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Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card Review

Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card review

Cory Santos

Mar 7, 2025

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Overall rating

First year value

$478

Get this card if you:

  • are a student
  • want to collect SCENE points on everyday purchases
  • want a flexible rewards program

Scores by category

Rewards 2.7

No Annual Fee 2.5

At a glance

The Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card is a no-annual-fee credit card designed for individuals who spend less than $10,000 annually, including students and those seeking to redeem rewards frequently without significant spending. It offers Scene+ points on everyday purchases, with elevated rates at Cineplex theatres and select grocery stores, making it ideal for moviegoers and frequent shoppers at participating retailers.

Highlights

$478

First year value

up to 10,000 points†

Welcome bonus

$0

Annual fee

$0 for each additional card

Interest Rates

20.99%

Purchase APR

22.99%

Balance transfer APR

22.99%

Cash advance APR

Eligibility

Good

Recommended credit score

Quick overview of the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card

The Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card is one of the most compelling $0 annual fee credit cards in Canada for those looking to earn and redeem their rewards frequently, without having to spend a fortune on their credit cards.  

Who's it for?

  • The Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card is an excellent choice for individuals seeking a credit card with a high earn rate and $0 annual fee. 
  • With this card, you can redeem your points for a wide range of options, including travel, shopping, entertainment, dining, and banking services. What sets the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card apart is its rare sign-up bonus offer, which is uncommon for a credit card with no annual fee.
  • If you're someone who enjoys redeeming points frequently and quickly, without having to spend a significant amount, the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card offers exceptional value. It is highly recommended for individuals who want to earn rewards that they can actually use, such as movie tickets, without having to accumulate large credit card bills. This card is also suitable for those who may not have a six-figure income (yet!).
Pros
  • No annual fee
  • Generous rewards with 2X points at Cineplex and grocery stores
  • Low redemption thresholds for various rewards
  • 10,000 bonus Scene+ points as a sign-up bonus
  • Points don't expire
Cons
  • Limited earning potential for high spenders
  • Limited travel-related benefits compared to travel cards
  • Focus on entertainment and dining rewards may not suit all users
  • Limited sign-up bonus compared to cards with annual fees

Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* credit card welcome bonus

  • Earn up to 10,000 bonus Scene+ points within your first 3 months.†
  • This sign-up bonus is noteworthy for a card that does not have an annual fee.

  • Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, participating Co-ops, Freshco and more.
  • Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on Home Hardware, Home Building Center, Home Furniture locations in Canada and online at homehardware.ca.
  • Earn 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend at Cineplex theatres or online at cineplex.com.
  • Earn 1x Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.
  • Earn up to 4x Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia

One of the best aspects of Scotiabank's Scene Rewards is that you can utilize points for travel, shopping, entertainment, dining, banking, and more at low thresholds for redemption with the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card. Redemption options include: food, drinks, and tickets at Cineplex™ theatres; dine-in, drive-thru or take-out at Harvey’s, Swiss Chalet, East Side Mario’s, Montana’s BBQ & Bar, Bier Market and Kelsey’s Original Roadhouse.

Many people get excited at the prospect of travelling for free with the right rewards card. But consider that you may have to spend upwards of $25,000-$35,000 annually on those travel cards to generate enough points for one return ticket to Florida from Canada. That’s unrealistic for those of more limited financial means, like students.

Scene points never expire as long as your account is open and active. You earn your points and keep them, unless you fail to use your account for two years.

The Scotiabank Scene+ Card offers a range of benefits that make it a valuable option for those seeking a credit card with attractive perks. Some of the key benefits include:

  • Sign-up bonus: New cardholders can enjoy immediate benefits upon approval with a sign-up bonus.
  • No annual fee: The absence of an annual fee eliminates the need for cardholders to pay a recurring cost.
  • Generous rewards: Cardholders can earn points on their purchases, which can be redeemed for a variety of rewards such as movie tickets, dining experiences, and more.
  • Low redemption threshold: The low redemption threshold ensures that cardholders can start enjoying their rewards sooner rather than later.

These features make the Scotiabank Scene+ Card appealing to customers looking for a credit card with added perks.

If there was a downside to the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* credit card it would be its insurance coverage (or lack thereof). The card does not provide the typical insurance protections you'd expect from a no annual fee credit cards, instead making these protections optional.

