Our Personal Finance Tips for Students

Managing personal finances as a student is a daily challenge. Between tuition, housing and unexpected expenses, every dollar counts. In this article, discover practical tips for managing your student budget, saving wisely, maximizing student discounts and taking advantage of the right methods to build financial stability today.

Personal finance for students

Making a budget

It may not be the most stimulating activity, but keeping a budget is an excellent way to keep track of where your money is going. In fact, the Autorité des marchés financiers offers a handy tool to help you see things more clearly.

This way, you can identify your financial priorities and reduce unpleasant surprises at the end of the month.

Our Personal Finance Tips for Students - Budget

ACEF

Contact your local ACEF (Associations coopératives d’économies familiales) for a range of budgeting and financial education services. These non-profit organizations also provide information on consumer protection.

On its website, ACEF offers clear, objective information and personal finance tools for all age groups, including students. For example, in the personal finance section for students, you’ll find the “Student Budget” tool (in French only).

Taxes

As a student, you can take advantage of a number of tax credits and deductions. The income tax return is not only used to declare your earnings, but also to recover certain eligible expenses.

If you’ve paid tuition fees, moved for your studies or are paying off interest on your student loan, you may be able to get credits that increase your repayment and lighten your budget.

Here are some examples:

Revenu Quebec: Student or new graduate
Canada Revenue Agency: Common deductions and credits for students

Chequing Account

You can have a youth or student bank account with no monthly fees. Search for financial institutions that offer account opening bonuses.

You can enjoy free access throughout your studies and for a certain period after graduating.

Use our bank account comparator to check out our range of accounts for students. For example:

Many financial institutions also give you access to your credit score online. This is offered free of charge by your financial institution, in collaboration with the TransUnion and Equifax credit bureaus.

Often, students are not yet exposed to or informed about credit files and scores. If this is your case, consult the following guides:

Rent and tuition fees

To optimize your budget, use Chexy to pay your tuition and rent by credit card and maximize your reward points. This approach not only helps you manage your cash flow, it also offers you additional financial benefits. For more details, consult our guides :

Personal Finance Books and Resources

To make the best decisions for your financial situation, it’s important to know as much as you can. Personal finance for students is no exception.

Here are some of the best resources for personal finance:

Facebook group “L’argent ne dort jamais” to ask your finance questions (over 150,000 members)
Book La retraite à 40 ans by Jean-Sébastien Pilotte (known as “Le jeune retraité”)
Books Les millionnaires ne sont pas ceux que vous croyez and From Zero to Millionaire by Nicolas Bérubé
Book Ça coûte encore plus cher, être un adulte! by Béatrice Bernard-Poulin
Books En as-tu vraiment besoin? and Liberté 45 by Pierre-Yves McSween
Book Elle investit: Bâtir sa richesse grâce à la bourse by Karman Kong
Book Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T Kiyosaki
I’m taking care of business! from the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF)

Finance Courses

There are also free courses on personal finance. As a student, now is the perfect time to take these online courses:

McGill University’s free online Personal Finance Essentials course (available in both English and French)
UQTR MOOC “La littératie financière et fiscale ouverte à tous” (available in French only)

Student discounts

Use the power of your student card for special offers and discounts at many stores!

ISIC Card

The ISIC (International Student Identity Card) is for students 12 years of age and older as well as for people 30 years of age and younger. For $20 a year, you get discounts at various businesses, museums, Via Rail, hotels, tourist attractions, transportation and ready-to-eat lunch boxes. It is accepted in 130 countries. For more information: isiccanada.ca

SPC Card

The SPC (Student Price Card) offers students significant discounts on a wide range of products and services, including travel, shopping and dining.

SPC Card membership costs $11.99 per year. However, you can obtain the SPC+ Card free of charge if you have one of these 3 CIBC financial products when you register for SPC :

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students
CIBC Aventura^® Visa* Card for Students
Bank account for youth and students : CIBC Smart for students

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$0	Welcome offerAfter $1,000 in 4 months Up to $125 cash back After $1,000 in 4 months	Apply NowCompare
CIBC Aventura^® Visa* Card for Students Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$0	Welcome offerAfter $1 in 4 months Up to 12,500 points After $1 in 4 months	Apply NowCompare

To find out more, consult the following guide:

Student discount while shopping

Many stores offer student discounts. In particular:

Telecommunications ;
Electronics ;
Grocery stores and restaurants (especially those near a college or university) ;
Health and beauty ;
Sports and Culture ;
Transport ;
Clothing ;
Other shops.

