Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
Foodies and everyday spenders who want top earn rates on groceries and dining with no FX fees.
VaultNerd estimate based on the card's tier and income requirements, not an official issuer cutoff. Approval also depends on income, debt, and credit history.
Our verdict
Consistently rated among Canada's best overall rewards cards, the Gold Amex combines exceptional 5-6x food-and-fun earn rates, no FX fees and strong insurance for just $120.
Reward rates
Sobeys-family grocery stores Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and more; 5x at other grocery stores | 6x |
Dining $50,000 combined annual cap on accelerated categories; CAD purchases only | 5x |
Entertainment | 5x |
Gas | 3x |
Public transit | 3x |
Select streaming services | 3x |
Everything else | 1x |
VaultNerd values these points at ~1¢ each.
Welcome bonus
Up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points (25,000 + 20,000)
Requirement: Spend $2,000 in first 3 months (25,000 pts) and $7,500 in first year (20,000 pts). Offer ends July 1, 2026
Pros
- Category-leading 5-6x earn on food and entertainment
- No FX fees plus comprehensive insurance for a modest fee
- Very accessible income requirement
Cons
- Amex acceptance gaps at Costco, Loblaws and some smaller merchants
- Accelerated rates apply to Canadian-dollar purchases only
- Scene+ points are fixed-value with no airline transfers
Perks
- No foreign transaction fees - rare for a points card
- Up to 6x Scene+ points on groceries, 5x on dining and entertainment
- Discounted Priority Pass membership (1,200+ lounges)
- Amex Front Of The Line presale and event access
- Up to 12 cents/L in value at Shell
- Low $12,000 income requirement
Insurance
- Travel emergency medical up to $1 million (25 days under 65; 3 days for 65+)
- Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
- Flight delay insurance
- Delayed and lost luggage insurance
- Rental car collision/loss damage insurance
- Hotel/motel burglary insurance
- Mobile device insurance
- Purchase security and extended warranty protection
Frequently asked questions
Is the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card worth it?
It charges a $120 annual fee, and we rate it 4.5 out of 5. It's best suited to foodies and everyday spenders who want top earn rates on groceries and dining with no FX fees. The welcome bonus is worth roughly $450, which covers the first year for many people. Whether it's worth it for you depends on your spending. Run your own numbers through our credit card finder to see the net rewards after the fee.
What does the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card earn?
It earns 6x on sobeys-family grocery stores, 5x on dining and 5x on entertainment. We value these points at about 1¢ each, so the top rate works out to roughly 6.0% back.
What credit score do you need for the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card?
We'd suggest a score of around 680 or higher, which puts approval in our "moderate" band. It also lists an income requirement of $12,000 personal. This is a VaultNerd estimate based on the card's tier and stated requirements. Approval also depends on your income, existing debt and credit history.
Researching and writing about Canadian personal finance since 2026.
Last reviewed June 2026 · How we research
“Scotiabank Gold American Express Card Review.” VaultNerd, https://www.vaultnerd.com/ca/credit-cards/scotiabank-gold-amex, updated June 2026.
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