BMO offers two primary BMO Rewards-earning cards: the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite (everyday earn focus) and the BMO Rewards World Elite Mastercard (travel spend focus). Both earn BMO Rewards points redeemable through the BMO Rewards travel portal, but they suit different spending profiles.
At a Glance
| Feature | BMO eclipse Visa Infinite | BMO Rewards World Elite Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 | $150 |
| Network | Visa Infinite | World Elite Mastercard |
| Food & dining | 5x | 2x |
| Groceries | 5x | 2x |
| Gas & transit | 5x | 2x |
| Travel | 1x | 3x |
| Everything else | 1x | 2x |
| Income requirement | $60K personal / $100K household | $80K personal / $150K household |
Earn rates and annual fees subject to change. Verify at bmo.com.
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite — Best for Everyday Spending
Annual fee: $120
Network: Visa Infinite (accepted almost everywhere)
Best for: Urban households with high food, grocery, gas, and transit spending
The BMO eclipse’s 5x earn on four of the most common spending categories makes it one of the highest-earning everyday cards in the BMO portfolio. At $1,500/month in 5x categories:
- Monthly earn: 7,500 BMO Rewards points
- Annual earn: 90,000 points = ~$600 in travel value
Additional benefits:
- Extended warranty and purchase protection
- Travel insurance (verify coverage at bmo.com)
- Visa Infinite privileges
Weakness: Only 1x on travel purchases — the BMO Rewards World Elite is better if you book flights frequently.
BMO Rewards World Elite Mastercard — Best for Travel Spend
Annual fee: $150
Network: World Elite Mastercard
Best for: Frequent travellers who spend significantly on flights and hotels
The 3x earn on travel (flights, hotels, car rentals) is the World Elite’s advantage. For a cardholder spending $500/month on travel:
- Travel earn: 1,500 points/month × 3 = 4,500
- All other spend: 2x everywhere = strong base rate
- Monthly total (assuming $2,500 total spend, $500 travel + $2,000 other): 4,500 + 4,000 = 8,500 points/month
- Annual: ~102,000 points = ~$680 in travel value
Additional benefits:
- Complimentary membership to Mastercard Travel Pass (airport lounge access — verify current terms at bmo.com)
- Travel insurance (verify coverage)
- Extended warranty and purchase protection
Which Card Wins?
| Spending Profile | Better Card |
|---|---|
| Heavy food, grocery, gas, transit spending | BMO eclipse Visa Infinite |
| Heavy travel spending (flights, hotels) | BMO Rewards World Elite |
| Balanced spend across all categories | BMO eclipse (5x beats 2x on large everyday categories) |
| Self-employed with high travel expenses | BMO Rewards World Elite |
| Urban commuter (transit + food) | BMO eclipse |
For most households: The BMO eclipse wins because food, groceries, gas, and transit are almost always higher total spend than flights and hotels. The 5x earn rate on these categories outperforms the World Elite’s 2x on the same spend, even considering the $30/year fee difference.
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Card benefits, earn rates, and annual fees are subject to change. Verify at bmo.com. See our Advertiser Disclosure.