Quick overview

Quick overview of the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card

The Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card is one of the most compelling $0 annual fee credit cards in Canada for those looking to earn and redeem their rewards frequently, without having to spend a fortune on their credit cards.  

Who can benefit?

Who can benefit from the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card?

The Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card is an excellent choice for individuals seeking a credit card with a high earn rate and $0 annual fee. With this card, you can redeem your points for a wide range of options, including travel, shopping, entertainment, dining, and banking services. What sets the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card apart is its rare sign-up bonus offer, which is uncommon for a credit card with no annual fee.

If you're someone who enjoys redeeming points frequently and quickly, without having to spend a significant amount, the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card offers exceptional value. It is highly recommended for individuals who want to earn rewards that they can actually use, such as movie tickets, without having to accumulate large credit card bills. This card is also suitable for those who may not have a six-figure income (yet!).

Pros and cons
Pros

Pros

  • $0 annual fee

  • Generous welcome bonus and rewards

  • Low redemption threshold

Cons

Cons

  • Minimal insurance coverage

Welcome bonus

Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* credit card welcome bonus

  • Earn up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months.
  • This sign-up bonus is noteworthy for a card that does not have an annual fee.
How to earn rewards

How to earn points with the Scene+ Visa* credit card from Scotiabank

  • Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, participating Co-ops, Freshco and more.
  • Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on Home Hardware, Home Building Center, Home Furniture locations in Canada and online at homehardware.ca.
  • Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend at Cineplex theatres or online at cineplex.com.
  • Earn 1x Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.
How to redeem

How to redeem points

One of the best aspects of Scotiabank's Scene Rewards is that you can utilize points for travel, shopping, entertainment, dining, banking, and more at low thresholds for redemption with the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card. Redemption options include: food, drinks, and tickets at Cineplex™ theatres; dine-in, drive-thru or take-out at Harvey’s, Swiss Chalet, East Side Mario’s, Montana’s BBQ & Bar, Bier Market and Kelsey’s Original Roadhouse.

Many people get excited at the prospect of travelling for free with the right rewards card. But consider that you may have to spend upwards of $25,000-$35,000 annually on those travel cards to generate enough points for one return ticket to Florida from Canada. That’s unrealistic for those of more limited financial means, like students.

Scene points never expire as long as your account is open and active. You earn your points and keep them, unless you fail to use your account for two years.

Key benefits

Key benefits of the Scotiabank Scene+ Card

The Scotiabank Scene+ Card offers a range of benefits that make it a valuable option for those seeking a credit card with attractive perks. Some of the key benefits include:

  • Sign-up bonus: New cardholders can enjoy immediate benefits upon approval with a sign-up bonus.
  • No annual fee: The absence of an annual fee eliminates the need for cardholders to pay a recurring cost.
  • Generous rewards: Cardholders can earn points on their purchases, which can be redeemed for a variety of rewards such as movie tickets, dining experiences, and more.
  • Low redemption threshold: The low redemption threshold ensures that cardholders can start enjoying their rewards sooner rather than later.

These features make the Scotiabank Scene+ Card appealing to customers looking for a credit card with added perks.

Insurance coverage

Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* insurance coverage

If there was a downside to the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* credit card it would be its insurance coverage (or lack thereof). The card does not provide the typical insurance protections you'd expect from a no annual fee credit cards, instead making these protections optional.

Cardholders can select from Optional or Comprehensive insurance coverage for an additional charge. Here's what you can expect from these optional benefits:

  • Basic protection: Covers hospitalization, critical illness, and death benefits. For basic coverage you pay $0.95 per $100 of your account balance, calculated daily.
  • Comprehensive protection: Covers everything outlined in the basic plan, but adds strike or lockout benefits, loss of job coverage, and disability benefits. For comprehensive protection you pay $1.19 per $100 of your account balance, calculated daily.
Extra benefits

Extra benefits of the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa*

Additional benefits with the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card include"

  • Scotia SelectPayTM* access: A flexible way to pay off your eligible Scotiabank Visa* credit card purchases of $100 or more, with low interest rates on your plan and no installment plan fee.
  • Rental car savings: Save up to 25% off base rates at participating Avis locations and participating budget locations in North America. This savings is towards the base rates (applicable to the time and mileage charges of the rental). Taxes, fees and other surcharges are extra.
  • Mobile wallet: Add your Scotiabank credit card to Apple Pay or the free Scotiabank mobile app and pay anywhere you see the Visa payWave symbol at the checkout.
How does it compare?
Card Name
Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card
Annual Fee
$0
$0
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months.
Earn 4 points per $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until $10,000 is spent annually. You could also receive up to 10,000 bonus points.
Rewards
Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, participating Co-ops, Freshco and more, 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on Home Hardware, Home Building Center, Home Furniture locations in Canada and online at homehardware.ca, 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend at Cineplex theatres or online at cineplex.com and 1x Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases. 
Earn 2 MBNA Rewards points on groceries, dining, streaming, memberships and recurring bills and 1 MBNA Rewards point on all other purchases. 
Is it worth it?

Is the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* credit card worth it?

The Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card is a great card for people who don’t spend a lot on their credit cards (a good gauge would be less than $10,000 per year), students and those who want to be able to redeem for rewards early and often without having to spend a fortune. The card has no annual fee and offers more value per dollar spent than just about any other no-fee card in the Canadian marketplace.  

Eligibility requirements

Eligibility requirements for the Scene+ Visa* from Scotiabank

Eligibility requirements for this particular program are quite straightforward. To be considered, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • A good to excellent credit score is required.
  • Canadian citizenship or residency is a must.
  • The age of majority in your province, either 18 or 19 years old, is necessary.
  • Individuals must have a minimum annual income of $12,000.

These requirements ensure that the program is accessible to those who are financially stable and have a strong credit history

  • ‡, ††, ✪, ***, Terms and Conditions apply.

    This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For residents of Quebec, please click here.

    Sponsored advertising. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) and TD is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information on this MBNA credit card, please click on the “Apply Now” button.

    The Toronto-Dominion Bank is the issuer of this credit card. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ®MBNA and other-trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

  • Conditions apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card to learn more. *See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

Cory Santos Finance editor

Cory Santos is a finance writer, editor and credit card expert with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance. Cory joined Wise Publishing from BestCards, with bylines in numerous print and digital publications across North America, including the Miami Herald, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Debt.ca, AOL, MSN and Medium as well as financial podcasts like KOFE Talk.

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