For further information, please consult the following guide:

Other tips for students

Here are some other personal finance tips and tricks for students:

Find a cheaper mobile package;
Join loyalty programs to maximize your savings;
Use online shopping portals such as AIRMILESSHOPS, Aeroplan eStore or Rakuten to make your purchases.

Student credit cards

In Canada, there are several credit cards for students. Getting your first credit card when you turn 18 helps you build up your credit file and gradually improve your credit score.

Indeed, the notion of credit history is very important in the calculation of the credit score. The best thing to do is to take out a no-annual-fee credit card that you’ll keep for as long as possible: it’ll be one of the cornerstones of your credit file (alongside other financing such as a student loan, a car loan, etc.).

To find out more, consult the following guide:

The CIBC Dividend?? Visa* Card for Students is the card we voted the best credit card for students in 2025.

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students

The CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students is one of the best cash back Visa credit cards for students in Canada. Apply for the card and get up to $125 in cash back.

With this CIBC student credit card, you get:

2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases^†
1% cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, transportation and dining purchases and on eligible recurring payments^†
0.5% cash back on all other purchases^†

Plus, with this CIBC student credit card, you get a free SPC membership, so you can save instantly on more than 450 in-store and online transactions.

This CIBC student credit card also offers some insurance coverage:

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Compare

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students

CIBC Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$125Total$125Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $125
Welcome offerAfter $1,000 in 4 months: Up to $125 cash back

The CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students is one of the best cash back Visa student credit cards in Canada. Apply for the card and get up to $125 in value:

$25 cash back after you make your first purchase within the first 4 monthly statements^†
A 10% cash back welcome bonus for the first 4 monthly statements, up to $100^†

With this CIBC Student Credit Card, you get:

2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases^†
1% cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, transportation, and dining purchases and on eligible recurring payments^†
0.5% cash back on all other purchases^†

What’s more, with this CIBC Student Credit Card, you get a free SPC+ membership, plus over 450 deals on everyday purchases, bigger discounts, special experiences and exclusive giveaways^†.

And this CIBC Student Credit Card offers some insurance coverages:

Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

Legal

This is a digital-exclusive offer.^† To be eligible for this offer: 1) this offer must have been directly communicated to you from CIBC or from a partner/affiliate; and 2) you must apply for the eligible card through the link provided in the CIBC or partner/affiliate communication to you. ^† This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else.

This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else. CIBC may approve your application, but you are not eligible to receive this Offer if you have opened, transferred or cancelled another Dividend card within the last 12 months.^†

^† Terms and conditions apply. Click on Apply Now to learn more.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xGroceries
1xTransit
1xBills & recurring payments
1xGas & EV
1xRestaurants
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$461

2nd Year Value$263

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

According to Milesopedia 2025, the National Bank Platinum Mastercard^® has won the title of Best Credit Card for Young Professionals.

National Bank Platinum Mastercard

The Platinum Mastercard^® from National Bank^® lets you earn up to 40,000 rewards points through a multi-part welcome offer that includes enrolling in payment protection insurance, a first spending threshold of $2,500 in the first 3 months and a second threshold of $10,000 in purchases in the first 12 months.

On top of the welcome offer, this card lets you earn up to 2 points per dollar spent in certain categories, and it includes several travel insurance protections, mobile device insurance, plus purchase protection and extended warranty.

The primary cardholder’s $70 annual fee is also rebated for the first year.

