Overview
BMO Rewards is the Bank of Montreal's points program: you earn points with a BMO credit card, then redeem them at 150 points per $1 on any travel you charge to that card. Each point is therefore worth 0.67¢, the value we use in all our calculations.
For everyday spending, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card earns you 5 points per dollar on groceries, dining, gas and transit, which works out to 3.33% of your purchase in travel value.
You check your balance and redeem your points at bmorewards.com, using the same sign-in details as your BMO Online Banking. Business cardholders sign in with the Rewards collector number printed on the back of their card instead.
BMO also runs a second program, Blue Rewards, which replaced AIR MILES on BMO cards. Its points, cards and redemption rules are separate: this page covers BMO Rewards only.
How much is a BMO Rewards point worth?
The value of a BMO Rewards point is 0.67¢ when you redeem it for travel. BMO publishes this rate of 150 points per $1 in the terms of each of its cards. So 10,000 points cover $66.67 of travel.
| BMO Rewards points | Travel value |
|---|---|
| 15,000 points | $100 |
| 30,000 points | $200 |
| 55,000 points | $367 |
| 70,000 points | $467 |
| 100,000 points | $667 |
| 200,000 points | $1,333 |
Other redemption options give you less per point, and their value depends on the item or gift card you pick. We therefore recommend keeping your points for travel, the only use where BMO advertises its best rate.
To compare every option in detail, read our guide to using your BMO Rewards points.
Earning points with BMO cards
You earn points only with one of the BMO Rewards credit cards: 4 personal cards and 3 business cards. To help you compare, we converted each earn rate into a percentage of travel value, at 0.67¢ per point.
| Card | Annual fee | Best earn rate | Travel value |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card | $120 (waived the first year) | 5 points per dollar: groceries, dining, gas, transit | 3.33% |
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card | $599 | 5 points per dollar: groceries, dining, drugstores, gas, travel | 3.33% |
| BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* | $150 (waived the first year) | 5 points per dollar on travel; 3 points per dollar on dining, entertainment and recurring bills | 3.33% and 2% |
| BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card | $0 | 5 points per $2: groceries, dining, recurring bills | 1.67% |
| BMO® Ascend World Elite®* Business Mastercard®* | $175 (waived the first year) | 4 points per dollar: gas, office supplies, cell phone and internet; 1.5 points elsewhere | 2.67% |
| BMO Ascend Business Mastercard®* | $0 | 2 points per dollar: gas, office supplies, cell phone and internet | 1.33% |
On all other purchases, you earn 1 point per dollar with the personal cards, or 0.67%, and 0.5 points per dollar with the eclipse rise. The third business card, the BMO Rewards Commercial Mastercard, is aimed at large organizations. You will find our advice on business cards in our comparison of BMO business credit cards.
Annual caps on bonus earn rates
The bonus rate applies up to an annual spending cap, calculated from January 1 to December 31. Beyond that, you keep earning 1 point per dollar, so keep an eye on these limits if your budget exceeds them:
- eclipse Visa Infinite: $6,000 on dining, $6,000 on groceries, $20,000 on gas and $20,000 on transit;
- eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege: $25,000 on dining, $25,000 on travel, $20,000 on groceries, $15,000 on gas and $15,000 at drugstores;
- Ascend World Elite: $15,000 on travel, then $10,000 per category on dining, entertainment and recurring bills;
- eclipse rise: $5,000 per bonus category.
In practice, a household spending $500 a month on groceries hits the eclipse Visa Infinite's $6,000 cap exactly. Adding an authorized user? BMO then gives you 10% more points on the eclipse Visa Infinite, and 25% more on the Privilege.
Click on a card name to see its full terms.
Redeeming your BMO Rewards points
You redeem your points online at bmorewards.com or in the BMO Rewards app. Travel gives you the best rate, and you choose the provider.
Travel: book wherever you like
You book with the airline, hotel or agency of your choice and pay with your BMO card. Then you apply your points to the transaction with Pay with Points, starting at $1. You have 90 days after the purchase to do so.
There are no reward seat limits and no blackout dates: if the ticket is for sale, your points can pay for it. For example, a $900 Toronto-London flight costs you 135,000 points. BMO accepts purchases made with these merchants:
- airlines and passenger rail carriers;
- hotels and resorts;
- car rental agencies;
- cruise lines, vacation packages and eligible vacation rentals;
- travel agencies, tour operators and timeshares.
