The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite earns its place as one of Canada’s strongest cash back cards for grocery and gas spenders. At 4% on two of the most common household expense categories, combined with a $120 annual fee and flexible on-demand cash back redemptions, it is a practical, high-returning option for CIBC banking customers who prioritise simplicity and consistent cash rewards over points programmes.
Quick Verdict
Best for: CIBC banking customers who spend heavily on groceries and gas and want a straightforward cash back card with flexible redemptions and no points complexity.
Not ideal for: Those who want 4% cash back extended to additional categories like transit and recurring bills (the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite does this), frequent international travellers who need no foreign transaction fee, or high grocery spenders who may hit the earn cap.
Key Card Details
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 |
| Additional cardholder fee | $30 |
| 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 CIBC |
Welcome bonus offers, cash back rates, annual earn caps, and annual fee are subject to change. Always verify current terms at cibc.com before applying.
Welcome Bonus
CIBC periodically offers a welcome cash back bonus for new Dividend Visa Infinite cardholders, typically applied after meeting a minimum spend threshold in the first few months. A first-year annual fee waiver may be included during promotional periods.
Always verify the current welcome bonus directly with CIBC before applying.
Earn Rates
The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite earns cash back across multiple spend tiers.
| Category | Cash Back Rate |
|---|---|
| Eligible grocery stores in Canada | 4% |
| Eligible gas stations in Canada | 4% |
| Eligible dining and food delivery | 2% |
| Eligible transit and transportation | 2% |
| All other purchases | 1% |
Annual earn caps apply to elevated cash back categories. Purchases exceeding the annual cap earn at 1%. Verify current caps at cibc.com.
Annual spend calculation
Based on a household spending $2,000/month (within annual earn caps):
| Category | Monthly Spend | Rate | Monthly Cash Back | Annual Cash Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $800 | 4% | $32.00 | $384 |
| Gas | $200 | 4% | $8.00 | $96 |
| Dining | $300 | 2% | $6.00 | $72 |
| Transit | $100 | 2% | $2.00 | $24 |
| Other | $600 | 1% | $6.00 | $72 |
| Total | $2,000 | $54 | $648 |
$648/year in cash back minus the $120 annual fee = $528 net annual value — one of the strongest returns available for a Visa cash back card at this fee tier.
How Cash Back Is Redeemed
The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite offers on-demand cash back redemption — a key advantage over cards like the TD Cash Back Visa Infinite that pay out only once per year.
How to redeem:
- Log in to the CIBC app or CIBC online banking
- Navigate to your Dividend card account
- Select “Redeem Cash Back” once your balance reaches the minimum threshold
- Cash back is applied as a statement credit
This flexibility allows you to redeem monthly if you prefer, or accumulate and redeem less frequently. There is no requirement to wait until the end of the year.
Earn cap impact: CIBC applies annual earn caps on the 4% categories. If you spend $2,000+/month on groceries, verify the annual cap to understand when your earn rate drops to 1% for the remainder of the year. High grocery spenders may reach the cap well before December.
Travel Perks and Benefits
Travel emergency medical insurance
Emergency medical coverage for eligible cardholders and immediate family members when travelling outside their home province. Coverage limits and trip duration restrictions apply — review the Certificate of Insurance at cibc.com.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Coverage for non-refundable pre-paid trip expenses if a trip is cancelled or interrupted due to a covered reason.
Travel accident insurance
Coverage for accidental death or dismemberment when travelling as a passenger on a common carrier with the full fare charged to the card.
Flight and trip delay insurance
Coverage for reasonable expenses when a flight is delayed by a specified number of hours.
Delayed and lost baggage insurance
Coverage for essential purchases when checked baggage is delayed, and for lost or damaged baggage on a common carrier.
Rental car collision/loss damage insurance
Coverage for collision damage or theft of rental vehicles when the full rental cost is charged to the card and you decline the rental agency’s coverage. Coverage applies for rental periods up to 48 days.
Purchase security and extended warranty
- Purchase protection: 90 days against loss, theft, or accidental damage
- Extended warranty: Doubles the manufacturer’s warranty up to one additional year
Fees and Rates
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual fee (primary) | $120 |
| Annual fee (additional) | $30 |
| Purchase interest rate | 20.99% |
| Cash advance rate | 22.99% |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% |
Who Is the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Best For?
Ideal cardholders:
- CIBC banking customers who spend $600–$1,200/month on groceries and want the highest Visa cash back rate on that category
- Households with high gas spending who benefit from the 4% gas rate
- Cardholders who prefer on-demand monthly cash back redemptions over annual payouts
- Those who want a straightforward cash back card without loyalty programmes or points management
Less suitable if:
- Your grocery spending exceeds CIBC’s annual earn cap — the return drops sharply to 1% once the cap is reached
- You also spend heavily on recurring bills and transit and want 4% in those categories too (Scotiabank Momentum covers these at 4%)
- You travel internationally and want to avoid a 2.5% foreign transaction fee
- Your household income is below $60,000 — you will not qualify for this card
How the CIBC Dividend Compares to Key Competitors
| Card | Annual Fee | Grocery Rate | Gas Rate | Dining | Bills | Unique Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite | $120 | 4% | 4% | 2% | 1% | On-demand cash back redemption |
| Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite | $120 | 4% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 4% on recurring bills and transit |
| BMO CashBack World Elite | $120 | 5% | 3% | 1% | 2% | Highest grocery rate (5%) |
| TD Cash Back Visa Infinite | $139 | 3% | 3% | 1% | 3% | Annual cash back + TD insurance |
| Amex SimplyCash Preferred | $119.88 | 4% | 4% | 1.25% | 1.25% | Amex; 4% on gas and grocery |
CIBC Dividend vs. Scotiabank Momentum: Both cards earn 4% on groceries and gas at $120/year. The Scotiabank Momentum adds 4% on recurring bills and transit — making it the stronger earner for households with significant insurance, internet, or streaming bill payments. The CIBC Dividend’s on-demand redemption is an edge for those who prefer flexibility over the Momentum’s annual payout model. Verify each card’s annual earn caps before deciding.
Bottom Line
The CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite is a high-performing cash back card for grocery and gas spenders. The 4% rate on both categories, combined with on-demand redemptions and a $120 annual fee, makes it one of the best-value Visa cash back cards in Canada. For CIBC banking customers, the integration with CIBC online banking and the ease of statement credit redemptions adds further convenience.
The main limitation is category breadth: if you also spend heavily on recurring bills or transit, the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite delivers 4% across more everyday categories at the same fee. High grocery spenders should also verify CIBC’s annual earn caps to understand the true ceiling on their cash back.
Card terms, cash back rates, earn caps, welcome bonus offers, and annual fees are subject to change. Always verify current details at cibc.com before applying.