PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard review
Best for: Heavy Loblaw, Shoppers Drug Mart and PC Express shoppers who will use free grocery pickup and delivery.
Credit card- Welcome bonus
- 50,000 PC Optimum points + $120 fee credit Spend $3,000 in 3 months
- Rewards rate
- 10x - 50x points
- Annual fee
- $120
- Interest rates
- 21.99% / 22.97% Purchase / cash advance
- FX fee
- 2.5%
The bottom line
The PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard costs $120 a year and earns the most PC Optimum points of any PC card: 40 points per dollar at Loblaw banner grocery stores and Joe Fresh, 50 at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix, at least 50 per litre at Esso and Mobil, and 10 everywhere else. It includes a PC Express Pass for $0 grocery pickup and delivery, but the fee only pays off for big Loblaw-family spenders.
Welcome bonus
- Earn 50,000 bonus PC Optimum points after $3,000 in qualifying purchases within 3 months of the approval email
- One-time $120 credit, equal to the annual fee, for new cardholders who apply through PC Financial’s offer link by December 31, 2026
- Points can take up to 60 days to arrive
Rewards & earn rates
You earn points in PC Optimum.
50 points per $1 (5% back in points): 35 points per $1 from the card plus the 15 points per $1 all PC Optimum members earn
- 40 PC Optimum points per $1 (4% back in points) at participating grocery stores where PC products are sold: the regular 10 points per $1 plus 30 bonus points per $1
- Eligible PC Express pickup orders of $30 or more earn an extra 2% back in points with the PC Express Pass, up to 500,000 points a subscription year
40 points per $1 (4% back in points)
- At least 50 PC Optimum points per litre (5¢ per litre back in points) at Esso and Mobil in Canada, or 70 points per litre (7¢) for the whole month once you buy 150 litres or more in a calendar month
- An extra 10 points per litre on premium fuel at Esso and select Mobil stations
10 points per $1 (1% back in points)
Rates & fees
- Additional cardholders: free
- Annual fee can be paid with PC Optimum points (at least 10,000 points, within 45 days of the fee being charged)
- If approved at the Basic Rate (not available in Quebec): 26.99% purchases / 27.97% cash advances
- Cash advance at a bank machine or teller in Canada: $5
- Balance transfers are cash advances (22.97%; Quebec 21.97%)
- Balance transfer fee up to 5%
Insurance coverage
| Coverage | Limit | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Travel emergency medicalPays hospital and doctor bills if you get sick or hurt while travelling outside your province. | Included |
|
| Car rental | ||
| Rental car collision/loss damage waiverCovers damage to or theft of a rental car, so you can usually skip the rental company’s collision coverage. | Included | Not listed |
| Shopping & phone | ||
| Purchase assuranceCovers new things you buy with the card if they’re stolen or damaged soon after you buy them. | Included |
|
| Extended warrantyAdds extra time to the manufacturer’s warranty on things you buy with the card. | Included |
|
Coverage usually applies only when you charge the trip or purchase to the card, and every policy has its own exclusions. Read PC Financial’s certificate of insurance before you rely on it.
Perks & benefits
Pros & cons
Pros
- 40 points per dollar at Loblaw banner grocery stores and Joe Fresh
- 50 points per dollar at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix
- Complimentary PC Express Pass for $0 pickup and delivery on orders of $30 or more
- The annual fee can be paid with PC Optimum points
Cons
- $120 annual fee, where the PC World Elite has none
- Just 10 points per dollar outside the PC network
- $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income requirement
PC Financial’s top earner, with 40 points per dollar at Loblaw grocery stores and 50 at Shoppers Drug Mart, plus a free PC Express Pass. The $120 fee pays off only for heavy Loblaw-family shoppers.