Cardholders can select from Optional or Comprehensive insurance coverage for an additional charge. Here's what you can expect from these optional benefits:

  • Basic protection: Covers hospitalization, critical illness, and death benefits. For basic coverage you pay $0.95 per $100 of your account balance, calculated daily.
  • Comprehensive protection: Covers everything outlined in the basic plan, but adds strike or lockout benefits, loss of job coverage, and disability benefits. For comprehensive protection you pay $1.19 per $100 of your account balance, calculated daily.

Additional benefits with the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card include"

  • Scotiabank SelectPayTM* access: A flexible way to pay off your eligible Scotiabank Visa* credit card purchases of $100 or more, with low interest rates on your plan and no installment plan fee.
  • Rental car savings: Earn up to 4x Scene+ points for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, car rentals, and things to do with Scene+ Travel, Powered by Expedia This savings is towards the base rates (applicable to the time and mileage charges of the rental). Taxes, fees and other surcharges are extra.
  • Mobile wallet: Add your Scotiabank credit card to Apple Pay or the free Scotiabank mobile app and pay anywhere you see the Visa payWave symbol at the checkout.

How does the Scotiabank Scene Visa card compare to others?

Scotiabank Scene Visa card vs. the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard

MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus® Mastercard®

2.8

Review

Welcome Bonus: Earn 5% Cash Back†† on eligible gas and grocery purchases for the first 6 months (until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500).

On MBNA Credit Cards' Secure Site

Get this card if you...

  • want to earn cash back on gas and groceries
  • value a no-annual-fee card that still offers strong rewards
  • want a flexible rewards program

Both the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa and the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard are no annual fee credit cards that offer rewards on everyday spending, but they cater to slightly different preferences. The Scene+ Visa is ideal for those who frequently shop at Sobeys-affiliated grocery stores, Home Hardware, or watch movies at Cineplex, as it offers  Scene+ points on purchases. You can earn 2x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, participating Co-ops, Freshco and more, 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on Home Hardware, Home Building Center, Home Furniture locations in Canada and online at homehardware.ca, 2x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend at Cineplex theatres or online at cineplex.com and 1x Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases. 

In contrast, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard provides more generalized bonus categories, including groceries, dining, streaming, memberships, and recurring bills, earning you MBNA Rewards points. Earn 2 MBNA Rewards points on groceries, dining, streaming, memberships and recurring bills and 1 MBNA Rewards point on all other purchases.  Ultimately, the better choice depends on where you spend most frequently and how you prefer to redeem your rewards.

Disclosures:

  • ‡, ††, ✪, ***, Terms and Conditions apply.

    This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For residents of Quebec, please click here.

    Sponsored advertising. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) and TD is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information on this MBNA credit card, please click on the “Apply Now” button.

    The Toronto-Dominion Bank is the issuer of this credit card. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ®MBNA and other-trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.
  • Conditions apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card to learn more. *See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.

Is the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* credit card worth it?

The Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card is a great card for people who don’t spend a lot on their credit cards (a good gauge would be less than $10,000 per year), students and those who want to be able to redeem for rewards early and often without having to spend a fortune. The card has no annual fee and offers more value per dollar spent than just about any other no-fee card in the Canadian marketplace, including niche cards like the Vancity enviro Visa Infinite* Card from BC lendder Vancity. Don't forget to check out our best Scotiabank credit cards list to compare more great cards.

Eligibility requirements for this particular program are quite straightforward. To be considered, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • A good to excellent credit score is required.
  • Canadian citizenship or residency is a must.
  • The age of majority in your province, either 18 or 19 years old, is necessary.
  • Individuals must have a minimum annual income of $12,000.

These requirements ensure that the program is accessible to those who are financially stable and have a strong credit history

Cory Santos Senior Reporter

Cory Santos is a finance writer, editor and credit card expert with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance. Cory joined Wise Publishing from BestCards, with bylines in numerous print and digital publications across North America, including the Miami Herald, BlogTO, Debt.ca, AOL, MSN and Medium as well as financial podcasts like KOFE Talk. He's also the creator and author of the annual Money.ca Credit Card Awards.

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†Terms and Conditions apply.