then $150 a year.
Watch for
- Watch for: Everything else earns 1 point per $1 That’s about 0.7% back, which is low.
- Watch for: $150 a year from year two You need about $400 a month on travel to earn it back.
- Watch for: 23.99% after the 12 months Whatever you haven’t paid off by then is charged the regular rate.
Worked out from the card’s rates and fees.
What you’d earn
With typical spending of $2,500 a month.
BMO Rewards points valued at 0.67¢ 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
- Travel
- 5 points per $1 On eligible travel purchases
- Restaurants
- 3 points per $1 On eligible dining purchases
- Entertainment
- 3 points per $1 On recurring bill payments
- Recurring bills
- 3 points per $1
- Everything else (base rate)
- 1 point per $1
3 points per $1 spent on Entertainment purchases
How BMO Rewards points work, and why 0.67¢
We count BMO Rewards points at 0.67¢ each, a typical value when you use them well. Depending on how you use them, they’re usually worth 0.33¢ to 0.67¢.
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
60,000 BMO Rewards points · about $402
Spend $5,000 in your first 4 months.
You’d reach it in month 2.
- On purchases within the first 110 days
- Earn an additional 20,000 points when you spend a total of $10,000 within the first 180 days
- Earn a further 35,000 points when you spend a total of $20,000 within the first 12 months
- Up to $200 NEXUS Statement Credit in your first year
- Mastercard Travel Pass and 4 Complimentary Lounge Passes
-
2
20,000 BMO Rewards points · about $134
Spend $10,000 in your first 6 months.
You’d reach it in month 4.
-
3
35,000 BMO Rewards points · about $235
Spend $20,000 in your first 12 months.
You’d reach it in month 8.
The annual fee is waived in the first year. Offer end date not published.
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 $80,000 or more Issuer says
- Household income $150,000 or more Issuer says
- 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 BMO Ascend World Elite®* Mastercard®* is a competent travel card that doesn’t excel at any one thing. BMO Rewards won’t wow you with their value (but the flexibility they offer in redeeming for travel is great), and the insurance is just OK. But 5x on travel, lounge passes, a NEXUS credit, and a first-year fee waiver make it a solid Mastercard option for frequent travellers, especially if you can pair it with a stronger everyday earner.”
-
NerdWallet (opens in a new tab) Sep 20257.8
“This card offers a healthy return on travel spending, complimentary airport lounge access and robust travel insurance for added peace of mind. But high annual income criteria will put it out of reach for some.”
-
MoneySense (opens in a new tab) May 2024
“The answer to whether the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is worth the high annual fee of $150 will depend on a variety of factors. If you’re a frequent flyer and traveler and earn more than the card’s income requirement, the answer is yes. The annual fee would most likely be canceled out by the free lounge access and travel insurance, if you’d be paying for those two services out of pocket each time you travel. On the other hand, the card’s high-income requirement and annual fee may be a barrier for some and a reason to choose another card instead.”
-
Rewards Canada (opens in a new tab) Aug 2022
“As with the majority of cards issued by BMO the BMO AscendTM World Elite®* Mastercard®* has fallen down the ranks in our market. The bank is one of the few that has been taking away more than they are giving across the majority of their credit card portfolio. Overall there are quite a few better options in the market when looking across all aspects of cards. However there is a place in the market for this card - primarily due to the most recent change of allowing cardholders to redeem for any travel from any provider, its insurance coverage and airport lounge access.”
-
Money We Have (opens in a new tab) Aug 2022
“My BMO Ascend World Elite™* Mastercard®* review is neutral. The change in earn rate with spending caps is not something people will be excited about, especially since there are better options out there. That said, the 4 free lounge passes are certainly appealing.”
-
Hardbacon (opens in a new tab) Jul 20228.3
“The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is a nice choice for Canadian travelers seeking a good rewards rate and Elite travel perks. If you invest with BMO, the card adds money to your portfolio. OK, it adds money if you exchange your points for a deposit to a BMO Investment account. Still, that is a smart money move and a clear benefit to having the card. If you travel, it is a good card. Just be aware that you are paying an annual fee and a higher interest rate than with other cards.”
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What comes with it
- Car rental damage Included
- Extended warranty Included
- Purchase protection Included
- Travel accident Included
- Lounges: Dragonpass 4 free visits
- Airport lounge access
- Travel and medical protection
- Save up to 25% off rentals at participating National Car Rental® and Alamo Rent a Car® locations
- Get 15% off admission to Cirque du Soleil shows touring Canada, and 20% off resident shows in Las Vegas
- Enjoy free access to over 1 million Wi-Fi hotspots around the world with Boingo Wi-Fi
- Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption Insurance
- Flight Delay Insurance
- Up to $200 in Instacart+ Membership & Monthly Credit
Coverage limits
We haven’t recorded the coverage limits for this card yet. Read BMO’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 and mobile device.
What it costs
- Annual fee
- $0 first year Then $150 a year
- Purchase interest
- 21.99%
- Cash advance interest
- 23.99%
- Foreign currency fee
- 2.5%
All fees and rates
Fees
- Extra cards
- $50
- Fee waivers
- First year: $150 off (Waived on the first year)
- Cash advance fee
- 1%, Minimum of $5
- Balance transfer fee
- 5%, Maximum ; 2% transfer fee during introductory period
- Over-limit fee
- $29
- Late payment fee
- None
- Source
- Issuer page
Interest rates
- Balance transfer interest
- 23.99%
- Intro rate: balance transfers
- 0% for 12 months, fee 2%
- Source
- Issuer page
Province differences
- Quebec
- Balance transfer rate: 21.99%. Cash advance rate: 21.99%.
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: $1,250 year one, $330 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 BMO Ascend™ World Elite® Mastercard®?
$0 the first year, then $150 a year. Each extra card costs $50.
How much is the BMO Ascend™ World Elite® Mastercard® welcome offer worth?
Up to 115,000 BMO Rewards points, about $771. You get it in 3 steps: 60,000 BMO Rewards points after you spend $5,000 in the first 4 months; 20,000 BMO Rewards points after you spend $10,000 in the first 6 months; 35,000 BMO Rewards points after you spend $20,000 in the first 12 months.
What income do I need?
BMO asks for $80,000 in personal income.
Does it charge a foreign transaction fee?
Yes, 2.5% on purchases in other currencies.
What is the interest rate?
21.99% on purchases. Cash advances are 23.99%.
Does it have a balance transfer offer?
Yes, 0% for 12 months. The transfer fee is 2%. After that, the rate is 23.99%.
Does it include insurance?
It lists extended warranty, purchase protection, travel and medical protection and trip cancellation / trip interruption 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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