Compare

National Bank Platinum Mastercard^®

National Bank NBC RewardsFirst-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual feeNo annual fee the first year: $0 $70
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$360Annual fee rebated$70Total$430Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $430
Welcome offerAfter $12,500 in 12 months: 40,000 points; Ends Nov 4, 2026

The National Bank Platinum Mastercard^® lets you earn up to 40,000 reward points, plus a refund of the $70 annual fee for the first year for the primary cardholder:

10,000 points when you sign up for credit card payment insurance and keep it for at least the first 3 months
15,000 points after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months
15,000 points after $10,000 in purchases within the first 12 months

You have until November 4, 2026 to apply.

After that, you earn:

2 points per dollar on grocery and restaurant purchases
1.5 points per dollar on gas, EV charging, recurring bills and travel booked through the À la carte agency

Since it is a Mastercard, you can use it at Costco. Unlike the other two National Bank travel rewards cards, it does not require a minimum income.

The card includes mobile device insurance, an extended warranty on your purchases, and comprehensive travel insurance for trips of 10 days or less, with emergency medical coverage plus trip cancellation and interruption.

The annual fee is $70, plus $35 per additional card. The annual interest rate is 20.99% on purchases and 22.49% on cash advances.

Legal

PLATINUM CARD PROMOTIONAL OFFER Q3-Q4 2026-AGGREGATOR

Length of the welcome promotion
From June 30, 2026 to November 4, 2026.

Eligibility conditions

Sign up for a National Bank^® Platinum Mastercard^® credit card as a primary cardholder during the promotion period.
Have not held any National Bank personal Mastercard credit card as a primary cardholder during the past 12 months.
Keep the credit card account open and in good standing, in compliance with the Credit Card Agreement, until the annual fee refund and reward points are credited. For example, all minimum payments must be made on time.
Not be employed by National Bank of Canada or an entity in its group.

Description of the promotion
Up to 40,000 reward points upon enrollment, and a refund of the annual fee for the first year for the primary cardholder of a National Bank^® Platinum Mastercard^®.

Annual fees

The $70 annual fee for the primary cardholder will be refunded for the first year.

We will charge the annual fee to your new card account and then refund it. You will receive this refund within five months of opening your account, provided that your account remains open and in good standing. The refund will appear on your statement as a credit.

Annual fees related to authorized users’ cards are not eligible for this promotion.

Reward points

Points offered	Conditions	When points are awarded
10,000	Enrollment in credit card payment insurance* for at least the first three months	Within two months following the minimum enrollment period
15,000	$2,500 in purchases within the first three months**	By the end of the 6th month following enrollment**
15,000	$10,000 in purchases within the first 12 months**	By the end of the 15th month following enrollment**

* To apply for payment insurance, you must complete the sections related to the Credit Card Payment Protection Plan (CCPPP) included in the credit card application form.

** The purchase calculation period starts on the date you sign up for the card. For example, if you sign up on July 15, 2026, you have until October 15, 2026 to make the required $2,500 in purchases, and the 15000 points will be credited to your account by the end of January 2027.

How total purchases are calculated

The calculation is based on the total amount of purchases made using all cards linked to the account. Transactions not included in the calculation are set out in article 1.5 of the À la carte Rewards Plan^™.

Other conditions

This promotion may only be used once per person.
Issuance of the card is subject to National Bank of Canada’s credit approval. Other conditions apply to the issuance of the card.
Unless otherwise indicated, this promotion cannot be combined with any other National Bank credit card promotion and is not retroactive.
This promotion may be modified or withdrawn without notice.

^®Mastercard and Platinum Mastercard are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Authorized user: National Bank.

^®À LA CARTE EXTRAS, À LA CARTE REWARDS PLAN, NATIONAL BANK and the NATIONAL BANK logo are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

^®THE TOTAL, THE CONNECTED, AND NATIONAL BANK are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

*Platinum Mastercard^®

National Bank of Canada^® Platinum Mastercard^® credit card was named the best credit card for young professionals by Milesopedia in 2025 and 2026. Each year, Milesopedia examines the credit card offers of the largest financial institutions and establishes its ranking according to more than 150 criteria such as fees, welcome offers, minimum income required, number of points per category, account credits, insurance, airport lounge access, etc.

1. Certain restrictions apply. For more information, consult the Rewards plan section or the Plan rules regarding how to earn points.