Suits you if
- You spend heavily at Loblaws, No Frills or Superstore
- You order groceries through PC Express for pickup or delivery
- You fill up at Esso or Mobil, earning up to 70 points per litre
Look elsewhere if
- You earn less than $80,000 personally or $150,000 as a household
- You rarely use PC Express, where the no-fee PC World Elite earns nearly as much
- You travel abroad often, with a 2.5% foreign transaction fee
Credit Lab Expert
Our detailed review
How the PC Insiders World Elite earns
Everything is earned in PC Optimum points. Loblaw banner grocery stores, such as Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore and Maxi, earn 40 points per dollar, and so does Joe Fresh. Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix earn 50 points per dollar, which includes the 15 points every PC Optimum member gets. Everything else earns 10 points per dollar.
Esso and Mobil earn at least 50 points per litre. In any calendar month you buy 150 litres or more there, every litre that month earns 70 points instead. Eligible PC Express pickup orders also earn an extra 2% back in points, up to 500,000 points a subscription year.
For example, a household spending $600 a month at Loblaw banner stores, $80 at Shoppers Drug Mart and $700 elsewhere earns 24,000, 4,000 and 7,000 points. That’s 35,000 points a month, or 420,000 a year, worth $420 in rewards before fuel and the fee.
Is the $120 fee worth it?
Compared with the no-fee PC World Elite Mastercard, this card earns an extra 10 points per dollar at Loblaw banner stores and Joe Fresh, 5 more at Shoppers Drug Mart, and 20 more per litre at Esso and Mobil. In the example above, that’s about $77 more in points a year, which doesn’t cover the fee on its own.
The PC Express Pass is what tips the balance. PC Financial values it at $99.99 a year, so if you order groceries for pickup or delivery anyway, the pass plus the higher earn rates can more than cover the fee. If you never use PC Express, you’d need about $12,000 a year at Loblaw banner stores for the extra 10 points per dollar alone to cover the $120.
The welcome offer
PC Financial’s current offer gives new cardholders who apply through its offer link by December 31, 2026 a one-time $120 credit equal to the annual fee, so the first year costs nothing. You can also earn 50,000 bonus PC Optimum points after $3,000 in qualifying purchases within 3 months of approval, worth $50 in rewards.
Redeeming points and paying the fee
PC Optimum points are redeemed at checkout in participating stores, at $10 for every 10,000 points. You can also use at least 10,000 points to cover all or part of the annual fee, within 45 days of it being charged.
If you already pay for a PC Optimum Insiders subscription, the card replaces it and PC Financial refunds the unused portion. You can’t re-enrol in that subscription later.
Fees, interest and insurance
Purchases are charged 21.99% interest and cash advances 22.97% (21.97% in Quebec). Foreign currency purchases carry a 2.5% fee, about $25 per $1,000 spent abroad. Additional cards are free.
The insurance covers the same areas as the PC World Elite Mastercard, with travel medical for short trips only. Read the certificate before relying on it.
- Travel emergency medical (trips up to 10 days, under age 65)
- Rental car collision and loss damage waiver
- Purchase assurance (90 days)
- Extended warranty (up to 1 additional year)
Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere
The card suits households that do most of their grocery shopping at Loblaw banners, especially through PC Express, and that also shop at Shoppers Drug Mart or fill up at Esso and Mobil. For them, the earn rates and the free pass can outweigh the fee.
If you rarely use PC Express or spend modestly at Loblaw stores, the no-fee PC World Elite Mastercard earns nearly as much without the $120 fee. You’ll need $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income for either card.
PC Financial is now part of EQB
EQB, the parent company of EQ Bank, completed its purchase of PC Financial on July 1, 2026. PC Financial says PC Mastercard cards will move to the EQ Bank brand over time, with no immediate changes to rates, fees, card benefits or PC Optimum points. PC Optimum stays a Loblaw program.
Before you apply
Existing PC Mastercard holders can check whether they’re eligible to upgrade in the PC Financial app or online account, and PC Financial says upgrading won’t affect your credit score. Confirm the welcome offer and current terms on PC Financial’s website before you apply.
How it compares
- Sits in the middle on yearly cost among the credit cards we compare.
- Charges the same 2.5% foreign transaction fee as most cards we compare.
- Spending $1,000 in a foreign currency adds about $25 in FX fees, or $125 on $5,000.
