The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite targets the everyday Canadian spender who wants meaningful rewards on groceries, restaurants, gas, and transit without building a complex points strategy. Its 5x BMO Rewards rate across four of the most common spending categories, a $50 annual lifestyle credit, and a birthday bonus make it a competitive lifestyle card at the $120 annual fee tier. For households whose spending is concentrated in these categories, the eclipse Visa Infinite earns its keep.
Quick Verdict
Best for: Canadian households who spend heavily on groceries, dining, gas, and transit and want a simple, high-earning rewards card without complex redemption rules.
Not ideal for: International travellers who want to avoid foreign transaction fees, cardholders who prefer cash back over points, or those who want transferable airline points.
Key Card Details
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 |
| Additional cardholder fee | $0 (first additional card free) |
| Purchase interest rate | 20.99% |
| Cash advance rate | 22.99% |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% |
| Income requirement | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household |
| Network | Visa |
| Welcome bonus | Verify current offer with BMO |
Welcome bonus offers, earn rates, and annual fee details are subject to change. Always verify current terms at bmo.com before applying.
Welcome Bonus
BMO periodically offers a welcome bonus on the eclipse Visa Infinite, typically structured as a points bonus after meeting a spend threshold in the first few months. The exact amount and structure change regularly.
Always verify the current welcome bonus directly with BMO before applying. Welcome bonuses are time-limited promotions and may not always be active.
At a typical redemption rate of approximately 0.67 cents per point for travel, a welcome bonus of 60,000 points represents approximately $402 in travel value — enough to cover three years of the annual fee outright.
Earn Rates
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite earns 5x BMO Rewards points on four everyday spending categories and 1x on everything else.
| Category | Earn Rate |
|---|---|
| Groceries | 5x |
| Restaurants and bars | 5x |
| Gas stations | 5x |
| Transit (including ride-sharing) | 5x |
| All other purchases | 1x |
Annual spend calculation
Based on a household spending $2,000/month:
| Category | Monthly Spend | Rate | Monthly Points | Annual Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $700 | 5x | 3,500 | 42,000 |
| Restaurants | $300 | 5x | 1,500 | 18,000 |
| Gas | $200 | 5x | 1,000 | 12,000 |
| Transit | $100 | 5x | 500 | 6,000 |
| Other | $700 | 1x | 700 | 8,400 |
| Total | $2,000 | 7,200 | 86,400 |
86,400 points per year is worth approximately $579 in travel at 0.67 cents per point, or about $403 at a more conservative 0.5 cents per point.
After the $120 annual fee (reduced to $70 after the $50 lifestyle credit), this household nets approximately $509 in annual value — a strong return on everyday spending.
BMO Rewards Points: Value and Redemption
BMO Rewards points accumulate in your BMO Rewards account and can be redeemed through the BMO Rewards portal.
Best redemption: Travel through the BMO Rewards Travel Centre
Points redeemed for travel bookings through the BMO Rewards Travel Centre are worth approximately 0.67 cents per point. You can book flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages and apply points to offset the cost.
Alternative redemptions:
- Statement credits (lower per-point value than travel)
- Gift cards and merchandise (typically lower value)
- BMO InvestorLine (investments)
Bottom line on redemption: Travel redemptions deliver the most value. If you do not travel and prefer statement credits, the overall return on the card is lower — a cash back card may serve you better.
Perks and Benefits
$50 annual lifestyle credit
Each cardholder year, you receive a $50 lifestyle credit applied automatically as a statement credit. There are no category restrictions — it applies to eligible retail purchases and reduces the effective annual fee to $70.
Birthday bonus
During your birthday month, you earn a 10% bonus on all BMO Rewards points earned that month. This benefit applies automatically every year with no activation required. If you know you will spend heavily in a particular month, timing that spending with your birthday month maximises the bonus.
First additional cardholder free
You can add one additional cardholder at no cost. The additional cardholder earns points on their purchases at the same earn rates, all pooled into a single BMO Rewards account.