Credit terms

Grace period: No interest will be charged on purchases made during the month, provided the client pays the balance in full within twenty-one (21) days of the statement date. This grace period does not apply to cash advances or balance transfers.

Minimum payment: If your account balance is lower than $10, you must pay the entire balance.

If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is the greater of 5% of your account balance, plus any overdue amounts, or $10.

If you live outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of your credit card balance, plus any past-due amount or $10, whichever is greater.

Account statement: A statement is sent monthly.

Example of credit charges over a 30-day period

Annual interest rate	Average balance
	$500	$3,000
22.49% (regular card)	$9.24	$55.45
20.99% (regular card)	$8.63	$51.76
13.2% (Syncro card)	$5.53	$33.16
9.2% (Syncro card)	$3.78	$22.68

Balance transfer and cash advance are subject to credit approval by National Bank. Each balance transfer must be at least $250.

4. This coverage applies to purchases and rentals charged in part to the card, except out-of-province medical/hospital insurance for which the travel arrangements need not be charged to the card, and lost or delayed luggage insurance where all transportation costs must be charged to the card. This coverage applies to the primary cardholder, their spouse and/or dependent children when they (spouse and/or dependent children) travel with the primary cardholder. Extended warranty coverage applies to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, as long as the manufacturer’s warranty is valid in Canada. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. For more information and for details of your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate associated with your card.

5. Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. Refer to the credit card terms and conditions.

6. Subject to credit approval by National Bank.

7. The amount of points earned on grocery and restaurant purchases depends on the total gross monthly amount charged to the credit card account, regardless of the purchase category. You will earn 2 points for every dollar in eligible grocery and restaurant purchases until a total of $1,000 in gross monthly purchases is charged to the account. After that, you will earn 1.5 points per dollar in eligible grocery and restaurant purchases. The total gross monthly amount is calculated based on your monthly billing period. Grocery purchases include any purchase made at a store that primarily sells food, i.e., grocery store, delicatessen, supermarket, greengrocer or specialty food store. Ready-to-eat meal services and meal delivery services are eligible. This definition excludes purchases made at retail stores and big box stores whose core business is the sale of non-food items. Certain merchants may sell products and services that appear identical or similar to those sold by eligible merchants, or may be separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified in different categories by Mastercard. For purchases at other merchants, you will only earn regular rewards points. Restaurant purchases include purchases at a restaurant, fast food restaurant, bar, nightclub or pub. For a full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the terms and conditions of the À la carte Rewards Plan^®.

8. To earn 1.5 points per dollar in purchases, you will need to purchase gas or an electrical vehicle charge from a service station or from certain big box stores. Certain merchants may sell products and services that appear identical or similar to those sold by eligible merchants, or may be separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified in different categories by Mastercard. For purchases at other merchants, you will only earn regular rewards points. For a full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the terms and conditions of the À la carte Rewards Plan^®.

9. Recurring bill payments are defined as monthly or regular payments automatically charged by a merchant to your National Bank Platinum Mastercard credit card. Not all merchants offer recurring bill payments, and not all recurring payments are considered recurring bill payments. Certain payments therefore may not entitle you to earn more points.

10. To earn 1.5 points per dollar in purchases, you must make your eligible purchases via the À la carte Travel^™ Agency section of our À la carte Rewards^™ site.

11. The device must have been purchased using your National Bank Platinum Mastercard credit card, or your phone plan must be paid via recurring payments charged to your National Bank Platinum credit card starting September 1, 2022. For complete terms and conditions, please consult the insurance certificate associated with your card.

Annual fee

Primary card$70

Additional card$35

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xGroceries
2xRestaurants
1.5xBills & recurring payments
1.5xGas & EV
1.5xTravel
0.67xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$749

2nd Year Value$209

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days

Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,000

Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+2 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days

Bottom Line

By taking a few simple, effective steps, you can strengthen your personal finances as a student, easing your financial stress. Whether it’s through a well-established budget, student discounts or a well-chosen credit card, every decision brings you closer to greater autonomy. Start applying these tips now to move towards a healthier financial life, even during your studies.

How can I save money as a student?

