Offer: Up to 115,000 points with the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
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Carte MastercardMD* BMO AscendMD World EliteMD*
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is one of the best World Elite Mastercard travel rewards credit cards in Canada. With our welcome offer, you can get up to 115,000 BMO Rewards points, for a total value of up to $1,900, including up to $200 in Instacart benefits.
Plus, there is no annual fee in the first year for the primary cardholder and additional cardholders, and you get a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 12 months (with a 2% balance transfer fee).
With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, you get:
- 5 points per dollar on eligible travel*
- 3 points per dollar on eligible dining, entertainment and recurring bill payments*
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases*
The card also offers:
- 4 complimentary airport lounge passes per year through Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass*
- Comprehensive travel insurance, including emergency medical coverage of up to $5 million for 21 days*
- A NEXUS statement credit in the first year*
- Up to $200 in Instacart benefits*
- Six months of Instacart+ membership and a $10 monthly Instacart credit with an eligible card*
Exclusive
- 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
Apply Now
on BMO's website
Welcome offer: 115,000 BMO Rewards points
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard therefore offers a welcome bonus of up to 115,000 BMO Rewards points, worth about $770 in travel. And the first year is free.
How to get the 115,000 points
The bonus is unlocked in three tiers of cumulative spending:
| Tier | Net purchases (cumulative) | Deadline | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5,000 | 110 days | 60,000 |
| 2 | $10,000 | 180 days | 20,000 |
| 3 | $20,000 | 12 months | 35,000 |
| Total | $20,000 | 1 year | 115,000 |
Optimize the offer with a good mix of spending
The $20,000 in purchases that unlock the full bonus also earn you base points, depending on the category. Here’s an example breakdown over one year:
| Category | Rate | Spending (example) | Points earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | 5 points/$ | $4,000 | 20 000 |
| Dining, entertainment and bills | 3 points/$ | $7,000 | 21 000 |
| Other purchases | 1 point/$ | $9,000 | 9 000 |
| Total | – | $20,000 | 50 000 |
How much are these points worth?
Redeemed for travel through BMO Rewards, points are worth about 0.67 cents each (150 points = $1). Combining the welcome bonus and the points earned on your $20,000 in purchases, here’s the first-year value:
| Source of points | Points | Travel value |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 115,000 | ~$770 |
| Points earned on $20,000 in purchases (mix above) | 50,000 | ~$330 |
| Total first year | 165,000 | ~$1,100 |
BMO Ascend World Elite Card – Our review
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is an attractive option for travellers looking for a balanced combination of points earning, airport lounge access, and strong insurance coverage.
With the new welcome offer, you can earn up to 115,000 BMO Rewards points, worth an estimated $770 in travel rewards. Combined with the first-year annual fee waiver ($150) and the NEXUS credit of up to $200, the total first-year value can reach $1,900 according to BMO.
Its main appeal lies in the overall value of the offer, which is not limited to points alone, but also includes tangible benefits such as airport lounge passes, a NEXUS credit, and a first-year annual fee waiver.
It is also a relevant card for those who regularly spend on travel, since this category lets you earn 5 points per dollar spent.
Finally, the fact that the first-year annual fee waiver also applies to authorized users adds a welcome benefit for households looking to maximize the card’s value from the first year.
Exclusive
- 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
Apply Now
on BMO's website
BMO Rewards Points
Earning Points
Points accumulation is the main strength of the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard®* .
You will earn 5 points per dollar for your travel purchases. It’s one of the best credit cards in Canada for this type of purchase.
Next, you will earn 3 points per dollar spent on restaurant and bar purchases, entertainment, or recurring bill payments. Everywhere else, you’ll earn 1 point per dollar, including at Costco.
Points Value
BMO Rewards points have a fixed value when redeemed for travel rewards:
- 1 point = $0.0067
- 100 points = $0.67
- 10,000 points = $67
- 40,000 points = $268
- 60,000 points = $402
- 80,000 points = $536
- 100,000 points = $670
- 115,000 points = $770
Redeeming Points
You can redeem your BMO Rewards points on the dedicated BMO Rewards portal. As always, the best return you can get from your points will be on travel: flights, hotels, car rental, etc.
