Scotiabank Gold American Express Card review

The Scotiabank Gold Amex combines some of the best aspects of a travel card with the ability to participate in the Scene+ Rewards Program. For a modest annual fee, you’ll enjoy considerable insurance coverage, some travel perks, and the ability to earn up to 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent.

Scotiabank Gold Amex: The basics

Before we get into the details of the Scotiabank Gold Amex, glance at this card’s basic earn rates and features to see if you’re interested in learning more. 

Pros and cons of the Scotiabank Gold Amex

Not sure whether the Gold Amex is the right card for you? A good pros and cons list can help you decide.

Pros:

• High reward rates. No other credit card in Canada offers the ability to earn this many Scene+ points on your grocery, dining, and entertainment purchases.
• Annual fee can be waived. If you have a Scotiabank Ultimate or Preferred Banking Package, the annual fee is waived, saving you $120 per year.
• Low income requirement. You’ll only need $12,000 in personal income per year to qualify for this card.
• Generous welcome bonus. While bonuses change throughout the year, you’ll typically earn tens of thousands of Scene+ points when you meet certain spending thresholds in your first year.
  

Cons:

• Limited acceptance. Amex has some of the highest credit card processing fees (it’s how they can afford to offer all those rewards and benefits!), so some merchants don’t accept cards in the Amex network. You can’t use it at Loblaws or Costco, for example.
• Limited travel perks. If perks like a complimentary Priority Pass membership or free lounge visits are important to you, you may want to consider other cards.
• Supplemental cards cost extra. Plan on paying an additional $29 per year if you add authorized users to your Scotiabank Gold Amex.
  

Scotiabank Gold Amex rewards explained

At its core, the Scotiabank Gold Amex is a rewards card, earning you Scene+ points in a number of categories. 

You’ll earn 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent at eligible restaurants, grocery stores, and drinking establishments—including some popular food delivery and subscription services (like Skip The Dishes and Hello Fresh). You’ll also earn 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Cineplex theatres. Spending on gas, transportation, ride sharing, public transit, and streaming services earns you 3 Scene+ points per $1. Everything else accumulates at a rate of 1 point per $1 spent.

Once you’ve accumulated some Scene+ points, you can redeem them for movie tickets and concessions, Travel From Expedia, restaurant purchases, grocery purchases, statement credits, Apple merchandise, and gift cards.

Scotiabank Gold Amex perks and benefits

In addition to the fantastic rewards you’ll earn, the card also has a number of perks and benefits that add value.

Great travel insurance coverage

When cardholders use the Scotiabank Gold American Express for their travel expenses, they receive up to $1 million in travel medical coverage for 25 days and $1 million in travel accident insurance (if you’re over 65, this only applies for up to 3 days). The card also includes up to $1,500 per person in trip cancellation or interruption coverage (to a $10,000 maximum) when you charge at least 75% of your travel expenses to your card; flight and baggage delay protection; and car rental loss and damage coverage. You also get an extended warranty on select purchases and hotel/motel burglary insurance.

No foreign transaction fees

Usually, when you make a purchase in a foreign currency, in person or online, you’re charged a fee of 2.5% to 3% above and beyond the currency exchange. This is the foreign transaction fee, and it can add up fast. Credit cards with no foreign transaction fees are few and far between for Canadian consumers, and Scotia is the only major bank offering this perk. Since this card waives the foreign transaction fee, it’s a huge benefit to people who shop online or travel frequently. Plus, the card earns you 1 point per $1 on all purchases made in a foreign currency.

American Express perks

If you love discounts, you’ll love Amex Offers. These are personalized discount opportunities you can load to your Gold card. When you make a qualifying purchase, you’ll receive a percentage or a fixed amount back on your card. There are dining, travel, entertainment, and retail savings opportunities that are frequently updated.

You’ll also get access to Amex Experiences, which includes special offers like Front Of The Line. This exclusive booking platform allows you to snag presale or reserved tickets to some of the most in-demand concerts, restaurants, and experiences.

What cardholders think

We turned to Reddit to see what actual Gold Amex cardholders had to say about their experiences using the card. The following Redditor explained their reasoning for choosing the Amex Gold over a different Scotia travel credit card:

Another user offered a great tip: use the Gold Amex to buy gift cards from grocers in order to get the 6x multiplier. This is a great workaround for earning enhanced earn rates for other purchases.

Cardholders have noticed that the earning multipliers don’t work outside of Canada. If you plan on travelling abroad and using the card, it might be wise to contact American Express and ask about card acceptance/earn rates in the countries you plan on visiting.

As for what third-party reviewers generally think of Scotiabank, here’s how the bank ranks:

• J.D. Power: Below average score of 554, compared to the average 564 (well behind Amex’s top score of 628)
• Better Business Bureau: 1.2 out of 5 based on 60+ customer reviews
• Trustpilot: 1.2 out of 5 based on 1,300+ customer reviews, primarily regarding poor customer service and inaccurate payments
  

FAQs

Read more about credit cards:

• The best credit cards in Canada for 2025
• The best Scotiabank credit cards in Canada for 2025
• What happens if I don’t pay my credit card bills? 
• Visa vs. Mastercard: What are the differences—and do they matter?

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