Scotia Rewards is the rewards and loyalty program of Scotiabank, one of the largest and prominent financial institutions in Canada. The credit card rewards program is one of the ways by which financial institutions in Canada entice their value-oriented customers, by providing an avenue for the clients to earn and redeem loyalty points for their everyday purchases and payments.
The beauty of every rewards program is its flexibility of earning rewards points, the value of the points, and the simplicity of redeeming the earned points. These and more are what you’d discover in this review of the Scotia Rewards program.
About Scotia Rewards
Scotia Rewards is the rewards and loyalty program of Scotiabank, which is exclusively available to Canadians. The Bank of Nova Scotia, which offers financial services and products to its numerous customers across the Canadian regions, provides the channel through which its customers can earn and accumulate loyalty points for each credit card usage.
Each Scotia Rewards points comes with a value, which can be redeemed towards flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals, tours, and other travel-related usages.
How It Works
The Scotia Rewards is an excellent travel rewards program that makes it easy to earn points. To receive or enjoy the fantastic offers of the rewards program, there is a need to have the right Scotiabank credit card and a complete understanding of the values of the Scotia Rewards.
Scotiabank has about six different travel rewards credit cards/debit cards that offer the opportunity for its customers and cardholders to earn Scotia Rewards points. With each transaction on the credit card, you’ll earn rewards points that can be redeemed towards some travel-related offers.
How To Earn Scotia Rewards Points
There are diverse options available for earning Scotia Rewards points in Canada. To collect and accumulate rewards points, you’ll need any of the Scotiabank Rewards Travel credit cards. Each credit card comes with its unique features and points earning potentials. They are:
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card
This card offers a welcome bonus of 30,000 Scotia Rewards points ($300 in travel rewards) when you spend $1000 within the first three (3) months. You’ll equally earn a total of 30,900 Scotia Rewards points ($309 in travel rewards) on everyday purchases. Other perks and benefits of the card include:
- $50 supplementary card fee waiver on your first supplementary card.
- Potential first-year travel value of $1,153.
- $115 foreign transaction fee savings on foreign currency purchases
- Enjoy 6 free airport lounge visits and priority pass membership valued at $379
- Earn 2x Scotia Rewards points on every dollar spent on eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment, and daily transit purchases.
- Earn 1x Scotia Rewards point on every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Minimum credit limit: $5000
- Annual fee: $139
- The annual interest rate on purchases: 19.99%
- The annual interest rate on cash advances: 22.99%
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
This credit card offers the chance to earn 20,000 bonus Scotia Rewards points with your first $1000 in everyday purchases in the first three months. There is a foreign transaction fee waiver on any foreign currency purchases, except the exchange rate. Other perks and features of the card include:
- Earn 5 Scotia Rewards points on every $1CDN spent on eligible purchases including popular food deliveries and subscriptions.
- Earn 5 Scotia Rewards points for every dollar spent on all eligible entertainment purchases including movies, theater, and ticket agencies.
- Earn 3x Scotia Rewards points for every dollar spent on eligible gas and daily transit including buses, taxis, subway, and more.
- Earn 3x Scotia Rewards points for every Canadian dollar spent on eligible select streaming services.
- Earn 1x Scotia Rewards points for every dollar spent on every other purchase.
- Minimum credit limit: $5000
- Annual fee: $120
- The annual interest rate on purchases: 19.99%
- The annual interest rate on cash advances:22.99%
Scotiabank American Express Card
This no-annual-fee card earns you 5000 bonus Scotia Rewards points with your first $500 in everyday purchases in the first three months. The card offers you the chance to book and redeem your points for travel anywhere and anytime, with no travel restrictions. Features of the card include:
- Up to 4 types of travel coverage.
- No supplementary card fees.
- Earn 1 Scotia Rewards point for every dollar you spend on everyday purchases.
- Minimum credit limit: $1000
- Annual fee: $0 (no annual fee)
- The annual interest rate on purchases: 19.99%
- The annual interest rate on cash advances: 22.99%
Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card
This credit card offers the ultimate travel rewards and privileges, as a cardholder, you’ll earn travel rewards up to 4x faster, and comprehensive travel insurance. There is equally a welcome offer of 30,000 bonus Scotia Rewards points upon the first purchase on your Scotiabank credit card account within two months of opening the account.
The card also provides the avenue to book and redeem for travel anywhere, anytime, and with no travel restrictions. Other features and perks include:
- Earn 4x Scotia Rewards Points on every $1 you spend at eligible gas stations, grocery stores, dining, and entertainment.
- Earn 1 Scotia Rewards Point for every dollar spent on everything else.
- Enjoy luxury travel privileges.
- Enjoy access to complimentary concierge services, airport lounges, Hertz #1 club gold membership, merchandise, and rewards.
- Minimum credit limit: $10,000
- Annual fees: $399
- Annual fees on supplementary card: $99 each
- The annual interest rate on purchases: 19.99%
- The annual interest rate on cash advances: 22.99%
Scotia Gold Passport Visa Card
The Scotia Gold Passport Visa credit card offers flexible travel rewards and travel-related coverage. As a cardholder, you’ll earn 5000 bonus Scotia Rewards Points upon the first purchase on your Scotiabank credit card account within two months of account opening.
