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Desjardins : How to use and maximize your Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS

Desjardins : How to use and maximize your Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS
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You’ve earned BONUSDOLLARS with your Desjardins credit card but don’t know how to use them effectively? This comprehensive guide explains everything you need to know about the Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS program, from the different ways you can use them to the credit cards that let you earn more.

How can you use your Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS?

BONUSDOLLARS is essentially a cash-back program. For every 1 BONUSDOLLAR earned, you’ll get 1 dollar to redeem on bonidollars.ca in the category:

  • Restaurant,
  • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Transportation

You can even use your credit card to make a donation to a non-profit organization.

The minimum to redeem is 20 BONUSDOLLARS; however, on the site, available gift cards start at 25 BONUSDOLLARS at the time of our visit.

You can redeem your BONUSDOLLARS in 4 ways, some of which are more advantageous than others.

How do I redeem my BONUSDOLLARS for gift certificates in the catalog?

The BONUSDOLLARS gift card catalogue offers access to multiple rewards to suit every consumer profile with over 40 partner brands.

These gift card rewards range from 25 to 250 BONUSDOLLARS and are divided into 9 categories on the bonidollars.ca website:

  • Arts, culture and entertainment: Indigo, Cineplex, DeSerres, Disney, Archambault
  • Electronics and technology: Apple, Canadian Tire, Hudson’s Bay, The Source, Best Buy, Tanguay
  • Home & Garden: Canadian Tire, The Home Depot, Rona, HomeSense, Hudson’s Bay, Winners, Tanguay, BBQ Quebec
  • Fashion and accessories: Luluelemon, Decathlon, Ardene, Harry Rosen, Hudson’s Bay, Reitmans, Roots, La Vie En Rose, Browns, Golf Town, Sport Chek
  • Food and beverages: The Keg Steakhouse + Bar, LCBO, Cora, SAQ, Uber Eats, Metro
  • Health and wellness: Sephora, Club Piscine, Strom Spa
  • Sports and fitness: Canadian Tire, Décathlon, Lululemon, Sporting Life, Sail, Golf Town, Sport Chek
  • Travel and leisure: Esso, Uber, Petro Canada, WaySPa, Disney, Air Canada, Ôrigine hotel artisans
  • Retailers: including all these brands as well as Renaud-Bray, Cooki-it, Anne-Marie Chagnon, Costco, La Cordée

You’ll have to look for the gift card you like best. However, we invite you to compare the value of the products with what you might find on the market. Prices are not necessarily that far from the market (unlike other loyalty programs that sell their toasters for up to twice as much)!

BONUSDOLLARS in exchange for tickets to shows, movies, theaters, attractions and museums

Here, it is a cashback. You must have bought your tickets through traditional distributors (example: Evenko). Once the expense appears on your Desjardins credit card account, you can use your BONUSDOLLARS.

Desjardins : How to use and maximize your Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS - bonidollars shows en

You have the option to use your BONUSDOLLARS in whole or in part.

Here is the procedure:

  • Online from a computer
    • Go to AccèsD
    • Choose the card associated with the BONUSDOLLARS to exchange
    • In the right-hand menu, click on BONUSDOLLARS
    • Click on Exchange BONUSDOLLARS
    • Select the Eligible Transactions category

In the mobile application

  • Log on to the Desjardins Mobile Services application
  • Select the credit card of your choice under My Accounts or Favorites
  • Press Information
  • Choose BONUSDOLLARS
  • Press Exchange BONUSDOLLARS
  • Select the Eligible Transactions category

Please note: this discount must be made within 60 days of purchase. In addition, the minimum discount is 20 BONUSDOLLARS.

This is a good use case for your BONUSDOLLARS: you won’t pay more for your reward since you buy the entertainment tickets yourself!

BONUSDOLLARS in exchange for financial products and services

You can also use your BONUSDOLLARS in exchange for financial products and services offered by Desjardins:

  • Desjardins Private Management
  • Desjardins General Insurance
  • Savings products
  • Desjardins/Disnat Securities
  • Desjardins RRSP or Desjardins Group RRSP Funds, Desjardins Fund Investment Solutions, ESPs
  • Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins
  • Financing products
  • Insurance products
  • Transaction fees on chequing accounts (EOP), regular savings accounts (ES) and term savings accounts (ET)

How to redeem BONUSDOLLARS for financial products and services

You have the option to use your BONUSDOLLARS in whole or in part.