Other ways to use your points
No trip planned? Your points also work elsewhere, at a lower value:
- Pay with Points on your other recent purchases, for all or part of the transaction;
- more than 100 gift cards and e-gift cards, plus prepaid Mastercard cards;
- items from the BMO Rewards catalogue: if you are short by no more than 20% of the points required, you pay the rest with your card;
- a contribution to a BMO savings or investment account;
- a donation to a participating charity.
Online redemptions carry no fees. By phone, BMO charges fees for merchandise orders and account contributions.
Transferring, donating or losing your points
You cannot transfer your BMO Rewards points to Aeroplan, a hotel program or any other program: the BMO Rewards terms provide for no transfer partners. You can, however, donate them to another member:
- donations start at 1,000 points, online or in the app;
- you enter the person's last name and BMO Rewards collector number;
- the points show up in their account instantly, and a donation cannot be reversed.
Only the primary cardholder redeems points online. They can, however, add authorized redeemers in their profile: those people then go through the BMO Rewards Centre, at 1-866-991-2835.
Which BMO Rewards card should you choose?
The right choice depends on what you buy and how you plan to use your points. We ran the numbers for a household that spends $500 on groceries, $300 on gas, $200 on dining and $400 on other purchases each month:
| eclipse Visa Infinite | CashBack World Elite | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual earnings | 64,800 points, or $432 in travel | $480 in cash back |
| Annual fee | $120 (waived the first year) | $139 (waived the first year) |
| Net gain from year 2 | $312 | $341 |
| Personal income required | $60,000 | $80,000 |
From the second year, the BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* earns you $29 more on this budget, in cash rather than travel. The eclipse Visa Infinite comes out ahead in the first year thanks to its 70,000-point welcome bonus, worth $467 in travel, and it requires a lower income.
Depending on your profile, here is the card we suggest:
- you travel often: the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, with 5 points per dollar on travel and 4 free airport lounge passes a year through Mastercard Travel Pass;
- you want the most perks: the eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege, with 6 lounge visits a year and a $200 anniversary lifestyle credit, for $599 and a $150,000 income;
- you refuse to pay an annual fee: the eclipse rise, which adds up to 5,000 points a year if you pay your balance on time and use Pay with Points;
- you prefer cash to travel: the CashBack World Elite.
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$771Annual fee rebated$150Total$921Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $921
- Welcome offerAfter $20,000 in 12 months
- Up to 115,000 points
- Ends Dec 7, 2026
on BMO's website
Torn between the two travel cards? Our comparison puts the eclipse Visa Infinite and the Ascend World Elite head to head.
All our picks are gathered in our ranking of the best BMO credit cards.
Create your free Milesopedia member account to access our member-only offers and choose the newsletters you want.
Frequently Asked Questions about BMO Rewards
How much is 1 BMO Rewards point worth?
A BMO Rewards point is worth 0.67¢ when you redeem it for travel, at the 150 points per $1 rate published by BMO. So 10,000 points cover $66.67 of travel. Gift cards, merchandise and other purchases give you less per point.
How much are 100,000 BMO points worth?
For travel, 100,000 BMO Rewards points are worth $667. To get that value, you pay for your trip with your BMO card, then apply your points to the purchase with Pay with Points within 90 days.
How do I sign in to BMO Rewards?
To sign in to BMO Rewards, use the same credentials as your BMO Online Banking, at bmorewards.com or from the Rewards tab on bmo.com. Business cards use the collector number printed on the back of the card instead.
Can I transfer BMO points to Aeroplan?
No. BMO Rewards has no airline or hotel transfer partners. You can only donate your points to another BMO Rewards member, starting at 1,000 points.
Do BMO Rewards points expire?
Your points do not expire as long as your card account stays open and in good standing. If you close your card, you have 90 days to redeem them for merchandise or gift cards, or to link them to a new BMO Rewards card.
Can I use points on a trip I already booked?
Yes, as long as you paid for it with your BMO Rewards card. You have 90 days after the purchase to apply your points to the transaction, starting at $1.
Who can redeem the points on the account?
Only the primary cardholder redeems points online. You can add authorized redeemers in your BMO Rewards profile: they receive a code and make their redemptions by phone.
Are BMO Rewards and Blue Rewards the same program?
No. Blue Rewards is the BMO program that replaced AIR MILES, with its own cards and its own points. Points from the two programs cannot be combined.
Point values
| Redemption type | ¢ / point | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| General valuedefault | 0.67 | Medium |
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