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The Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite* card is the best-selling cash back card in our network, and the recipe is stable: 4% back on groceries and recurring bill payments, an insurance package that embarrasses pricier cards, and a first-year fee waiver. The current offer adds up to $300 cash back until November 1, 2026.

Here is the complete picture, and where it sits in our best cash back credit cards ranking.

Welcome Offer: Up to $300 Cash Back

The offer is straightforward and runs until November 1, 2026:

  • Up to $300 cash back: earned on your first $2,000 in everyday purchases within 3 months
  • First year free: the $120 annual fee is waived, supplementary cards included
Best for: Cash back
Best of the month
Welcome offer
$300(Up to)Ends Nov 1, 2026
Annual fee$120 $0
Card features
  • 4x on groceries
  • No annual fee the first year
  • Travel insurance

Earn Rates and Caps

The 4% categories cover the two lines nobody can avoid: food and bills, up to $25,000 of combined annual category spend, then 1% applies:

CategoryCash back
Groceries4%
Recurring payments and subscriptions4%
Gas2%
Daily transit2%
Everything else1%

Insurance: the Quiet Differentiator

  • Travel coverage: emergency medical, trip cancellation and trip interruption, rare at a $120 fee
  • Everyday coverage: rental car collision, mobile device insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty
  • Cash back lands annually: every November, as a statement credit

Most cash back cards strip travel insurance out; the Momentum keeps a package usually reserved for travel cards, which makes it a credible only-card for people who take one or two trips a year.

Customer tapping a credit card at a grocery checkout

Fees and Eligibility

ItemAmount
Annual fee$120 (waived year 1)
Additional card$50 (waived year 1)
Purchase rate20.99%
Cash advance rate22.99%
Foreign currency conversion2.5%
Minimum income$60,000 personal or $100,000 household

Below the income floor, the no-fee Momentum keeps 1% on gas, groceries and drugstores; see the alternatives in our cash back ranking.

Who This Card Is For

  • Bill-heavy households: utilities, insurance premiums and subscriptions all earn 4% when charged to the card
  • One-card wallets: the travel insurance package makes it viable as an only card
  • Fee skeptics: a waived first year and a $300 offer make the test free

Who Should Look Elsewhere

  • Heavy drivers: gas earns 2% here; the CIBC Dividend pays 4%
  • Monthly cash-flow redeemers: the once-a-year November payout requires patience

How It Compares

Within Scotiabank, the no-fee Momentum and the Momentum Mastercard serve smaller budgets at lower rates. Outside the bank, the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite is the mirror rival, and the BMO CashBack World Elite outbids both on groceries at 5% in exchange for a tighter monthly cap.

Our Verdict

The Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite* card earns its best-seller status honestly: 4% on the two most universal budget lines, real insurance, and a free first year to prove the math. For most households, it is the strongest single cash back card in Canada.

Drivers who spend more at the pump than on subscriptions should compare the CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card, which swaps recurring payments for 4% gas. Our comparison tool puts them side by side.

Best for: Cash back
Best of the month
Welcome offer
$300(Up to)Ends Nov 1, 2026
Annual fee$120 $0
Card features
  • 4x on groceries
  • No annual fee the first year
  • Travel insurance

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Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite – Frequently Asked Questions

Jean-Maximilien Voisine
The author

Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine is the President and Founder of the Milesopedia Media Group, which includes Ratesopedia, and one of the most recognized experts in credit cards, rewards programs, and personal finance in Canada. Now 40 years old and a father of two, he has spent over a decade helping Canadians compare credit cards, bank accounts, and financial products to make smarter money decisions. Through Ratesopedia, Jean-Maximilien and his team break down mortgage rates, GICs, credit scores, and banking options so Canadians can find the products that fit their needs.

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Fact-checkedWritten by Jean-Maximilien VoisineUpdated August 26, 2026Editorial Integrity

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