Get up to 50,000 Scene+ Points and the First Year Free with the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card.

Updated Nov 1, 2025
Fact checked by
Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien Voisine Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien Voisine is the President and Founder of Milesopedia and a leading expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel across Canada, France, and the U.S.A. Now 40 years old and a father of two, he has explored more than 100 countries—many of them alongside his wife Audrey and their children. Specializing in loyalty programs such as Aeroplan, Flying Blue, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, Jean-Maximilien helps travellers unlock the full potential of their points and benefits. His mission: empower others to travel better and smarter across North America and Europe.
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Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
To the point The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card offers up to 50,000 Scene+ points ($500) + first year free. Up to 6 points/$ on groceries, 5 points/$ on restaurants. Full guide.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card offers an exceptional promotion in 2025: up to 50,000 Scene+ points (a $500 value) plus the annual fee reimbursed for the first year. With up to 6 points per dollar on groceries and 5 points per dollar at restaurants, this card represents one of the best options in the Scene+ program to maximize your travel rewards.

What is the Current Welcome Offer for the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card in 2025?

Why Choose this Card from the Scene+ Program?

The Scene+ program is Scotiabank’s travel points loyalty program. This card is part of a complete ecosystem including the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card and the Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card.

You can have a single Scene+ account combining your different credit cards, allowing you to accumulate many points both through sign-up bonuses and generous accumulation on certain spending categories.

How Does Scene+ Points Accumulation Work?

The card offers a tiered accumulation system that is particularly generous for everyday spending:

6 Points per Dollar: Partner Grocery Stores

You earn 6 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà par IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! grocery stores. FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

5 Points per Dollar: Essential Categories

You accumulate 5 points per dollar on purchases at:

  • Grocery stores and supermarkets (including Metro, Super C)
  • Restaurants (food service, beverages, fast food, delivery services like Good Food or Hello Fresh)
  • Entertainment venues (cinemas, live productions, ticket agencies, concerts)

3 Points per Dollar: Transportation and Services

You accumulate 3 points per dollar on purchases at:

  • Gas stations and automated fuel dispensers
  • Public transit (local transit, commuter, ferries, trains, taxis, limousines, coach bus)
  • Streaming services (Netflix, etc.)

1 Point per Dollar: all other Purchases

Everywhere else, and abroad, you will accumulate 1 point per dollar spent.

Advanced Strategy: Gift Cards at Grocery Stores

You can earn 5 or 6 points per dollar in grocery stores, which is great since that’s where you can buy a wide variety of gift cards!

IMG 6773

Finally, through gift cards, you can earn 5 to 6 points per dollar for many other stores: SAQ, Amazon, Ikea, Gap, Aldo, Home Depot, etc.

To find out more about our gift card points strategy, click here!

What is the Annual Accumulation Limit?

The annual spending limit in bonus categories is $50,000. Once this limit is reached, you will earn 1 point per dollar. You will also earn 1 point per dollar in all purchase categories when you travel abroad.

How to Use your Scene+ Points for Travel?

You can directly apply your Scene+ points to your travel expenses (flights, hotels, Airbnb, car rentals, etc.) charged to the card: 10,000 Scene+ points = $100.

So, 50,000 Scene+ points = $500 in travel credit.

This is also one of the cards we recommend in these strategies:

You must use at least 5,000 points ($50) when redeeming (after this threshold, redemptions are made at the rate of 100 points = $1).

By using your Scene+ points against travel expenses, you ensure a return of 1 to 6% depending on the merchant where you accumulated them.

What are the Exclusive Benefits of this Card?

24/7 Concierge Service

If you need help with restaurant reservations or finding tickets for a show, the concierge service, provided by American Express, is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This service can help you get access to restaurant tables “fully booked” or create personalized activity lists for your travel destinations.

Access to American Express Offers

This card is part of the American Express network, so you can access American Express online offers, including Shop Small.

It’s handy if you don’t have (or no longer have) American Express cards from American Express Canada! Simply register your card on this page.

Offers Amex Scotia Fr network

American Express Front of the Line® Service

As this is an American Express card, you also enjoy certain cardholder benefits such as “American Express Invites/Front Of The Line.”

This allows you to get front-of-the-line access to many experiences: concerts, plays, restaurants, movies, fashion, and shopping.

To register for the service once you have your card, click here!

What Insurance is Included with this Card?

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card provides comprehensive travel insurance coverage:

Travel Medical Insurance

Coverage is provided:

  • for eligible individuals under 65 years old for a period of up to 25 consecutive days
  • for individuals 65 years and older for a period of up to 3 consecutive days.

Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption Insurance

Charge at least 75% of your trip cost to your card and get trip cancellation/interruption insurance at no additional cost.

You, your spouse, a travel companion, and your eligible dependent children traveling with you automatically benefit from coverage of up to $1,500 per person (up to $10,000 per trip).

Flight Delay Insurance

When you pay at least 75% of the cost of your tickets with your card, you are entitled to reimbursement for necessary expenses (e.g., the cost of a hotel room, meals, and other exceptional expenses).

You may be reimbursed for all eligible necessary and reasonable living expenses incurred due to a flight delay of at least four hours, up to $500 per insured person on the same trip.

Delayed or Lost Baggage Insurance

When you pay the full cost of your airline, train, bus, or cruise tickets with your card, you are covered if your checked baggage is delayed or lost.

  • Lost Baggage: up to $1,000 coverage
  • Delayed Baggage: up to $1,000 for essential items if baggage is not delivered within 4 hours

Other Important Insurance

  • Common Carrier Accident Insurance: up to $500,000 per person
  • Rental Car Collision Insurance: full coverage (max 48 days, vehicles up to $65,000)
  • Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance: up to $1,000 in Canada and the United States
  • Purchase Security: 90 days protection + doubled warranty (lifetime limit $60,000)

Scotia Gold Amex Card vs. Competition: 2025 Comparison

FeaturesScotia Gold AmexCompetitor Cards
Welcome Bonus50,000 points ($500)20,000-40,000 points
Grocery5-6 points/$1-3 points/$
Restaurants5 points/$2-5 points/$
Annual Fee$120 (reimbursed year 1)$120-$150
Income Required12 000$$60,000+
InsuranceComprehensiveVariable

Pros and Cons: Complete Analysis

Benefits

  • Excellent welcome bonus (up to 50,000 points + annual fee reimbursed)
  • Generous accumulation on groceries (5-6 points/$)
  • Scene+ points easily redeemable for travel or everyday expenses at a rate of 1,000 points = $10.
  • Very accessible income requirement ($12,000)
  • No foreign transaction fees for foreign currency transactions
  • Full travel insurance
  • 24/7 Concierge Service
  • Highly profitable gift card strategy

Cons

  • Annual limit of $50,000 on bonus categories
  • American Express acceptance sometimes limited
  • Points not transferable to partners

Bottom Line

This is the best card in terms of Scene+ points earning rate.

This Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card will be very interesting for several profiles:

  • Those who do not want to pay a foreign currency conversion fee
  • Those who want reliable insurance
  • Those who don’t have the income required for other cards, since this one only needs an income of $12,000.
  • Those who can earn lots of points through grocery purchases (think gift cards!).
  • Those who already have one or more Scene+ cards in their wallet.

Thanks to this exceptional offer, you can get up to 50,000 points (a $500 value) and the fee reimbursed for the first year ($120 value), for a total value of $620.

Are you interested in the Scene+ program? Check out these different offers for Scene+ credit cards:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum income required for this card in 2025?

The minimum income required is only $12,000 per year, making it one of the most accessible premium cards on the Canadian market. This is significantly lower than most competitor cards, which generally require $60,000 or more in annual income.

How to use my 50,000 Scene+ points for travel?

You can apply your points directly to your travel expenses charged to the card at a rate of 10,000 points = $100. So 50,000 points = $500 in travel credit. This works for flights, hotels, Airbnb, car rentals, etc. The minimum redemption is 5,000 points ($50).

What is the annual limit on bonus categories?

The annual limit is $50,000 in spending across all combined bonus categories (groceries, restaurants, entertainment, gas, transportation, streaming). Once this limit is reached, you will accumulate 1 point per dollar on all purchases. For most households, this limit is high enough not to be restrictive.

Is this card accepted everywhere like Visa and Mastercard cards?

As an American Express card, acceptance may be slightly more limited than Visa or Mastercard, especially at some small merchants. However, the majority of large chains and online businesses accept American Express in Canada. It is recommended to have a backup Visa or Mastercard for the rare cases where Amex is not accepted.

Are there foreign transaction fees with this card abroad?

No, this card does not impose any foreign transaction fees on purchases made in foreign currencies. This is a significant advantage for travelers, as you save the typical 2.5% fees imposed by most other cards. Abroad, you will accumulate 1 point per dollar on all purchases.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
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.
All posts by Marie-Ève Leclerc

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