Best Credit Cards for Beginners in Canada - September 2026

Get up to 14,000 Avion points^ – a value of up to $100 in gift cards^†! Apply by November 4, 2026.

Points and Rewards

• Earn 1.5X Avion points for every $1 spent on groceries, gas, rideshare, streaming services and more¹
• Earn 1X Avion point for every $1 spent on all other qualifying purchases¹
• Start redeeming with as little as 1,400 Avion points, which gets you a $10 gift card²

No annual fee

• Get the Card that lets you live in the moment while getting ready for the future. The American Express^® Green Card lets you go for it with every swipe or tap of your Card
• As a new American Express^® Green Cardmember, you can earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards^® points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months of Cardmembership. That’s $100 towards groceries or concert tickets
• Earn 1x the points on Card purchases
• Charge an eligible purchase to your Card and redeem your Membership Rewards points for a statement credit (All eligible purchases: 1,000 points = $10 statement credit)
• With Amex Experiences^TM and Front Of The Line^® Amex Presale Tickets^®, American Express Cardmembers get access to amazing events in Canada
• Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs

Apply with confidence!

• See if you’ll be approved before you apply – with no impact to your credit score.*
• When applying for a new card, businesses will typically run a “hard check” of your credit report. A hard credit check can cause a temporary impact to your credit score.
• Unlike many lenders, for American Express’ personal cards, you can see if you will be approved before you apply without impacting your credit score
• A soft credit check is a check into your credit report initiated either by you or a company even if you didn’t apply for credit. It is primarily used to screen for pre-approval financing offers or for a background check
• Available for American Express personal cards, we’ll let you know your eligibility with no impact to your credit score, so you can submit your application with confidence.*

*Instant decisions are only available for Consumer (also known as Personal) Card applications.

Accelerate rewards points on common purchases!

• Earn 4 points^†† per dollar spent on all eligible restaurant or grocery purchases, digital media, subscriptions, and household utilities during the first 90 days, and earn 2 points‡ per dollar spent on all eligible purchases in these categories thereafter. In both cases, these accumulation rates apply until $10,000 is spent annually in the applicable category; 1 point‡ per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Receive 5,000 bonus points^†† ($25 cash back) after you make eligible purchases of at least $500 within 90 days of account opening.
• Quebec residents: the 5,000 bonus points^†† are awarded after your first eligible purchase (no minimum spend required); the boosted 4-points-per-dollar rate for the first 90 days does not apply in Quebec.
• 5,000 bonus points^††($25 in cash back value) once enrolled for paperless e-statements within the first 90 days of account opening
• Each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points‡ equal to 10% of the total number of Points earned in the 12 months before the month of your birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 10,000 Points
• Redeem points‡ for cash back, brand-name merchandise, gift cards from participating retailers, charitable donations, and travel.
• Standard Annual Interest Rates of 21.99% on eligible purchases, 22.99% on balance transfers✪, and 22.99% on cash advances (Quebec residents: 21.99% on balance transfers and cash advances)
• Mobile Device Insurance*** With Mobile Device Insurance, you’ve got up to $1,000 in coverage for eligible mobile devices in the event of loss, theft, accidental damage or mechanical breakdown.
• No Annual Fee.

Take advantage of an everyday rewards card with no annual fee. Apply now for the MBNA Rewards^® credit card.

Earn up to 10,000 bonus Scene+ points^¹ within your first 3 months (that’s up to $100 towards travel).

• Earn 3x Scene+ points^¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco and more
• Earn 2x Scene+ points^¹ for every $1 you spend on restaurants, fast food, drinking establishments and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.
• Earn 2x Scene+ points^¹ for every $1 you spend on eligible entertainment purchases. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.
• Earn 2x Scene+ points^¹ for every $1 you spend on eligible gas and daily transit. Includes rideshares, buses, subway, taxis and more.
• Earn 2x Scene+ points^¹ for every $1 you spend on eligible select streaming services.
• Plus earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.
• Earn additional benefits + up to 4X Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia.
• Mobile Device Insurance coverage
• American Express Invites^®

Rates, fees and other information are effective as of October 31, 2025. Subject to change.

• During your first 3 months of membership with the SimplyCash^® Card from American Express, you can earn a bonus of 5% cash back on all your purchases (up to $2,000 in purchases). This offer is in addition to your everyday cash back rates. That’s up to $100 in bonus cash back.
• Earn 2% cash back on eligible purchases at Canadian gas stations, 2% cash back on eligible purchases at Canadian grocery stores (up to $300 cash back per year), and 1.25% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
• Access events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with Amex Experiences^TM
• Insurance coverage and 24/7 Customer Service

Apply with confidence!

• See if you’ll be approved before you apply – with no impact to your credit score.*
• When applying for a new card, businesses will typically run a “hard check” of your credit report. A hard credit check can cause a temporary impact to your credit score.
• Unlike many lenders, for American Express’ personal cards, you can see if you will be approved before you apply without impacting your credit score
• A soft credit check is a check into your credit report initiated either by you or a company even if you didn’t apply for credit. It is primarily used to screen for pre-approval financing offers or for a background check
• Available for American Express personal cards, we’ll let you know your eligibility with no impact to your credit score, so you can submit your application with confidence.*

*Instant decisions are only available for Consumer (also known as Personal) Card applications.

