Scotiabank · American Express · Scene+
Reviewed 2026-07-05 · By The Points Standard editorial team
Scotiabank Gold American Express
The best 'simple points' earner in Canada. Pairs a huge food multiplier with no-FX — a strong one-card answer for pragmatists.
Standard Score breakdown — Strong
Six weighted components, each rated 0–10. "Contributes" is the rating × weight — add all six and you get the 7.23/10 Standard Score above.
See how the Standard Score works or re-weight it to your priorities.
The numbers
| Annual fee | $120 |
| Welcome bonus | Up to 50,000 Scene+ points (30,000 on $2K/3 mo + 20,000 on $7.5K in the first year) — offer ends November 1, 2026 |
| Est. bonus value | ≈ $500 |
| First-year net value | ≈ $620 |
Earn rates
| Groceries at Sobeys banners | 6x |
| Other groceries, dining, entertainment | 5x |
| Gas, transit, streaming | 3x |
| Everything else | 1x |
Why it earns its score
- 5-6x on food categories is an outstanding earn rate
- No foreign transaction fees — rare on an Amex
- Solid included travel insurance for a $120 card
Where it loses points
- Scene+ points cap out at 1¢ — no transfer upside
- Amex acceptance limits where the big multipliers apply
Who it's for
Food-heavy spenders who want high guaranteed earn without learning transfer partners.
Who should skip it
You'd rather earn transferable points — the Cobalt's MR points are worth roughly double per point.
Included insurance
Travel medical · Trip cancellation · Flight delay · Rental car coverage
Source: issuer card page · Last reviewed 2026-07-05. Details change often — confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.