Groceries, no FX fee · Scotiabank
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card has a $120 annual fee, charges no foreign transaction fee and earns up to 6x Scene+ points at partner grocers and 5x on other groceries, dining and food delivery. It lists emergency medical cover for 25 days under 65, trip cancellation and delay insurance, and requires only $12,000 personal income.
Facts last verified October 28, 2026 against the issuer's own pages. Rates and offers change; confirm with the issuer.
Scotiabank Gold Amex at a glance
A $120 everyday card with no foreign transaction fee and strong Scene+ earning on groceries and dining.
- Annual fee
- $120 (rebate with some Scotiabank accounts)
- Purchase interest rate
- 21.99%
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Network
- American Express
- Rewards program
- Scene+
- Lounge access
- None included (discounted Priority Pass membership available)
- Baggage benefit
- None stated
- Minimum income
- $12,000 personal
- Best for avoiding foreign transaction fees
- Best for flexible travel rewards
- Best for built-in travel insurance
Key benefits of the Scotiabank Gold Amex
- No foreign transaction fee
- Up to 6x Scene+ points at partner grocers
- Medical and trip cancellation insurance
Current offer: Up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points (ends November 1, 2026).
30,000 after $2,000 in 3 months, plus 20,000 after $7,500 in the first year. Excludes anyone with a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past 2 years.
Offer checked October 28, 2026. Offers can differ by province and can be withdrawn at any time.
How Scotiabank Gold Amex earns and redeems rewards
| Where you spend | Earn rate |
|---|---|
| Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland, IGA, Voila and other participating grocers | 6x Scene+ points per $1 |
| Other grocery, dining, food delivery and eligible entertainment | 5x per $1 |
| Gas, transit and select streaming | 3x per $1 |
| Hotels and car rentals booked through Scene+ Travel | Extra 3x per $1 (up to 4x in total) |
| Eligible travel and all other purchasesaccelerated earn applies to the first $50,000 a year, and foreign-currency purchases earn 1x | 1x per $1 |
Scene+ points can be used for travel through Scene+ Travel or against a travel purchase charged to the card, and for groceries, entertainment, account credit and retail. Scotiabank's own examples work out to roughly 1 cent per point, and minimums apply to some redemptions.
Travel insurance included with the Scotiabank Gold Amex
- Emergency medical
- Up to $1 million for the cardholder, spouse and eligible dependent children: up to 25 consecutive days if under 65, up to 3 consecutive days if 65 or older.
- Trip cancellation and interruption
- Cancellation and interruption up to $1,500 per person ($10,000 per trip), with at least 75% of the trip cost charged to the card.
- Flight delay and baggage
- Flight delay up to $500 per insured person; delayed or lost checked luggage up to $1,000 when the full travel ticket is charged to the card.
- Conditions and exclusions
- Limitations and exclusions apply, including a pre-existing condition exclusion for certain benefits. Read the certificates of insurance, underwritten by Manulife and First North American Insurance Company.
Card insurance is narrower than a standalone policy. Compare travel insurance for Canadians if your trip is long, you are 65 or older or you have a health condition.
Who can apply for the Scotiabank Gold Amex
- Minimum personal income of $12,000
- Subject to credit approval; minimum credit limit $5,000
- The welcome offer excludes anyone who held a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past 2 years
Advantages and drawbacks
Advantages
- No foreign transaction fee and a low $12,000 income requirement
- Very high earn rates on groceries, dining and entertainment
- Insurance includes medical, trip cancellation and delay cover
Drawbacks
- Foreign-currency purchases earn only 1x, which reduces the benefit of the no-fee feature for rewards
- No included lounge visits
- Medical cover drops to 3 days for travellers 65 and over
- American Express is accepted in fewer places abroad, so carry a Visa or Mastercard too
Scotiabank Gold Amex compared with similar cards
| Card | Annual fee | Foreign fee | Rewards | Lounge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank Gold Amex | $120 | None | Scene+ | None included |
| Scotiabank Passport | $150 | None | Scene+ | 6 free lounge visits a year (Visa Airport Companion Program) |
| Amex Cobalt | $191.88 | 2.5% | Membership Rewards | None included |
| Home Trust Preferred Visa | $0 | None | CashBack Rewards | None included |
Scotiabank Gold Amex FAQs
Does the Scotiabank Gold Amex charge foreign transaction fees?
No. Scotiabank states the card has no foreign transaction fee, so only the exchange rate applies. Note that purchases in foreign currency earn the base 1x rate, not the bonus rates.
What is the minimum income for the Scotiabank Gold Amex?
Scotiabank states a minimum personal income of $12,000 a year and a minimum credit limit of $5,000. No household minimum is stated. This is much lower than most premium travel cards.
How does the earn rate work?
The card earns 6x Scene+ points at partner grocers, 5x on other groceries, dining, food delivery and eligible entertainment, and 3x on gas, transit and select streaming. The accelerated rates apply to the first $50,000 of spending a calendar year and to Canadian-dollar purchases, then 1x. Check the issuer's current list of partner grocers, since it can change.
What travel insurance is included?
It lists emergency medical up to $1 million for 25 days if you are under 65 and 3 days if you are 65 or older. It also lists trip cancellation and interruption up to $1,500 per person and flight delay up to $500. A pre-existing condition exclusion applies, so read the certificate.
Is there lounge access?
No lounge visits are included. Cardholders can buy a discounted Priority Pass membership, which Scotiabank says gives access to 1,200+ lounges, but the discounted price is not stated on the product page. The membership ends if the card is cancelled.
Sources and last verified date
Facts on this page were last verified on October 28, 2026. We use the issuer's own pages first and leave out anything we cannot confirm.
Related guides
- Best Travel Credit Cards for Canadians Travelling to Europe
- Travel Credit Card Insurance Explained
- Best Credit Cards Without Foreign Transaction Fees
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