CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Students review

How the student Aventura card earns points

The card earns 1 Aventura point per dollar on gas and EV charging, groceries, drugstore purchases and travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Centre (CIBC by Expedia). Everything else earns 1 point per $2 spent.

For a sense of scale, take a student who spends $250 a month on groceries, $100 on gas, $50 at the drugstore and $300 on everything else. That’s 400 points from the bonus categories and 150 from the rest, or 550 points a month and 6,600 a year.

The welcome offer

The welcome offer is worth up to 12,500 Aventura points, in two parts. You get 2,500 points for completing five onboarding activities within 60 days, and 10,000 bonus points for making $1,000 in net purchases in your first four statement periods. Check which onboarding activities qualify when you activate the card.

The $1,000 target works out to about $250 per statement period. Collecting both parts gives you nearly twice what the example budget above earns in a full year, so it’s worth planning your first few months of spending around it.

Perks for students

Students get a free SPC+ membership, which offers discounts at more than 450 brands. If you already shop at participating brands, those discounts add to what the card gives back through points.

Credit limits go up to $5,000 for Canadian students, and points never expire while your account is open, so you can build a balance slowly toward a trip. Because the card helps you build a credit history, paying on time every month is the most valuable habit you can form with it.

Fees, interest and the fine print

There is no annual fee and no minimum income requirement, which is what makes the card accessible for students. Purchases are charged 21.99% interest and cash advances 22.99%, so carrying a balance would quickly outweigh the value of the points. Setting up automatic payments for at least the minimum is a simple way to avoid a missed payment.

Purchases in a foreign currency carry a 2.5% fee, about $25 per $1,000, which is worth knowing before a semester abroad or an order from a US website.

Insurance coverage

Coverage is limited to two items, one for travel by common carrier and one for purchases. Read the certificate for limits and exclusions.

• Common carrier accident insurance up to $100,000
• Purchase security and extended protection

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

The card suits post-secondary students who want their first credit card to earn travel points, especially those who will use the SPC+ discounts.

If you’d rather have cash back, or most of your spending falls outside groceries, gas and drugstores, the 1 point per $2 base rate won’t earn much. A cash back student card may be simpler to understand and use.

How it compares

The CIBC Dividend Visa Card for Students also has no annual fee, pays 2% cash back on groceries and offers up to $125 cash back as a welcome bonus. It’s the better pick if you want cash rather than travel points.

The RBC ION Visa is another no-fee option, earning 1.5 Avion points per dollar on groceries, gas, transit, rideshare and streaming, with a welcome offer of up to 7,000 Avion points. Its everyday earn rates are higher, so compare the two on your own spending and the perks you’d actually use.

Before you apply

The recommended credit score is 600 or higher, and CIBC makes the final decision based on your full credit profile. Confirm the welcome offer and student eligibility rules on CIBC’s website before you apply.