Scotiabank American Express Card review

How the Scotiabank Amex earns

The top rate is 3 Scene+ points per dollar at Sobeys-family grocery stores, including Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and Foodland. Other grocery stores earn 2 points, as do dining and food delivery, entertainment, gas, daily transit and select streaming services. Everything else earns 1 point.

For example, a household spending $500 a month at Sobeys-family stores, $200 on dining, $150 on gas, $50 on transit, $20 on streaming and $300 on everything else earns 2,640 points a month, or 31,680 a year, with no fee.

Because so many everyday categories earn at least 2 points, most of a typical budget earns above the base rate. In the example, only $300 of $1,220 in monthly spending falls into the 1-point bucket.

The welcome offer

New cardholders can earn up to 10,000 bonus Scene+ points in the first 3 months: 2,500 points for spending $250 and 7,500 more for spending $1,000. Spending $1,000 in the first 3 months, about $333 a month, earns the full 10,000. At the example budget of $1,220 a month, you’d pass the $1,000 target within the first month.

The offer applies to accounts opened between May 1 and November 1, 2026, so check whether a new offer has replaced it if you apply later.

Scene+ Travel and other perks

Hotels and car rentals booked through Scene+ Travel earn an extra 3x points, which adds to your balance when you plan trips through the portal. Check the Scene+ Travel terms for which bookings qualify before you plan around the extra points.

The card also includes Amex Front Of The Line presale and event access, which gives you a chance at tickets before they go on general sale.

Fees, interest and the fine print

There’s no annual fee, and the income requirement is a low $12,000. Purchases in a foreign currency carry a 2.5% fee, about $25 per $1,000 spent abroad. That makes it a card for spending at home; for trips abroad, a card with no FX fee will cost less.

Purchase interest is 21.99% and cash advances are charged 22.99%. Paying the full balance each month avoids purchase interest.

Insurance coverage

Coverage is limited to mobile devices and your purchases; there’s no travel insurance. Check the certificate for limits and exclusions.

• Mobile device insurance
• Purchase security and extended warranty protection

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

The card suits households that shop at Sobeys-family stores and want bonus points on a wide range of everyday spending without paying a fee. The $12,000 income requirement and a recommended credit score of 660 or higher make it accessible.

If you travel often, the lack of travel insurance and the 2.5% FX fee are drawbacks, and you’ll need a backup Visa or Mastercard where American Express isn’t taken.

How it compares

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card costs $120 a year but charges no foreign transaction fee and earns up to 6 Scene+ points per dollar at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more, with up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points in the first year.

The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card also has no annual fee and earns up to 2 Scene+ points per dollar on groceries at the Sobeys group, with a welcome offer of up to 5,000 Scene+ points. It runs on Visa, so acceptance is wider, but the rates are lower.

Before you apply

The recommended credit score is 660 or higher, but Scotiabank makes the final decision. The current welcome offer is for accounts opened by November 1, 2026, so confirm the offer and terms on Scotiabank’s website before you apply.