How Do I Build a Good Credit Score as a Student?

Many students focus on their studies and put off managing their finances. However, building your student credit score now is a crucial step for your financial future. Your credit score directly impacts your ability to get a student loan, a credit card, a mortgage, or even to rent housing.

By starting early, you show financial institutions that you’re a responsible borrower. And, contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a high income to build a good credit score. Small, consistent actions are enough. This article explains how to create and maintain a strong credit score right from your student years.

Student Credit Score and Credit Report

The credit score is a numerical rating, usually between 300 and 900, that summarizes a person’s reliability as a borrower. The higher the number, the more responsible you are perceived to be by lenders.

This score is calculated from your student credit report, a detailed report produced by agencies such as Equifax and TransUnion. It combines your financial history, including:

Credit cards, student loans and lines of credit;
Payments (on time or late);
Use of available credit;
Recent credit applications;
Service invoices (telephone, internet, etc.).

Many people confuse the two, but it’s important to understand that the quality of your credit report directly affects your credit score.

For students, building their credit history is an essential step towards financial credibility. A good credit score facilitates access to credit cards, student loans, mortgages and even apartment rentals.

Factors That Influence Your Credit Score

Your credit score is calculated based on several specific elements of your student or personal credit file:

Payment history: pay your bills and credit cards on time;
Credit utilization rate: using too much of your limit (over 30%) can hurt your score;
Credit history: the longer you hold your credit accounts, the stronger your file;
Credit applications: each application requires a credit check, which can temporarily lower your score;
Types of credit: having a healthy mix (credit card, student loan, line of credit) shows your ability to manage different forms of credit.

Understanding these factors will enable you to better manage your credit file as a student and gradually improve your score.

Best Practices to Improve Your Student Credit Score

Building a student credit report is an essential step toward financial independence. Unlike your credit score, your credit report includes all your financial habits and repayment history. Here are the best practices to build a strong credit report right from your student years.

Regularly Check Your Credit Report as a Student

Your file may contain errors or inaccurate information. You have the right to request a free copy of your credit report once a year from Equifax and TransUnion. Make a habit of consulting it to correct any errors and monitor your progress.

What’s more, some financial institutions, such as Desjardins, Tangerine, CIBC and Scotiabank, allow you to check your credit score from their banking platform.

Pay Your Bills on Time to Protect Your Student Credit Score

The most important factor in your credit rating is the regularity of your payments. Even a single late payment can have a negative impact on your credit rating and stay on your record for several years. Always pay at least the minimum amount indicated on your student credit card or student loans.

Manage Your Student Loans and Service Accounts

Your student loans are part of your credit history. Make your payments on time and avoid defaults. In addition, some service bills, such as cell phone or internet, may also be reported to credit bureaus. Managing these accounts responsibly helps strengthen your student credit report.

Start Early with a Student Credit Card

It’s often easier to get a credit card designed for students, with a modest limit and sometimes no annual fee. These cards not only help you build your credit rating, but also earn rewards such as cash back or loyalty points.

If you love to travel and want to collect points to save on future trips, National Bank offers the National Bank Platinum Mastercard^®. If you prefer the simplicity of cash back, the NBC mycredit Mastercard is a no-annual-fee card for students. There are many others:

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National Bank mycredit^™ Mastercard^®

National Bank Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: No current welcome offer

With NBC mycredit Mastercard, you get:

1% cash back on restaurant purchases and recurring pre-authorized debits
0.5% cash back on all other purchases

And since it’s a Mastercard credit card, you can use it at Costco.

Cash back is automatically applied to your credit card account balance when each monthly statement is issued.

This is a credit card suited to those new to credit cards who want a no-fee credit card. What’s more, this credit card comes with a number of insurances for your purchases, including mobile device insurance (which is rare for a credit card with no annual fee).

Legal

^®MASTERCARD is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. National Bank is an authorized user.

^®NATIONAL BANK and the NATIONAL BANK logo are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

^™mycredit is a trademark of National Bank of Canada.

Cash back details

Card issued subject to National Bank credit approval. A 1% cash back is granted on restaurant purchases and recurring pre-authorized payments when settled by recurring automatic payments to your mycredit account. The 0.5% cash back applies to all other eligible purchases during a billing cycle. The account must be in good standing when the cash back is disbursed. Your account is in good standing when you meet the obligations of your credit card agreement (e.g., making the minimum payment by the due date). Eligible pre-authorized payments are defined as payments made regularly and automatically debited by a merchant from your credit card. Balance transfers, cash advances, and fees related to card usage are not included in the cash back calculation. To learn about the terms and restrictions applicable to cash back, consult the Cash Back Program [PDF].

