The Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite is one of Canada’s strongest cash back cards for everyday household spending. Its 4% rate covers four of the most common expense categories — groceries, gas, recurring bills, and transit — at a $120 annual fee, on the Visa network. For Canadians who want a single card that rewards everything from the grocery run to the monthly phone bill, the Momentum Visa Infinite is a top-of-list contender.
Quick Verdict
Best for: Canadian households who want the highest possible cash back rate across groceries, gas, recurring bills, and transit, without engaging with a points programme or loyalty ecosystem.
Not ideal for: International travellers who need no foreign transaction fee, those who prefer monthly cash back over an annual payout, or high-spend households who may hit the annual earn caps in the bonus categories.
Key Card Details
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 |
| Additional cardholder fee | $50 |
| Purchase interest rate | 19.99% |
| 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 Scotiabank |
Welcome bonus offers, cash back rates, annual earn caps, and annual fee are subject to change. Always verify current terms at scotiabank.com before applying.
Welcome Bonus
Scotiabank periodically offers a welcome cash back bonus for new Momentum Visa Infinite cardholders, often including a first-year annual fee waiver and a cash back bonus after meeting a spend threshold.
Always verify the current welcome bonus directly with Scotiabank before applying.
Earn Rates
The Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite earns cash back at 4% across four everyday spending categories.
| Category | Cash Back Rate |
|---|---|
| Eligible grocery stores | 4% |
| Eligible gas stations | 4% |
| Eligible recurring bill payments | 4% |
| Eligible transit (including ride-sharing) | 4% |
| All other eligible purchases | 1% |
Annual earn caps apply to each elevated category. Verify current cap amounts at scotiabank.com.
Annual spend calculation
Based on a household spending $2,100/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 |
| Recurring bills | $400 | 4% | $16.00 | $192 |
| Transit | $100 | 4% | $4.00 | $48 |
| Other | $600 | 1% | $6.00 | $72 |
| Total | $2,100 | $66 | $792 |
$792/year in cash back minus the $120 annual fee = $672 net annual value. This is one of the highest returns available from any Visa cash back card in Canada at this fee tier.
What counts as a recurring bill?
The 4% rate applies to eligible recurring charges set up as automatic monthly payments, including:
- Cell phone and home internet bills
- Streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, Crave, Spotify, Amazon Prime)
- Home and vehicle insurance on pre-authorized payment
- Gym memberships on automatic billing
- Utility bills on pre-authorized debit from the credit card
Single or manually paid bills may earn at 1% rather than 4%. Review your first few statements after setup to confirm which charges are coded as recurring.
How Cash Back Is Paid
Cash back accumulates monthly and is deposited as an annual statement credit, typically in November. The payout is automatic — no redemption initiation required.
For cardholders who prefer on-demand monthly access to cash back, the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite offers that model. The Momentum Visa Infinite’s annual payout is a trade-off for its broader category coverage (4% on transit and bills versus CIBC’s 2% on those categories).
Travel Perks and Benefits
Travel emergency medical insurance
Emergency medical coverage for eligible cardholders and immediate family members travelling outside their home province. Coverage limits and trip duration restrictions apply — verify at scotiabank.com.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Coverage for non-refundable pre-paid trip expenses when 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.
Flight delay insurance
Coverage for reasonable out-of-pocket 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, stolen, or damaged baggage.
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.
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) | $50 |
| Purchase interest rate | 19.99% |
| Cash advance rate | 22.99% |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% |
Who Is the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite Best For?
Ideal cardholders:
- Households spending $600–$1,500/month across groceries, gas, recurring bills, and transit who want a single card to maximise cash back on all four categories
- Those who prefer cash back simplicity over loyalty points management
- Canadians who pay insurance, internet, streaming, and gym memberships on automatic billing and want 4% on all of it
- Those who want Visa acceptance, including at Costco
Less suitable if:
- You want monthly cash back access rather than an annual November payout
- You travel internationally and want no foreign transaction fee
- You expect to hit the annual earn caps in your top spending categories
- Your primary spending is concentrated outside the four 4% categories
Scotiabank Momentum vs. Key Competitors
| Card | Annual Fee | Grocery | Gas | Bills | Transit | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite | $120 | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% | $60,000 |
| BMO CashBack World Elite | $120 | 5% | 3% | 2% | 4% | $80,000 |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite | $120 | 4% | 4% | 1% | 2% | $60,000 |
| TD Cash Back Visa Infinite | $139 | 3% | 3% | 3% | — | $60,000 |
| Amex SimplyCash Preferred | $119.88 | 4% | 4% | 1.25% | — | None |
Momentum vs. BMO CashBack World Elite: The BMO card earns 5% on groceries (vs 4%) but only 2% on recurring bills (vs 4%). For households with high insurance, internet, and streaming payments totalling $400+/month, the Momentum’s 4% on bills adds significantly more cash back than BMO’s 2%. For pure grocery maximisation, BMO wins. For balanced everyday spending, the Momentum typically delivers more total cash back.
Momentum vs. CIBC Dividend: The Momentum adds 4% on recurring bills and transit, where CIBC earns only 1–2%. On groceries and gas, both earn 4%. The CIBC Dividend’s on-demand redemption model is its primary differentiator.
Bottom Line
The Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite is the most balanced 4% cash back card available on the Visa network in Canada. The combination of 4% across groceries, gas, recurring bills, and transit means the majority of most households’ variable spending is covered at a high earn rate. The $120 annual fee is recovered in a few months of typical grocery spending alone.
The annual November cash back payout and 2.5% foreign transaction fee are the main limitations. For domestic spenders who want maximum cash back on everyday essentials, the Momentum Visa Infinite is a benchmark choice.
Card terms, cash back rates, earn caps, welcome bonus offers, and annual fees are subject to change. Always verify current details at scotiabank.com before applying.