President’s Choice: PC Mastercards

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Marie-Ève Leclerc
Marie-Ève Leclerc Marie-Ève Leclerc
Marie-Ève, Web Director at Milesopedia, is an expert in budget travel and a slow travel enthusiast. Specializing in Aeroplan, Scene+, and Marriott Bonvoy programs, she spends nearly six months a year abroad, making travel her way of life. Constantly seeking the best waves to surf, excellent coffee, and strategies to extend her travels, she is often found in coworking spaces with fellow digital nomads or by the sea, watching the sunset.
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A person makes a contactless payment with a bank card, near flowers and vegetables
To the point President's Choice Financial offers many services, including a variety of PC Mastercard credit cards.

Most people recognize the President’s Choice brand, a Loblaw-owned company, for its many grocery and pharmacy products. But did you know that President’s Choice Financial also offers PC Mastercard credit cards? In this article, we explain the different PC Mastercard cards, along with their advantages and disadvantages.

Overview of PC Mastercards

President’s Choice Financial offers the following PC Mastercard credit cards:

These no-annual-fee cards (with the exception of the PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard®) allow you to earn PC Optimum points on purchases at partner stores, including Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, Joe Fresh and Esso gas stations. You can then redeem your points for free products, discounts or gift cards.

Find out more about the PC Optimum program :

PC Mastercard

The PC® Mastercard® offers a 20,000 PC Optimum welcome bonus after you spend $50 in the first two months, all with no annual fee. It’s an ideal entry-level card to start earning points within the Loblaw ecosystem.

  • 1% back in points at Loblaw banner grocery stores, including LoblawsMD, No FrillsMD, Real Canadian SuperstoreMD, MaxiMD, and other locations3.
  • At least 3¢ per litre back in points on fuel at Esso and Mobil stations
  • 2.5% back in points at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix
  • 1% back in points at Joe Fresh
  • 1% back in points everywhere else

This way, you earn between 1% and 3% back on your purchases at PC Optimum stores. Your points can then be redeemed for discounts at checkout or a $7 credit per 10,000 points applied directly to your card balance.

With its 90-day purchase assurance, extended warranty, and Mastercard Global Service, this card offers valuable protections for a no-annual-fee card.

PC World Mastercard

With a welcome bonus of 20,000 PC Optimum points after spending $50 in the first two months and no annual fee, the PC World Mastercard is a solid option for regular customers in the Loblaw ecosystem. Here’s what it offers:

  • 3.5% back in points at Shoppers Drug Mart and Shoppers Drug Mart
  • At least 3¢ per litre back in points at Esso and Mobil stations
  • Earn 2% back in points at Loblaw banner grocery stores including Loblaws®, No Frills®, Real Canadian Superstore®, Maxi® and more3.
  • 1% back in points everywhere else

In practical terms, this represents between 1% and 3.5% back on your purchases at PC Optimum partner stores. Your points can be redeemed for discounts at checkout or converted into a $7 statement credit for every 10,000 points.

The card also includes a 24/7 concierge service, 90-day purchase assurance, an extended warranty, and Mastercard Global Service in case of emergency — all without paying a single dollar in annual fees.

World Elite Mastercard PC

The PC World Elite Mastercard currently offers a 20,000 PC Optimum points welcome bonus after spending $50 in the first two months, with no annual fee. With this Card:

  • 4.5% back in points at Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix®5
  • Get 3% back in points at Loblaw banner grocery stores including Loblaws®, No Frills®, Real Canadian Superstore®, Maxi® and at Joe Fresh.
  • At least 3¢ per litre back in points on fuel at Esso and Mobil
  • 1% back in points per dollar spent everywhere else

This means you get between 1% and 4.5% back on your purchases made at PC Optimum stores. You can then use your points for discounts at checkout or convert them into $7 credit per 10,000 points directly on your card balance.

Additionally, this card includes travel medical insurance, rental car collision insurance, a concierge service, and 90-day purchase assurance—rare benefits for a no-annual-fee card.

PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard®

With the PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard®, you get:

  • 50 PC Optimum points per dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart
  • 40 PC Optimum points per dollar spent at Loblaws and Joe Fresh stores
  • 30 PC Optimum points per litre of gas at Esso and Mobil
  • 10 PC Optimum points per dollar of purchases everywhere else

This means you get between 1% and 5% on your purchases made at PC Optimum stores. You can then use your PC Optimum points for rebates at the checkout of these PC Optimum stores. Plus, the first year is free!

In addition, you can get unlimited grocery deliveries and pickups for $0 with a free PC Express Pass subscription (an annual value of $99.99), valid for eligible orders of $35 or more.

Advantages and disadvantages of PC Mastercards and the PC Optimum program

Benefits

Cons

  • Lower rewards outside the Loblaw and PC Optimum networks
  • Welcome offer
  • Travel benefits (compared with competing cards)
  • No high-end travel insurance

Our opinion on PC Mastercards

In our opinion, PC Mastercards are a decent option if you regularly shop within the Loblaw network and PC Optimum.

