Big Changes Are Coming to the Scotiabank Gold American Express

It’s important to note that the value of Scotia Rewards points will NOT be changing. 1 Scotia Rewards point will continue to equal $0.01, or the equivalent of 1% in travel rewards.

Our thoughts on the Scotiabank Gold American Express changes

The good

Welcome offer

The card's current welcome offer is 40,000 bonus Scene+ points in your first year (that’s up to $400 towards travel). Plus, no annual fee in the first year, including on supplementary cards and get a 0.00% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months. Offer expires Jan 1, 2022.

No foreign transaction fees

As of August 1, the Scotiabank Gold AMEX will join the short list of credit cards in Canada with no foreign transaction fees. That’s a huge bonus, as it means Scotiabank Gold AMEX cardholders will no longer be charged 2.5% in fees for using their credit card to make purchases in a non-Canadian currency. So, where you would once have to pay $25 in additional fees for spending $1,000 on hotels during a trip abroad, as of August 1, you’ll pay nothing.

It’s worth mentioning that this card is issued by American Express, so while it’ll be particularly useful for trips south of the border, that may not be the case in other parts of the world where Visa or Mastercard are more ubiquitously accepted.

More rewards on most bonus spending categories

The upcoming changes will mean Scotiabank Gold AMEX cardholders will go from earning 4% to 5% per dollar on groceries, restaurants, and entertainment (including movies and concerts). That’s a substantial bump that will make the Scotiabank Gold AMEX the best credit card in Canada for groceries and dining out.

To put it in terms of dollars and cents, if you spend $500 every month on groceries, eating out and movies, you’ll earn an additional 6,000 points ($60 value) every year.

Cardholders will also go from earning 1% to 3% on public transit, taxis, most ride-sharing services, and select streaming subscriptions. That’s a particularly valuable change if you rely on transit, taxis, or Ubers to get around.

The bad

Higher annual fee

The new changes do come at a cost, as the card’s annual fee will increase from $99 to $120. While there’s no denying this is a drawback, the additional points on food and transit, as well as the new no foreign transaction fee feature, means you’ll still likely come out ahead in terms of value. A $120 annual fee is also far from unprecedented, and is what most travel cards from Canada’s big five banks charge.

Less on gas

Gas stands out as the only spending category which will see a drop in its earn rate. Come August, you’ll go from earning 4% to 3% back per dollar at gas stations with the Scotiabank Gold AMEX. It’s an unfortunate drop, but 3% on gas is still strong enough to maintain the card’s place as one of the best credit cards in Canada for drivers.

Decreases to some insurance benefits

The card’s trip cancellation and interruption insurance will drop from $2,500 in coverage per person to $1,500. Travel medical insurance for seniors will also be clawed back from 10 days to 3 days, which is a big drawback if you’re over 65 as you’ll likely have to pay out of pocket for coverage when travelling or rely on another credit card with travel insurance.

Scotiabank Gold American Express

Also Read:

 

• Scotiabank Gold American Express Card Review
• Scotiabank Credit Cards in Canada
• Changes Are Coming to the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite

What are your thoughts on the upcoming changes to the Scotiabank Gold American Express? Let us know in the comments section below.