Here is the procedure:

  • Online from a computer
    • Go to AccèsD
    • Choose the card associated with the BONUSDOLLARS to exchange
    • In the right-hand menu, click on BONUSDOLLARS
    • Click on Exchange BONUSDOLLARS
    • Choose the Financial products and services category

In the mobile application

  • Log on to the Desjardins Mobile Services application
  • Select the credit card of your choice under My Accounts or Favorites
  • Press Information
  • Choose BONUSDOLLARS
  • Press Exchange BONUSDOLLARS
  • Select the Financial products and services category

Please note: this discount must be made within 60 days of purchase. In addition, the minimum discount is 20 BONUSDOLLARS.

This option cannot be used to pay a credit card balance or its annual fee, repay Accord D financing or make installment payments.

This is a good use case for your BONUSDOLLARS: you won’t pay more for your reward since you buy the entertainment tickets yourself!

Desjardins : How to use and maximize your Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS - Bonidollars Financial Products

In short, you’ll understand that you can do almost anything with your BONUSDOLLARS on Desjardins financial products and services. It’s a good way to use your BONUSDOLLARS if you don’t have any trips planned!

To see the terms and conditions, it’s this way.

BONUSDOLLARS in exchange for trips

This is the best use you could make of your BONUSDOLLARS, especially for holders of the Desjardins Odyssey World Elite MasterCard.

By paying for your trip with your Desjardins credit card, you are covered by travel insurance.

One of the big advantages of your BONUSDOLLARS is that you can apply them to any travel expense. If you don’t like restricted travel miles or points, then BONUSDOLLARS are for you.

Desjardins : How to use and maximize your Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS - travel bonidollars

As for entertainment expenses, here you can use all or part of your BONUSDOLLARS to pay for your trip.

The travel expenses for which you can redeem your BONUSDOLLARS are varied:

  • Hotel, B&B…
  • Plane, train, bus
  • And even against public transport tickets (commuter train, metro, bus).

How to exchange BONUSDOLLARS for a trip

To use your BONUSDOLLARS for a travel expense, you must :

  • Online from a computer
    • Go to AccèsD
    • Choose the card associated with the BONUSDOLLARS to exchange
    • In the right-hand menu, click on BONUSDOLLARS
    • Click on Exchange BONUSDOLLARS
    • Select the Eligible Transactions category

In the mobile application

  • Log on to the Desjardins Mobile Services application
  • Select the credit card of your choice under My Accounts or Favorites
  • Press Information
  • Choose BONUSDOLLARS
  • Press Exchange BONUSDOLLARS
  • Select the Eligible Transactions category

Please note: this discount must be made within 60 days of purchase. In addition, the minimum discount is 20 BONUSDOLLARS.

BONUSDOLLARS, a good deal or not?

The BONUSDOLLARS program has the merit of being simple, but it isn’t very rewarding. Its credit cards don’t offer a welcome bonus, unlike most credit cards in Canada.

Most people who want to earn even more cash back or points turn to cards with flexible points or rebates. For example:

Don’t let points slip through your fingers: use our credit card comparison tool to pick a card that gives you more.

Annual fee
$0 $120
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$420
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$300Annual fee rebated$120Total$420Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to $300
+ First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Apply Now

on CIBC's website

The CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card is one of Canada’s best Visa cash back credit cards.

With this offer, get up to $400 in value:

  • A 10% cash back welcome bonus of up to $250 (first 4 statements)
  • A $50 cash back when setting up a pre-authorized payment (first 4 months)
  • A first year annual fee rebate (worth $120)

With this CIBC cash back credit card, you earn:

  • 4% cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, and grocery purchases
  • 2% cash back on eligible transportation and dining purchases and on eligible recurring bill payments
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on groceries and/or gas and/or electric vehicle charging, you’ll earn $40 cash back per month or $480 cash back per year with this card for this category of purchases!

This CIBC cash back credit card offers many insurance coverages:

  • Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Insurance
  • $500,000 Common Carrier Accident Insurance
  • Out-of-Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance
  • Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 4xGas & EV
  • 4xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xBills & recurring payments
  • 2xTransit
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,044
2nd Year Value$391

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

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 AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days
Annual fee
$191.88
Our valuation
$255
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 15,000 points
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

American Express Cobalt® Card welcome offer

The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer we value at $255.

Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.

You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.

You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:

  • 15,000 Aeroplan points
  • 15,000 Avios points
  • 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

If hotel points are what you are after, our ultimate guide to Marriott Bonvoy and our complete map of Marriott Bonvoy hotels by category show what those points can actually buy.

American Express Cobalt® Card benefits

Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.

  • 5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, home food delivery and convenience stores. A spend cap applies.
  • 3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
  • 2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
  • 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
  • 1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
  • Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
  • No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
  • Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
  • The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
  • Front Of The Line® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
  • A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.

To see how it compares with the rest of the line-up, read our round-up of the best credit cards from American Express in Canada.

The 5X categories and where they apply

The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four kinds of merchants:

  • Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
  • Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
  • Home food delivery.
  • Convenience stores: Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven.

The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.

With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.) 5
Home food delivery 5
Restaurants and bars 5
Convenience stores 5
Streaming services 3
Service station 2
Transport 2
Travel 1
Other 1

That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.

You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.

American Express Cobalt® Card insurance coverage

The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.

Travel insurance

  • Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
  • Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
  • Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
  • Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
  • Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
  • Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.

Rental car insurance

Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.

Mobile device insurance

Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.

American Express Cobalt® Card fees

  • Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
  • Additional cards: $0.
  • Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
  • Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
  • Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
  • Minimum income required: none.

Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.

Annual fee

Primary card$191.88
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xConvenience
  • 3xStreaming
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,828
2nd Year Value$799

Transfer partners

  • AeroplanAirline
  • British Airways ClubAirline
  • Cathay Asia MilesAirline
  • Etihad GuestAirline
  • Flying BlueAirline
  • Hilton HonorsHotel
  • Marriott BonvoyHotel

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $250,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Desjardins credit cards

Desjardins Bank offers eight credit cards: four are linked to the rewards program and earn BONUSDOLLARS, while the other four will give you cash back on your purchases.

Desjardins credit cards offering BONUSDOLLARS

There are 4 Desjardins credit cards, three of which are Visa Desjardins, that earn BONUSDOLLARS:

In our opinion, these 2 Desjardins credit cards offering BONUSDOLLARS deserve your attention:

Desjardins Bonus Visa* Credit Card

This card earns up to 2% in BONUSDOLLARS on all purchases, with no annual fee.

It also offers several insurances:

  • Emergency Health Care coverage for up to 3 days out of province
  • Insurance on mobile devices up to $1000 in case of loss, theft, accidental damage or mechanical failure.
  • Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection
  • Luggage protection

If you’re looking for an equivalent card that offers 1% cash back everywhere and also no annual fee, you might want to check out the MBNA Rewards Platinum PlusMD Mastercard.

Annual fee
$0
Our valuation
$100
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$100Total$100Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 10,000 points
Apply Now

on MBNA's website

The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® is one of the best no-annual-fee credit cards in Canada.

With this card, you can earn 2 points per dollar on:

  • Dining
  • Grocery purchases
  • Digital media purchases (Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
  • Memberships
  • Household utility purchases (electricity, etc.)

And 1 point per dollar everywhere else. This is the best MBNA credit card with no annual fee.

For a limited time, you can earn 10,000 bonus points as a welcome bonus, a $100 value for travel purchases charged to your account.

Depending on your province of residence, the terms vary slightly: in Quebec, the first 5,000 bonus points are awarded after your first eligible purchase, with no minimum spend required.

Annual fee

Primary card$0
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 2xStreaming
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTelecom
  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xBills & recurring payments
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$640
2nd Year Value$307

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000

Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard

It’s a top-of-the-line card in the Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS rewards program, with an annual fee of $130. In addition to a concierge service, you can earn up to 3% in BONUSDOLLARS on your purchases.

It also offers several insurances:

  • Emergency health care coverage for up to 60 consecutive days for persons 75 years of age and under, outside the province (limited to $5 million per person)
  • Intergenerational Travel Coverage
  • Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection
  • Luggage protection
  • Insurance on mobile devices up to $1,000 in case of loss, theft, accidental damage or mechanical failure
  • Rental Vehicle Collision/Loss Damage Insurance

Its biggest competitor is the National Bank World Elite Mastercard®, which has the great advantage of offering up to $150 in credit for various travel expenses!