Other features of this card include:
- Earn 1x Scotia Rewards Point for every dollar spent on every eligible purchase.
- Earn 5% cashback on the cost of your trip when ypu boo your travel through scotia rewards travel service.
- Save up to 25% on car rentals.
- Minimum credit limit: $5000
- Annual fees: $110
- Annual fees on each supplementary card: $30
- The annual interest rate on purchases: 19.99%
- The annual interest rate on cash advances: 22.99%
Scotiabank Rewards Visa Card
The zero fees Scotiabank rewards visa credit card offers amazing travel rewards and other special offers and merchandise. With this rewards credit card, you can purchase eligible travels or travel-related expenses at any travel agency other than the scotia rewards travel service. Other features of the card include:
- Earn 1x Scotia Rewards Point for every $2 spent on every eligible purchase.
- Save up to 25% off base rate on car rentals.
- Enjoy zero fees on each supplementary card.
- Annual fees: $0.00 (no annual fees)
- Credit limit: $500
- The annual interest rate on purchases: 19.99%
- The annual interest rate on cash advances: 22.99%
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card
The new Passport Visa Infinite Business credit card gives you a special offer of up to 40,000 bonus Scotia Rewards Points in your first year, which is up to $400 travel value. With this card, you can turn your everyday business spending into your next business trip.
Other features of the card include:
- Earn 1.5x Scotia Rewards Points for every $1 spent on business purchases.
- Enjoy access to airport lounges.
- There is no foreign transaction fee on foreign currency purchases either online or outside Canada.
- Access to visa infinite concierge and luxury hotel collection.
- Save up to 25% off base rates on car rentals.
- Minimum credit limit: $10,000
- Annual fee: $199
- The annual interest rate on purchases: 19.99%
- The annual interest rate on cash advances: 22.99%
How To Redeem Scotia Rewards Points For Travel
The Scotia Rewards offers two distinct ways to redeem your Scotia Rewards points for travel towards flight, hotels, cruises, car rentals, tours, and more. These are:
Scotia Rewards Travel Service
You can use your Scotia Rewards to book your trip through the Scotia Rewards Travel Service, which serves as a full-service travel agency. The Scotia Rewards Travel Service is operated on behalf of the Scotiabank by a third party agency, Hogg Robinson Canada Inc.
To redeem your points through the Scotia Rewards Travel Services for travel-related purchases and you will need a minimum of 500 points. You will equally enjoy:
- Exclusive offers on air, car rentals, hotel, and travel packages.
- Best price guarantee on Airfare.
- Access to 24 hours of emergency assistance.
- Flexibility to book travel using Scotia Rewards points only.
Apply Points To Travel
There are situations that you might prefer to book travels on your own. Hence, the Scotia Rewards offers you the opportunity to redeem your points for travel purchases with another travel provider or agency. This service is also known as post-purchase travel redemption. To enjoy this offer:
- Book an eligible flight, hotel, car rental, cruises, or vacation package using your Scotia Rewards program credit card through the preferred travel provider.
- You will have to wait for your travel purchase to reflect on your Scotia Rewards card account or statement.
- Log in to the Scotia Rewards program page and select apply points to travel to redeem your points. You’ll have 12 months from the purchase date to redeem your points.
It should be noted that partial points redemption are not permitted in this points redemption category.
Other Redemption Methods
You can also redeem your Scotia Rewards points for non-travel offers and benefits.
Redeem for Apple and Best Buy Catalogue
You can redeem your points for tech, games, and other merchandise in the Apple and Best Buy catalog.
Redeem For Brand Name Merchandise
You can use your Scotia Rewards towards brand name merchandise, including jewelry and accessories, toys, games, household goods, and other online merchandise.
Redeem For Gift Cards
You can choose from a great selection of gift cards to redeem your points. The available gift cards include Walmart, Amazon, Costco, Longos, Uber Eats, the home depot, Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart, Mobil, Home Sense, Simplex, Star Bucks, Indigo, Best Buy, iTunes, and more.
Redeem Points for Statement Credit
You can redeem your points online in exchange for a credit to your Scotia Rewards program card account.
- 3000 Scotia Rewards Points: $20CAD
- 4500 Scotia Rewards Points: $30CAD
- 7500 Scotia Rewards Points: $50CAD
- 11,000 Scotia Rewards Points: $75CAD
- 14,000 Scotia Rewards Points: $100CAD
- 21,000 Scotia Rewards Points: $150CAD
- 37,500 Scotia Rewards Points: $300CAD
- 62,500 Scotia Rewards Points: $500CAD
Redeem for the SCENE points conversion
You can transfer your Scotia Rewards Points to SCENE Rewards Points and vice versa and enjoy movie benefits. The SCENE loyalty program is a joint program between Scotiabank and Cineplex. You must convert a minimum of 1000 points per conversion.
Eligibility
To enjoy the complete functionality and benefits of the Scotia Rewards Points loyalty program:
- You must be a permanent resident or citizen of Canada.
- You must be of the age of majority in your province or territory of residence.
- You must meet the required minimum personal income of $60,000 or $100,000 household income (this applies to some of the Scotiabank credit cards).
Conclusion
The Scotia Rewards Points program is a value-laden loyalty program with flexible redemption methods in travel and non-travel related packages.