Set a simple budget, take advantage of student discounts and deposit your savings in a high-interest account to make them grow.

Which student credit card should I choose?

Choose a card with no annual fee, offering discounts or points on everyday purchases such as groceries, gas and subscriptions.

How to manage your student budget effectively?

Keep track of your income, fixed and variable expenses. Set aside a portion for savings and adjust your habits according to your priorities.

Why open a student bank account?

A student bank account allows you to avoid monthly fees, receive your loans or grants and better manage your day-to-day transactions.

Personal finance for students

Making a budget

This way, you can identify your financial priorities and reduce unpleasant surprises at the end of the month.

ACEF

Taxes

As a student, you can take advantage of a number of tax credits and deductions. The income tax return is not only used to declare your earnings, but also to recover certain eligible expenses.

If you’ve paid tuition fees, moved for your studies or are paying off interest on your student loan, you may be able to get credits that increase your repayment and lighten your budget.

Here are some examples:

Revenu Quebec: Student or new graduate
Canada Revenue Agency: Common deductions and credits for students

Chequing Account

You can have a youth or student bank account with no monthly fees. Search for financial institutions that offer account opening bonuses.

You can enjoy free access throughout your studies and for a certain period after graduating.

Use our bank account comparator to check out our range of accounts for students. For example:

Often, students are not yet exposed to or informed about credit files and scores. If this is your case, consult the following guides:

Rent and tuition fees

Personal Finance Books and Resources

To make the best decisions for your financial situation, it’s important to know as much as you can. Personal finance for students is no exception.

Here are some of the best resources for personal finance:

Facebook group “L’argent ne dort jamais” to ask your finance questions (over 150,000 members)
Book La retraite à 40 ans by Jean-Sébastien Pilotte (known as “Le jeune retraité”)
Books Les millionnaires ne sont pas ceux que vous croyez and From Zero to Millionaire by Nicolas Bérubé
Book Ça coûte encore plus cher, être un adulte! by Béatrice Bernard-Poulin
Books En as-tu vraiment besoin? and Liberté 45 by Pierre-Yves McSween
Book Elle investit: Bâtir sa richesse grâce à la bourse by Karman Kong
Book Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T Kiyosaki
I’m taking care of business! from the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF)

Finance Courses

There are also free courses on personal finance. As a student, now is the perfect time to take these online courses:

McGill University’s free online Personal Finance Essentials course (available in both English and French)
UQTR MOOC “La littératie financière et fiscale ouverte à tous” (available in French only)

Student discounts

Use the power of your student card for special offers and discounts at many stores!

ISIC Card

SPC Card

The SPC (Student Price Card) offers students significant discounts on a wide range of products and services, including travel, shopping and dining.

SPC Card membership costs $11.99 per year. However, you can obtain the SPC+ Card free of charge if you have one of these 3 CIBC financial products when you register for SPC :

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students
CIBC Aventura^® Visa* Card for Students
Bank account for youth and students : CIBC Smart for students

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$0	Welcome offerAfter $1,000 in 4 months Up to $125 cash back After $1,000 in 4 months	Apply NowCompare
CIBC Aventura^® Visa* Card for Students Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$0	Welcome offerAfter $1 in 4 months Up to 12,500 points After $1 in 4 months	Apply NowCompare

To find out more, consult the following guide:

Student discount while shopping

Many stores offer student discounts. In particular:

Telecommunications ;
Electronics ;
Grocery stores and restaurants (especially those near a college or university) ;
Health and beauty ;
Sports and Culture ;
Transport ;
Clothing ;
Other shops.

For further information, please consult the following guide:

Other tips for students

Here are some other personal finance tips and tricks for students:

Find a cheaper mobile package;
Join loyalty programs to maximize your savings;
Use online shopping portals such as AIRMILESSHOPS, Aeroplan eStore or Rakuten to make your purchases.

Student credit cards

In Canada, there are several credit cards for students. Getting your first credit card when you turn 18 helps you build up your credit file and gradually improve your credit score.

To find out more, consult the following guide:

The CIBC Dividend?? Visa* Card for Students is the card we voted the best credit card for students in 2025.