And its insurance is equivalent to what Desjardins offers. Here is our comparison between the two.

Exclusive
Annual fee
$0 $150
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$150
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
First Year Annual Fee Rebate
$150 annual fee rebated
Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now

on National Bank's website

With Milesopedia, take advantage of an exclusive offer: your first-year annual fees are refunded with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. This offer is exclusively available on the Milesopedia network, from June 30 to November 4, 2026.

  • Refund of the first-year annual fee (a $150 value) for the primary cardholder. This fee is charged to your new card account, then refunded as a credit on your statement within five months of opening your account, provided it remains open and in good standing.

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
  • Airline ticket 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.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xGroceries
  • 2xTravel
  • 2xBills & recurring payments
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$778
2nd Year Value$923

Card benefits

Airport lounge access$400
Travel creditsIncluded

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 60 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 31 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $2,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentIncluded

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+2 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Is it the best rewards program?

Advantages of BONUSDOLLARS

The Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS rewards program has many advantages:

  • Simplicity: The program is pretty simple to understand and use.
  • Flexibility: You can redeem your BONUSDOLLARS for a variety of rewards, as described above.
  • Insurance coverage: Some Desjardins credit cards offer additional benefits such as travel insurance coverage or access to VIP lounges like the Desjardins Odyssée Visa Infinite Privilege Card.

Disadvantages of BONUSDOLLARS

However, Desjardins’ BONUSDOLLARS rewards program is not the one that offers the best rewards:

  • Point value: The redemption value of BONUSDOLLARS may not be as high as that of other reward programs.
  • No welcome bonus: The program generally does not offer substantial welcome bonuses, which is a drawback. So you’re starting out several steps behind other reward cards.
  • Limited options: While flexible, the rewards catalogue may not be as extensive as other programs.

Comparison with other programs

In comparison, travel rewards programs are often more lucrative for frequent flyers. The following programs are preferred:

  • American Express Membership Rewards points,
  • NBC Rewards,
  • BMO Rewards
  • or Scene+.

For cash back enthusiasts, Scene+ will be the most comprehensive rewards program (Travel Rewards and Cash Back). For example, theScotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card is a great choice.

We’ve put together a detailed comparative analysis to help you find your way among the best cards. Please see our article: Comparison of Desjardins credit cards and alternatives.

Bottom Line

Now that you’re a Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS expert, it’s time to maximize your rewards. Don’t forget to check your balance regularly and think about the best way to use them.

How do I redeem my BONUSDOLLARS?

To redeem your BONUSDOLLARS, log on to your Desjardins AccèsD account. Select the credit card associated with the BONUSDOLLARS you wish to redeem. Then click on the BONUSDOLLARS option and follow the instructions to choose the reward category you’re interested in.

How do I earn BONUSDOLLARS?

Earn BONUSDOLLARS is easy. Use your Desjardins credit card for everyday purchases like groceries, gas and entertainment. Every dollar you spend earns you a percentage of the amount in BONUSDOLLARS.

How to use BONUSDOLLARS

BONUSDOLLARS can be used for various rewards, including show tickets, financial products, and even donations to non-profit organizations. You may use them in whole or in part to pay for these services or products.

How do I redeem Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS?

Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS are redeemed through your AccèsD account. Once logged in, select the credit card associated with your BONUSDOLLARS and follow the steps to redeem your points for rewards or services.

How do I activate a Desjardins BONUSDOLLARS card?

Once you’ve received your BONUSDOLLARS card, visit the official Desjardins website. Follow the activation instructions, which will usually include entering your first name, last name and order number from the card.

Do BONUSDOLLARS expire?

BONUSDOLLARS have no expiry date, so you can accumulate and use them at your own pace. However, checking the terms and conditions for any update is always a good idea.

How do I pay a credit card with BONUSDOLLARS?

You can use your BONUSDOLLARS to pay off your debt on your Desjardins credit card. Log in to your AccèsD account and follow the instructions to apply your BONUSDOLLARS to your credit card balance.

BONUSDOLLARS or cash back?

The choice between BONUSDOLLARS and cashback depends on your personal preferences. BONUSDOLLARS offer more flexibility in the types of rewards you can earn, while cashback is more direct.

Our featured card

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$990
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 110,000 points
Ends Sep 22, 2026
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on American Express's website

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The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
  • Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

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