National Bank World Elite Mastercard: Earn 5X Points Abroad

One of the main attractions of the National Bank World Elite Mastercard is its 5X points multiplier on two essential spending categories: groceries and restaurants. This multiplier is especially valuable for travellers who spend heavily in these categories in foreign currencies, as it allows you to earn a net positive return even after currency conversion fees.

Few Canadian credit cards offer such a high earn rate on everyday spending categories that are part of most households’ regular expenses, whether in Canada or abroad.

What truly sets this benefit apart is that the National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the only credit card in Canada to offer a 5X multiplier that also applies to purchases made abroad. Competing cards may also offer a 5X or 6X earn rate in Canada, but these higher rates stop as soon as you leave the country.

Additionally, the National Bank World Elite Mastercard is a Mastercard, giving it near-universal acceptance both in Canada and abroad, including at small businesses and establishments while travelling where American Express cards are not accepted.

The 5X multiplier also includes meal delivery services such as Uber Eats, SkipTheDishes, and DoorDash. So whether you prefer to dine at home or order a meal to your hotel while travelling, you’ll enjoy the same benefit as you would when dining out.

It’s important to note that this multiplier applies up to a monthly cap of $2,500 in gross purchases across all categories. Beyond this amount, the earn rate reverts to a lower rate. However, this cap remains generous for most cardholders, especially if the card is used mainly for targeted spending.

The points you earn with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard are part of the NBC Rewards program, a flexible program that lets you use your points for different types of travel. Their value depends on how you redeem them, and this flexibility is one of the card’s strong points.

The first and best value option is to use NBC Rewards Points on your travels directly through the NBC À la carte Travel online portal. In this case, each point is worth 1 cent, which means that 10,000 points equals $100 in travel value. This method is ideal if you plan to book a flight or All-inclusive package directly with this agency. For example, if you accumulate 20,000 points, you could earn $200 in travel credit on your booking through the portal.

If you prefer more flexibility with your bookings, the National Bank World Elite Mastercard also lets you use your points for a travel credit on your account after booking on your own. Whether you use an independent travel agency, join an organized tour like G Adventures, book directly with a hotel, airline, or even through a platform like Airbnb, you can request a credit applied directly to your statement. In this scenario, the value of your points varies: 12,000 points give you a $100 credit (about a 4.17% return), or 55,000 points give you $500 (about a 4.5% return).

In concrete terms, with a 5X point multiplier on groceries and restaurants, every $1,000 spent in these categories generates 5,000 points. Depending on the redemption method chosen, this can represent between $41.70 and $50 in travel value. This system allows you to tailor your use of points to your travel style, whether planned through À la carte Travel or booked independently.

Like most Canadian credit cards, the National Bank World Elite Mastercard charges a foreign currency conversion fee of 2.5% when you make a purchase in another currency. This fee is in addition to the current exchange rate, and may seem disadvantageous at first glance.

However, the 5X points multiplier on restaurants and groceries, applicable even abroad, changes the game completely. In fact, when you redeem your points at their maximum value via the NBC À la carte Travel portal, every dollar spent in these categories earns you a 5% return. Once you’ve deducted the conversion fees, you’re left with a net return of 2.5% on your foreign purchases.

If you opt instead for the flexible points redemption method (travel credit on account after free booking), your return in points is between 4.17% and 4.5%. After subtracting the 2.5% fee, this gives a net return of between 1.67% and 2%. In other words, even with fees, you still get a real return on your expenses.

This calculation becomes particularly interesting when travelling, as meals and shopping often represent a significant part of the daily budget. Using the National Bank World Elite Mastercard for these purchases not only offsets the conversion fees, but also allows you to continue accumulating a good volume of points to finance your next trip. Few cards offering a multiplier abroad offer such a positive net return, making this benefit unique in its category.

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is not only attractive for its exceptional 5X points multiplier: it also offers a range of benefits designed for travellers of all kinds. Its comprehensive travel insurance package stands out in the Canadian market, especially for trips booked with points of all kinds. It covers emergency medical care abroad, trip cancellation and interruption, baggage delay and loss, and rental car insurance. For travellers who want to avoid purchasing additional insurance, this coverage represents significant savings and invaluable peace of mind.

In addition to these insurance benefits, the card provides access to the DragonPass network, allowing entry to airport lounges worldwide at a preferred rate, as well as unlimited free access to the National Bank Lounge in Montreal. This greatly enhances the travel experience, especially during layovers or long waits.

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard also stands out for its purchase and price protections, ideal for securing your travel-related expenses, such as the purchase of suitcases, electronic equipment or more specialized items. This unique combination of high rewards, robust insurance and valuable privileges makes it one of the best travel credit cards in Canada for those looking to maximize value and enjoy peace of mind while travelling.

Find out how to maximize the travel benefits of the National Bank World Elite Mastercard^® here.