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students

The CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students is one of the best cash back Visa credit cards for students in Canada. Apply for the card and get up to $125 in cash back.

With this CIBC student credit card, you get:

2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases^†
1% cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, transportation and dining purchases and on eligible recurring payments^†
0.5% cash back on all other purchases^†

Plus, with this CIBC student credit card, you get a free SPC membership, so you can save instantly on more than 450 in-store and online transactions.

This CIBC student credit card also offers some insurance coverage:

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Compare

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students

CIBC Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$125Total$125Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $125
Welcome offerAfter $1,000 in 4 months: Up to $125 cash back

The CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students is one of the best cash back Visa student credit cards in Canada. Apply for the card and get up to $125 in value:

$25 cash back after you make your first purchase within the first 4 monthly statements^†
A 10% cash back welcome bonus for the first 4 monthly statements, up to $100^†

With this CIBC Student Credit Card, you get:

2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases^†
1% cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, transportation, and dining purchases and on eligible recurring payments^†
0.5% cash back on all other purchases^†

What’s more, with this CIBC Student Credit Card, you get a free SPC+ membership, plus over 450 deals on everyday purchases, bigger discounts, special experiences and exclusive giveaways^†.

And this CIBC Student Credit Card offers some insurance coverages:

Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

Legal

^† Terms and conditions apply. Click on Apply Now to learn more.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xGroceries
1xTransit
1xBills & recurring payments
1xGas & EV
1xRestaurants
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$461

2nd Year Value$263

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

According to Milesopedia 2025, the National Bank Platinum Mastercard^® has won the title of Best Credit Card for Young Professionals.

National Bank Platinum Mastercard

The primary cardholder’s $70 annual fee is also rebated for the first year.

Compare

National Bank Platinum Mastercard^®

National Bank NBC RewardsFirst-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual feeNo annual fee the first year: $0 $70
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$360Annual fee rebated$70Total$430Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $430
Welcome offerAfter $12,500 in 12 months: 40,000 points; Ends Nov 4, 2026

The National Bank Platinum Mastercard^® lets you earn up to 40,000 reward points, plus a refund of the $70 annual fee for the first year for the primary cardholder:

10,000 points when you sign up for credit card payment insurance and keep it for at least the first 3 months
15,000 points after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months
15,000 points after $10,000 in purchases within the first 12 months

You have until November 4, 2026 to apply.

After that, you earn:

2 points per dollar on grocery and restaurant purchases
1.5 points per dollar on gas, EV charging, recurring bills and travel booked through the À la carte agency

Since it is a Mastercard, you can use it at Costco. Unlike the other two National Bank travel rewards cards, it does not require a minimum income.

The annual fee is $70, plus $35 per additional card. The annual interest rate is 20.99% on purchases and 22.49% on cash advances.

Legal

PLATINUM CARD PROMOTIONAL OFFER Q3-Q4 2026-AGGREGATOR

Length of the welcome promotion
From June 30, 2026 to November 4, 2026.

Eligibility conditions

Sign up for a National Bank^® Platinum Mastercard^® credit card as a primary cardholder during the promotion period.
Have not held any National Bank personal Mastercard credit card as a primary cardholder during the past 12 months.
Keep the credit card account open and in good standing, in compliance with the Credit Card Agreement, until the annual fee refund and reward points are credited. For example, all minimum payments must be made on time.
Not be employed by National Bank of Canada or an entity in its group.

Description of the promotion
Up to 40,000 reward points upon enrollment, and a refund of the annual fee for the first year for the primary cardholder of a National Bank^® Platinum Mastercard^®.

Annual fees

The $70 annual fee for the primary cardholder will be refunded for the first year.

Annual fees related to authorized users’ cards are not eligible for this promotion.

Reward points

Points offered	Conditions	When points are awarded
10,000	Enrollment in credit card payment insurance* for at least the first three months	Within two months following the minimum enrollment period
15,000	$2,500 in purchases within the first three months**	By the end of the 6th month following enrollment**
15,000	$10,000 in purchases within the first 12 months**	By the end of the 15th month following enrollment**

* To apply for payment insurance, you must complete the sections related to the Credit Card Payment Protection Plan (CCPPP) included in the credit card application form.