However, if you don’t store at partner stores often, take a close look at competing cards (as rewards are much lower outside the Loblaw network). You could earn many more points or cash back with cards that have accelerated grocery accumulation.

Other cards to consider

Here are competing credit cards to consider instead of PC Mastercards. They are a great alternative and earn points or cash back faster:

Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card, you get up to 60,000 bonus Scene+ points (a $600 value):

  • 40,000 points after $2,000 in purchases within the first three months
  • 10,000 points after $10,000 in purchases within the first six months
  • 10,000 points after $40,000 in purchases in the first year

Then, each year, if you make at least $40,000 in purchases on the card, you’ll earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 points, a value of $100.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card, you earn 3 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

You’ll also earn 2 points for every dollar you spend, including on foreign purchases, in the following categories:

  • Grocery shopping
  • Restaurants
  • Entertainment centers
  • Transit

The Scotiabank Visa Infinite Passport is an excellent Visa credit card for this type of purchase.

These points can be used against any travel purchase at the rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb). You can also redeem your points for cash back at Scene+, for example, at your local grocery store checkout at the same rate of 1,000 points = $10.

The Scotiabank Visa Infinite Passport also offers :

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 access to VIP airport lounges
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Concierge service

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

National Bank World Elite Mastercard

With Milesopedia, enjoy an exclusive offer to get up to 50,000 points with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. This offer is exclusively available through the Milesopedia network and allows you to quickly earn points by following these steps:

  • 10,000 reward points upon enrollment in your credit card payment protection, for a minimum of 3 months of membership.
  • 10,000 points when you make $5,000 in net purchases within the first 3 months.
  • 20,000 points when you reach $20,000 in purchases within the first 12 months.
  • 10,000 points when you combine your credit card with the opening of your first current account within 7 days of your credit card application.

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card offered by NBC.

With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:

  • 5 points per dollar for groceries and restaurants
  • 2 points per dollar on gas and electric recharge purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on recurring bills
  • 2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
  • 1 point per dollar for all other purchases

And since it’s an NBC mycredit Mastercard, you can use it at Costco.

With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:

  • Airport parking
  • Baggage fees
  • Seat selection
  • Access to Airport Lounges
  • Flight upgrades

What’s more, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.

Finally, Milesopedia has named the National Bank World Elite Mastercard as the Best Travel Credit Card in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*

BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* is one of Canada’s best cash back Mastercard credit cards.

Currently, for a limited time, you could earn up to $480 cash back in the first year. Specifically, you will earn $40 cash back for each monthly period in which you make $2,000 in purchases on your card.

Plus, there is no annual fee for the first year!

Additionally, you benefit from a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 12 months, as well as a 2% balance transfer fee.

With BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*, you get between 2% and 5% cash back on many categories of purchases:

  • 5% on grocery purchases (on the first $500 you spend monthly)
  • 4% on transit (on the first $300 you spend monthly)
  • 3% on gas and electric vehicle charging (on the first $300 you spend monthly)
  • 2% on recurring bill payments (on the first $500 you spend monthly)

Everywhere else, you’ll earn 1% cash back, including at Costco. It is also one of the only credit cards in its category to offer a 2 additional years extended warranty.

Finally, enjoy six months of Instacart+ membership and a monthly $10 Instacart credit when you sign up with your eligible BMO credit card.

Bottom Line

In summary, PC Mastercards are a good choice if you regularly shop at partner stores in the PC Optimum program: Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, Esso, etc. With the exception of the PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard®, these are no-annual-fee cards.

There are better options for faster and better accumulation, with more flexible points.

It all depends on your personal situation and spending habits. If you are a loyal customer of the Loblaws family and you do not travel much, a PC Mastercard will be more than sufficient.

Otherwise, I suggest you take a look at the other options on the market. You may be pleasantly surprised by the possibilities. The important thing is to choose a card that allows you to collect as many points as possible… without dipping into your wallet too much!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you earn PC Optimum points with my PC Mastercard?

You can easily earn PC Optimum points on your purchases at partner stores, including Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, Joe Fresh and Esso gas stations. It’s a great way to maximize your rewards while you shop. You can then redeem your points for free products, discounts or gift cards.

How can you access your PC Mastercard account?

You can access your PC Mastercard account on the President’s Choice Financial website (pcfinancial.ca) or on the mobile app.

Do PC Mastercards offer travel insurance?

Among the various PC Mastercards, the PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard® is the only one that offers travel medical insurance, which is fairly limited.

Where can I find President's Choice products?

President’s Choice is a brand name for Loblaw stores’ home-cooked products. They are sold in Loblaws, Maxi and Provigo stores, among others.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
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