Travel emergency medical insurance
Emergency medical coverage for eligible cardholders and their immediate family members when travelling outside their home province, for trips up to 21 days. Coverage limits and exclusions apply — review the Certificate of Insurance for full details.
Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
Coverage for pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs if your trip is cancelled or interrupted due to a covered reason. Coverage limits apply per person and per trip.
Common carrier accident insurance
Provides coverage if you suffer a loss as a result of an accident while travelling as a passenger on a common carrier (airline, train, ferry, or bus) when the full fare is charged to your BMO eclipse Visa Infinite.
Flight and trip delay insurance
Coverage for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (hotel, meals, transportation) when a flight is delayed by 4 hours or more.
Baggage insurance
Covers lost, stolen, or damaged baggage and out-of-pocket expenses for delayed baggage when checked with a common carrier.
Rental car collision/loss damage insurance
Provides coverage for collision damage or theft for rental cars when the full rental cost is charged to the card and you decline the rental agency’s collision damage waiver. Coverage applies for rental periods up to 48 days.
Purchase protection
90-day coverage against loss, theft, or accidental damage for eligible items purchased with the card.
Extended warranty
Doubles the original manufacturer’s warranty up to one additional year for eligible purchases.
Fees and Rates
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual fee (primary) | $120 |
| Annual fee (additional) | $0 (first additional card) |
| Purchase interest rate | 20.99% |
| Cash advance rate | 22.99% |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% |
| Over-limit fee | None |
Who Is the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Best For?
Ideal cardholders:
- Households spending $500–$1,500/month on groceries, restaurants, gas, and transit who want to maximise points on everyday categories
- Cardholders who want a Visa card accepted at Costco and other non-Amex merchants
- BMO banking customers who want to consolidate with a single bank for simplicity
- Those who appreciate the $50 lifestyle credit reducing the effective annual fee
- Cardholders who want solid travel insurance coverage included without paying a premium annual fee
Less suitable if:
- You frequently travel internationally and want to avoid a 2.5% foreign transaction fee
- You prefer cash back over points
- You want transferable airline points (Aeroplan, Avios) rather than the BMO Rewards programme
- Your spending is concentrated outside the five core categories, where the 1x earn rate is unremarkable
- Your household income is below $60,000 — the income threshold is firm for this card
Alternatives to the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite
| Card | Annual Fee | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank Gold American Express | $120 | 5–6x Scene+ points, no foreign transaction fee, but Amex network |
| American Express Cobalt | $155.88 ($12.99/month) | 5x on dining and food delivery, transferable MR points, no income requirement |
| BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard | $120 | Cash back instead of points; 5% on groceries, 4% on transit, 2% on gas |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | $150 | Visa, no FX fee, 3x Scene+ on groceries, 2x travel, 6 Visa Airport Companion lounge passes |
| TD Cash Back Visa Infinite | $139 | 3% cash back on groceries, gas, and recurring bills; clean and simple |
BMO eclipse vs. Scotiabank Gold Amex: The two cards are the most natural comparison. Both cost $120/year and earn 5x–6x on food and everyday spending. The Gold Amex adds no foreign transaction fee and earns 6x at Sobeys-banner grocery stores; the eclipse adds a $50 lifestyle credit and birthday bonus, and runs on Visa (wider acceptance, including Costco). Choose the Gold Amex if you shop at Sobeys and travel internationally. Choose the eclipse if you need Visa acceptance and value the lifestyle credit.
Bottom Line
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite is a strong everyday card for Canadian households whose spending is concentrated in groceries, restaurants, gas, and transit. The 5x earn rate across these four categories is best-in-class for a Visa card at the $120 fee tier, and the $50 lifestyle credit reduces the effective cost to $70. The birthday bonus is a nice additional benefit that rewards consistent cardholders.
Where the eclipse falls short is international travel: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee adds meaningful cost for frequent travellers, and BMO Rewards points lack the flexibility of transferable airline currencies. But for domestic everyday spending, the eclipse Visa Infinite is one of the most competitive lifestyle cards available from a major Canadian bank.
Card terms, earn rates, welcome bonus offers, and annual fees are subject to change. Always verify current details at bmo.com before applying.