no-fee3.3 / 5

BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard

BMO

Best for

Casual Blue Rewards collectors who want a no-fee keeper card for partner spending.

Apply on BMO

Annual fee

None

FX fee

2.5%

Purchase APR

21.99%

Income req.

—

Recommended credit score

640+

Approval difficulty

Moderate approval

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

A simple, no-cost entry into BMO's new Blue Rewards program; fine as a partner-store companion card, but the base earn is too thin to be a primary card.

Reward rates

Blue Rewards partners (incl. Blue Rewards Travel) At 400+ participating partners; capped at $500 in spend per billing cycle	5x
Groceries, wholesale clubs & alcohol	1x
Gas & EV charging	1x
Everything else	0.5x

VaultNerd values these points at ~0.67¢ each.

Welcome bonus

~$135 value

20,000 bonus Blue Points (worth about $133)

Requirement: Spend $1,500 in the first 110 days; apply by October 31, 2026

Pros

No-fee way to earn in the new Blue Rewards ecosystem
Easy welcome bonus with a low spend requirement

Cons

Weak 0.5x base earn outside bonus categories
No travel insurance or lounge benefits
Points are not transferable to airline programs

Perks

5x Blue Points at 400+ Blue Rewards partners
No annual fee with free supplementary cards
0.99% introductory balance transfer rate for 9 months
Three months of Instacart+ plus $5 monthly Instacart credit (enrollment required)
Simple redemptions: 1,500 points = $10 in-store or on e-gift cards

Insurance

Extended warranty insurance
Purchase protection

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Information may be simplified, incomplete, or out of date. Consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions. VaultNerd may receive compensation from partners featured on this site — this does not influence our editorial content.

Written by

The VaultNerd Team

Researching and writing about Canadian credit cards and rewards since 2026.

Cite this page

“BMO Blue Rewards Mastercard Review — VaultNerd” — VaultNerd, https://www.vaultnerd.com/credit-cards/bmo-blue-rewards-mastercard, updated June 2026.

Sources

BMO cardholder agreement and rates & fees disclosure
VaultNerd cards database