Side by side with similar picks
| Credit cardPC Insiders World Elite Mastercard |  American Express Aeroplan Card |  American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card |  BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 | $120 | $120 | $120 |
| FX fee | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Rewards rate | 10x - 50x | 1x - 2x | 2x - 5x | 1% - 5% |
| Purchase interest | 21.99% | 20.99% | 21.99% | 20.99% |
| Welcome bonus | 50,000 PC Optimum points + $120 fee credit | — | Up to 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points | Up to $260 cash back |
| Offered by | PC Financial | American Express | American Express | BMO |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard have an annual fee?
Yes. The PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard has an annual fee of $120, about $10.00 a month. Additional cardholders: free. Balance transfers are cash advances (22.97%; Quebec 21.97%); balance transfer fee up to 5%. If approved at the Basic Rate (not available in Quebec): 26.99% purchases / 27.97% cash advances. Cash advance at a bank machine or teller in Canada: $5. Annual fee can be paid with PC Optimum points (at least 10,000 points, within 45 days of the fee being charged).
What is the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard welcome bonus?
50,000 PC Optimum points + $120 fee credit. Spend $3,000 in 3 months. Earn 50,000 bonus PC Optimum points after $3,000 in qualifying purchases within 3 months of the approval email. One-time $120 credit, equal to the annual fee, for new cardholders who apply through PC Financial’s offer link by December 31, 2026. Points can take up to 60 days to arrive.
What is the interest rate on the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard?
21.99% on purchases and 22.97% on cash advances. You can avoid purchase interest by paying your full statement balance by the due date.
How many PC Optimum points does the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard earn?
40 points per dollar at Loblaw banner grocery stores and Joe Fresh, 50 at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix (including the 15 all members earn), at least 50 per litre at Esso and Mobil, and 10 everywhere else.
What is the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard annual fee?
$120 a year, and you can pay all or part of it with PC Optimum points. New cardholders who apply through PC Financial’s offer link by December 31, 2026 get a one-time $120 credit equal to the fee.
What is the PC Express Pass included with the card?
It’s a subscription PC Financial values at $99.99 a year that gives you $0 pickup and delivery on eligible PC Express grocery orders of $30 or more. Pickup orders also earn an extra 2% back in points.
How do you get 70 points per litre at Esso and Mobil?
Buy 150 litres or more at Esso and Mobil in a calendar month. Every litre bought there that month then earns 70 points instead of the usual 50.
PC Insiders World Elite or PC World Elite Mastercard: which is better?
The Insiders card earns more, 40 versus 30 points per dollar at Loblaw grocery stores and 50 versus 45 at Shoppers, and adds a PC Express Pass, but costs $120 a year. If you don’t use PC Express, the no-fee PC World Elite Mastercard usually comes out ahead.
What happens to my PC Optimum Insiders subscription if I get the card?
It’s cancelled and replaced by the card’s benefits, and PC Financial refunds the unused portion of your subscription fee. You can’t re-enrol in the subscription later.
Does the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard include travel insurance?
It includes travel emergency medical for trips of up to 10 days for cardholders under 65, plus a rental car collision and loss damage waiver. There’s no trip cancellation coverage listed.
What income do you need for the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard?
PC Financial lists $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income. Existing PC Mastercard holders who qualify can upgrade online without affecting their credit score.
Is PC Financial still owned by Loblaw?
No. EQB, the parent company of EQ Bank, completed its purchase of PC Financial on July 1, 2026. PC Financial says there are no immediate changes to card benefits or points, and PC Optimum remains a Loblaw program.
Who should skip the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard?
People who rarely shop at Loblaw banners or use PC Express. Everywhere else the card earns 10 points per dollar, so the $120 fee is hard to recover without heavy spending in the PC network.
Rates, fees and offers come from PC Financial’s published terms and can change at any time. Confirm the current terms with PC Financial before applying. CreditLab may earn a commission from partner links; this never changes the facts we show. See our methodology.