travel4.5 / 5

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

Scotiabank

Best for

Foodies and everyday spenders who want top earn rates on groceries and dining with no FX fees.

Apply on Scotiabank

Annual fee

$120

FX fee

Purchase APR

21.99%

Income req.

$12,000 personal

Recommended credit score

680+

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

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

~$450 value

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

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 Information may be simplified, incomplete, or out of date.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

“Scotiabank Gold American Express Card Review — VaultNerd” — VaultNerd, https://www.vaultnerd.com/credit-cards/scotiabank-gold-amex, updated June 2026.

Sources

Scotiabank cardholder agreement and rates & fees disclosure
VaultNerd cards database