This product is not available for Quebec residents.

Welcome offer:

• Earn 20% cashback^† for your first 3 months on up to $500 spend on eligible gas, groceries, drugstore purchases and pre-authorized payments.

Earn:

• 4% cash back on eligible restaurant, bar and coffee shop purchases up to $5,000 spend per year^†.
• 1.5% cash back on eligible gas, groceries, drugstore purchases and pre-authorized payments, up to $15,000 per year^†.
• 0.5% cash back on all other credit card purchases with no limit on how much you can earn^†.

Other features:

• Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance.^† Protect your purchases with double the manufacturer’s warranty, up to one additional year.
• Get cash back when you send a Global Money Transfer and pay with your Visa* Card.^†
• Send money abroad for no fee with your Simplii Visa using Simplii Global Money Transfer.
• No annual fee

SPECIAL OFFER: Earn 20,000 PC Optimum^™ points when you apply for the no annual fee PC^® World Elite^® Mastercard^® and spend $50 or more at participating stores within 60 days of account approval.

That’s like $20. And you deserve an extra $20.

See terms and conditions** for details.

Rewards to look forward to

• 3% back in points² at our grocery stores³
• At least 3¢ / litre back in points at Esso^™ and Mobil^™4 stations
• 4.5% back in points at Shoppers Drug Mart^® and Pharmaprix^®5
• 3% back in points at Joe Fresh^®2
• 1% back in points on dining, transit and everywhere else²

You’ll love these benefits

• Travel Emergency Medical Insurance: For trips up to 10 days from date of departure, for those under age 65¹⁰.
• Car Rental Collision/ Loss Damage Waiver Insurance: Collision damage and theft coverage for your car rental needs10.
• Identity Theft Assistance Service: To help you avoid identity theft or restore your identity¹⁰.
• Concierge Services: 24/7 concierge service to make dinner reservations, reserve event tickets, deliver gifts and more¹⁰.

Even more benefits you’ll love

• Purchase Assurance: In the event of theft, loss or damage in the first 90 days when you pay in full with your PC^® World Elite^® Mastercard^®6.
• Extended Warranty: Doubles the manufacturer’s regular warranty for up to an additional year on eligible items purchased with your PC^® World Elite^® Mastercard^®6.
• Mastercard Global Service^MC: Mastercard Global Service^MC replaces your card or offers a cash advance in case of emergency⁷.

• The best cash back credit card for students
• Earn 5% cashback for the first three months*
• Then get:
  • 3% cashback on grocery purchases
  • 1% cashback on recurring bill payments
  • 0.5% cashback on all other purchases
• Enjoy three months of Instacart+ membership and a monthly $5 Instacart credit when you sign up with your eligible BMO credit card*
• Enjoy the most cash back on groceries in Canada without paying an annual fee.
• Get cash back every time you spend, plus start building a healthy credit history
• Receive a discount on car rentals*

Welcome Offer: Join and earn up to $125 in value^†

Here’s how it adds up:

• Get $25 cash back after you make your first purchase within the first 4 monthly statements.^†
• Get a 10% cash back welcome bonus for the first 4 monthly statements (up to $100 cash back).^†

Plus, get 2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases!^†

• 1% cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, transportation, dining purchases and recurring payments^†
• 0.5% cash back on all other purchases^†
• Get cash back on demand – redeem your cash back at any time when you have a minimum of $10 through CIBC Online and Mobile Banking^®†

Get a free Skip+ membership when you link your eligible CIBC credit card

Plus, enjoy $0 delivery fees and earn a $10 monthly voucher.^†

Fuel up for less

Link your card with Journie Rewards to save up to 10 cents per litre at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations.^†

Get 50% off Disney+ for 6 months

Use an eligible CIBC credit card to pay for your Disney+ Standard with Ads subscription, and automatically receive $4.50 each month in statement credits.^†

Get all the student-life essentials on a budget

Eligible student clients can get a free SPC+ membership, and receive over 450 deals on everyday purchases, bigger discounts, special experiences and exclusive giveaways. Start banking with CIBC and make student life more rewarding.^†

CIBC may approve your application, but you are not eligible to receive this Offer if you have opened, transferred or cancelled another Dividend card within the last 12 months.^†

Earn up to 25,000 bonus points:

• Earn 20,000 points when you spend $1,500 in purchases within the first three months, a value of $133*
• Plus, earn up to 5,000 bonus points every year:
  • 2,500 bonus points for redeeming at least 12,000 points annually towards your statement balance with Pay with points*
  • 2,500 bonus points for paying your full credit card balance on time for 12 consecutive months*
• Earn 5x the BMO Rewards points for every $2 spent on recurring bill payments, groceries, dining and takeout*
• Then get 1 point for every $2 spent on everything else!*
• Enjoy three months of Instacart+ and a $5 monthly Instacart credit when you enroll your eligible BMO Credit Card.*
• Get a 0.99% introductory interest rate on Balance Transfers for 9 months (2% fee applies to balance amounts transferred*)
• Mobile Device Insurance that covers you for up to $1,000*
• Pay with Points by browsing your recent transactions and redeem your Points for as little as $1*
• Receive a discount on car rentals*
• Purchase Protection*
• Extended Warranty*