Mobile device protection

Subject to purchase of device with card or telephony service subscription paid by recurring pre-authorized payments from your mycredit account.

Credit terms

Grace period: No interest will be charged on purchases made during the month, provided the client pays the balance in full within twenty-one (21) days of the statement date. This grace period does not apply to cash advances or balance transfers.

Minimum payment: If your account balance is lower than $10, you must pay the entire balance.

If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is the greater of 5% of your account balance, plus any overdue amounts, or $10.

If you live outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of your credit card balance, plus any past-due amount or $10, whichever is greater.

Account statement: A statement is sent monthly.

Example of credit charges over a 30-day period

Annual interest rate	Average balance
	$500	$3,000
22.49% (regular card)	$9.24	$55.45
20.99% (regular card)	$8.63	$51.76
13.2% (Syncro card)	$5.53	$33.16
9.2% (Syncro card)	$3.78	$22.68

^*Variable interest rate in effect on September 1, 2021.

Balance transfer and cash advance are subject to credit approval by National Bank. Each balance transfer must be at least $250.

4. Subject to the mobile device’s purchase with the card or mobile plan settled by recurring pre-authorized payments from your mycredit account.

5. The extended warranty applies to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, as long as the manufacturer’s warranty is in effect and valid in Canada. Maximum coverage of $60,000 for the entire term of the account. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. For more information, please consult the warranty certificate associated with your card.

6. These protections apply if the purchases or expenses are charged to the National Bank mycredit Mastercard credit card. Extended warranties apply to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, as long as the manufacturer’s warranty is in effect and valid in Canada. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. For more information and details concerning your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate attached to your card.

7. Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. Refer to the credit card terms and conditions.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

1xRestaurants
1xBills & recurring payments
1xTelecom
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$216

2nd Year Value$148

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

Compare

National Bank Platinum Mastercard^®

National Bank NBC RewardsFirst-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual feeNo annual fee the first year: $0 $70
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$360Annual fee rebated$70Total$430Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $430
Welcome offerAfter $12,500 in 12 months: 40,000 points; Ends Nov 4, 2026

The National Bank Platinum Mastercard^® lets you earn up to 40,000 reward points, plus a refund of the $70 annual fee for the first year for the primary cardholder:

10,000 points when you sign up for credit card payment insurance and keep it for at least the first 3 months
15,000 points after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months
15,000 points after $10,000 in purchases within the first 12 months

You have until November 4, 2026 to apply.

After that, you earn:

2 points per dollar on grocery and restaurant purchases
1.5 points per dollar on gas, EV charging, recurring bills and travel booked through the À la carte agency

Since it is a Mastercard, you can use it at Costco. Unlike the other two National Bank travel rewards cards, it does not require a minimum income.

The card includes mobile device insurance, an extended warranty on your purchases, and comprehensive travel insurance for trips of 10 days or less, with emergency medical coverage plus trip cancellation and interruption.

The annual fee is $70, plus $35 per additional card. The annual interest rate is 20.99% on purchases and 22.49% on cash advances.

Legal

PLATINUM CARD PROMOTIONAL OFFER Q3-Q4 2026-AGGREGATOR

Length of the welcome promotion
From June 30, 2026 to November 4, 2026.

Eligibility conditions

Sign up for a National Bank^® Platinum Mastercard^® credit card as a primary cardholder during the promotion period.
Have not held any National Bank personal Mastercard credit card as a primary cardholder during the past 12 months.
Keep the credit card account open and in good standing, in compliance with the Credit Card Agreement, until the annual fee refund and reward points are credited. For example, all minimum payments must be made on time.
Not be employed by National Bank of Canada or an entity in its group.

Description of the promotion
Up to 40,000 reward points upon enrollment, and a refund of the annual fee for the first year for the primary cardholder of a National Bank^® Platinum Mastercard^®.

Annual fees

The $70 annual fee for the primary cardholder will be refunded for the first year.

We will charge the annual fee to your new card account and then refund it. You will receive this refund within five months of opening your account, provided that your account remains open and in good standing. The refund will appear on your statement as a credit.

Annual fees related to authorized users’ cards are not eligible for this promotion.

Reward points

Points offered	Conditions	When points are awarded
10,000	Enrollment in credit card payment insurance* for at least the first three months	Within two months following the minimum enrollment period
15,000	$2,500 in purchases within the first three months**	By the end of the 6th month following enrollment**
15,000	$10,000 in purchases within the first 12 months**	By the end of the 15th month following enrollment**

* To apply for payment insurance, you must complete the sections related to the Credit Card Payment Protection Plan (CCPPP) included in the credit card application form.