How total purchases are calculated

Other conditions

This promotion may only be used once per person.
Issuance of the card is subject to National Bank of Canada’s credit approval. Other conditions apply to the issuance of the card.
Unless otherwise indicated, this promotion cannot be combined with any other National Bank credit card promotion and is not retroactive.
This promotion may be modified or withdrawn without notice.

^®Mastercard and Platinum Mastercard are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Authorized user: National Bank.

^®À LA CARTE EXTRAS, À LA CARTE REWARDS PLAN, NATIONAL BANK and the NATIONAL BANK logo are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

^®THE TOTAL, THE CONNECTED, AND NATIONAL BANK are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

*Platinum Mastercard^®

1. Certain restrictions apply. For more information, consult the Rewards plan section or the Plan rules regarding how to earn points.

Credit terms

Minimum payment: If your account balance is lower than $10, you must pay the entire balance.

If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is the greater of 5% of your account balance, plus any overdue amounts, or $10.

If you live outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of your credit card balance, plus any past-due amount or $10, whichever is greater.

Account statement: A statement is sent monthly.

Example of credit charges over a 30-day period

Annual interest rate	Average balance
	$500	$3,000
22.49% (regular card)	$9.24	$55.45
20.99% (regular card)	$8.63	$51.76
13.2% (Syncro card)	$5.53	$33.16
9.2% (Syncro card)	$3.78	$22.68

Balance transfer and cash advance are subject to credit approval by National Bank. Each balance transfer must be at least $250.

5. Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. Refer to the credit card terms and conditions.

6. Subject to credit approval by National Bank.

10. To earn 1.5 points per dollar in purchases, you must make your eligible purchases via the À la carte Travel^™ Agency section of our À la carte Rewards^™ site.

Annual fee

Primary card$70

Additional card$35

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xGroceries
2xRestaurants
1.5xBills & recurring payments
1.5xGas & EV
1.5xTravel
0.67xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$749

2nd Year Value$209

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days

Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,000

Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+2 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days

Bottom Line

How can I save money as a student?

Set a simple budget, take advantage of student discounts and deposit your savings in a high-interest account to make them grow.

Which student credit card should I choose?

Choose a card with no annual fee, offering discounts or points on everyday purchases such as groceries, gas and subscriptions.

How to manage your student budget effectively?

Keep track of your income, fixed and variable expenses. Set aside a portion for savings and adjust your habits according to your priorities.

Why open a student bank account?

A student bank account allows you to avoid monthly fees, receive your loans or grants and better manage your day-to-day transactions.

Our Personal Finance Tips for Students

Personal finance for students

Making a budget

ACEF

Taxes

Chequing Account

Rent and tuition fees

Personal Finance Books and Resources

Finance Courses

Student discounts

ISIC Card

SPC Card

Student discount while shopping

Other tips for students

Student credit cards

CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card for Students

Annual fee

Annual income required

Conversion fees

Earning rate

Value

Purchase protection

National Bank Platinum Mastercard

Annual fee

Annual income required

Conversion fees

Earning rate

Value

Travel insurance

Purchase protection

Bottom Line

How can I save money as a student?

Which student credit card should I choose?

How to manage your student budget effectively?

Why open a student bank account?

Our featured card

Annual fee

Annual income required

Conversion fees

Earning rate

Value

Purchase protection

Our editorial integrity

Comments from our members

Personal finance for students

Making a budget

ACEF

Taxes

Chequing Account

Rent and tuition fees

Personal Finance Books and Resources

Finance Courses

Student discounts

ISIC Card

SPC Card

Student discount while shopping

Other tips for students

Student credit cards

CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card for Students

Annual fee

Annual income required

Conversion fees

Earning rate

Value

Purchase protection

National Bank Platinum Mastercard

Annual fee

Annual income required

Conversion fees

Earning rate

Value

Travel insurance

Purchase protection

Bottom Line

How can I save money as a student?

Which student credit card should I choose?

How to manage your student budget effectively?

Why open a student bank account?

Our featured card

Annual fee

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students