Especially since you can redeem your BMO Rewards points for any travel purchase made with your credit card. And this at the same exchange rate as if you had made the reservation with BMO Rewards!
You can redeem any number of points and top it off with a payment on your credit card.
Insurance
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard covers you from the moment you use it to pay for your trip and/or use BMO points.
Here are the main features the insurance offers (as always, we invite you to check the details of the coverage in the insurance booklet that will be provided to you at the time of application or available on the BMO website).
| Insurance | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Public transport accident | $500,000 |
| Medical care | $5,000,000 (21 days, under age 65) |
| Interruption | $2,000 |
| Cancellation | $1,500 |
| Flight delay | $500 |
| Delay or loss of luggage | $500 |
| Collision/loss and damage to rental vehicle | $65,000 (48 days) |
| Theft from a hotel | $1,000 |
| Purchasing Protection | Yes (90 days) |
| Extended Warranty | Yes (1 year) |
Insurance booklet link BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard®* link
Benefits
Access to VIP Lounges
With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, you can benefit from 4 annual accesses to airport lounges. You will need to register your BMO Mastercard credit card with DragonPass.
This will give you, for example, access to the National Bank or Air France lounge at Montreal-Trudeau Airport.
NEXUS Credit
You can receive a refund for NEXUS application fees up to a value of $200. However, this credit is only applicable during your first year as a cardholder.
To do this, simply charge your NEXUS membership or renewal fees to your BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard. You will then see this credit appear on your credit card account.
World Elite Concierge Service
As a BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard holder, you have access to this concierge service offered by Mastercard. It can be useful, especially when you are abroad and do not speak the language well.
Instacart
Enjoy six months of Instacart+ membership and a $10 monthly Instacart credit when you sign up with your eligible BMO credit card.
Accepted at Costco
Since it is a Mastercard, the card is accepted at Costco.
Conclusion
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is perfect if you have a lot of travel expenses and would like to benefit from solid insurance. What’s more, you get 4 annual airport lounge passes.
If you don’t have this card yet, take advantage of this new welcome offer (up to 115,000 BMO Rewards points) while also getting the first year free.
Exclusive
- 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
Apply Now
on BMO's website
Frequently Asked Questions about the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard offer
Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about this card.
What is the current welcome bonus on the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard?
The current offer on the BMO Ascend™ World Elite® Mastercard® totals up to 115,000 BMO Rewards points (estimated value of $770 in travel), with the annual fee waived for the first year for the primary cardholder and additional cardholders. The structure is split into three tiers: 60,000 points after $5,000 in purchases in the first 110 days, 20,000 points after $10,000 in purchases in the first 180 days, and 35,000 points after $20,000 in purchases in the first 365 days. A supplementary promotion also offers a 0% balance transfer rate for 12 months (2% transfer fee).
What are the BMO Rewards points multipliers?
The BMO Ascend™ World Elite® Mastercard® offers a generous earn structure for travellers:
- 5 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases
- 3 points per dollar at restaurants, on entertainment, and recurring bills
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
BMO Rewards points can be redeemed for travel rewards through the BMO Rewards portal (flights, hotels, car rentals) or applied to any travel purchase already made with the card, at the same redemption rate. The 5x travel multiplier is one of the highest in the Canadian market for this category.
What travel benefits and insurance does the BMO Ascend World Elite offer?
The card includes a full suite of travel benefits:
- 4 free VIP lounge passes per year via Mastercard Travel Pass (DragonPass)
- NEXUS credit up to $200 (first year only)
- 24/7 World Elite Concierge service
- Free 6-month Instacart+ membership + $10 monthly credit
On the insurance side: $5 million in emergency medical insurance (up to 21 days, under age 65), trip cancellation/interruption, flight/baggage delay, car rental (up to 48 days), 90-day purchase protection, and a one-year extended warranty.
How much do you need to earn to get it, and is it accepted at Costco?
The BMO Ascend™ World Elite® Mastercard® is a World Elite-tier card, requiring a personal income of $80,000 or a household income of $150,000. Since it’s a Mastercard, it’s accepted at Costco in Canada, which is a major advantage over American Express cards in this range. Costco purchases earn at the base rate of 1 point/$, but the broad acceptance more than makes up for it—especially for members who do their weekly grocery shopping at warehouse stores.