** The purchase calculation period starts on the date you sign up for the card. For example, if you sign up on July 15, 2026, you have until October 15, 2026 to make the required $2,500 in purchases, and the 15000 points will be credited to your account by the end of January 2027.

How total purchases are calculated

The calculation is based on the total amount of purchases made using all cards linked to the account. Transactions not included in the calculation are set out in article 1.5 of the À la carte Rewards Plan^™.

Other conditions

This promotion may only be used once per person.
Issuance of the card is subject to National Bank of Canada’s credit approval. Other conditions apply to the issuance of the card.
Unless otherwise indicated, this promotion cannot be combined with any other National Bank credit card promotion and is not retroactive.
This promotion may be modified or withdrawn without notice.

^®Mastercard and Platinum Mastercard are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Authorized user: National Bank.

^®À LA CARTE EXTRAS, À LA CARTE REWARDS PLAN, NATIONAL BANK and the NATIONAL BANK logo are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

^®THE TOTAL, THE CONNECTED, AND NATIONAL BANK are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

*Platinum Mastercard^®

National Bank of Canada^® Platinum Mastercard^® credit card was named the best credit card for young professionals by Milesopedia in 2025 and 2026. Each year, Milesopedia examines the credit card offers of the largest financial institutions and establishes its ranking according to more than 150 criteria such as fees, welcome offers, minimum income required, number of points per category, account credits, insurance, airport lounge access, etc.

1. Certain restrictions apply. For more information, consult the Rewards plan section or the Plan rules regarding how to earn points.

Credit terms

Minimum payment: If your account balance is lower than $10, you must pay the entire balance.

If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is the greater of 5% of your account balance, plus any overdue amounts, or $10.

If you live outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of your credit card balance, plus any past-due amount or $10, whichever is greater.

Account statement: A statement is sent monthly.

Example of credit charges over a 30-day period

Annual interest rate	Average balance
	$500	$3,000
22.49% (regular card)	$9.24	$55.45
20.99% (regular card)	$8.63	$51.76
13.2% (Syncro card)	$5.53	$33.16
9.2% (Syncro card)	$3.78	$22.68

Balance transfer and cash advance are subject to credit approval by National Bank. Each balance transfer must be at least $250.

4. This coverage applies to purchases and rentals charged in part to the card, except out-of-province medical/hospital insurance for which the travel arrangements need not be charged to the card, and lost or delayed luggage insurance where all transportation costs must be charged to the card. This coverage applies to the primary cardholder, their spouse and/or dependent children when they (spouse and/or dependent children) travel with the primary cardholder. Extended warranty coverage applies to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, as long as the manufacturer’s warranty is valid in Canada. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. For more information and for details of your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate associated with your card.

5. Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. Refer to the credit card terms and conditions.

6. Subject to credit approval by National Bank.

7. The amount of points earned on grocery and restaurant purchases depends on the total gross monthly amount charged to the credit card account, regardless of the purchase category. You will earn 2 points for every dollar in eligible grocery and restaurant purchases until a total of $1,000 in gross monthly purchases is charged to the account. After that, you will earn 1.5 points per dollar in eligible grocery and restaurant purchases. The total gross monthly amount is calculated based on your monthly billing period. Grocery purchases include any purchase made at a store that primarily sells food, i.e., grocery store, delicatessen, supermarket, greengrocer or specialty food store. Ready-to-eat meal services and meal delivery services are eligible. This definition excludes purchases made at retail stores and big box stores whose core business is the sale of non-food items. Certain merchants may sell products and services that appear identical or similar to those sold by eligible merchants, or may be separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified in different categories by Mastercard. For purchases at other merchants, you will only earn regular rewards points. Restaurant purchases include purchases at a restaurant, fast food restaurant, bar, nightclub or pub. For a full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the terms and conditions of the À la carte Rewards Plan^®.

8. To earn 1.5 points per dollar in purchases, you will need to purchase gas or an electrical vehicle charge from a service station or from certain big box stores. Certain merchants may sell products and services that appear identical or similar to those sold by eligible merchants, or may be separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified in different categories by Mastercard. For purchases at other merchants, you will only earn regular rewards points. For a full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the terms and conditions of the À la carte Rewards Plan^®.

9. Recurring bill payments are defined as monthly or regular payments automatically charged by a merchant to your National Bank Platinum Mastercard credit card. Not all merchants offer recurring bill payments, and not all recurring payments are considered recurring bill payments. Certain payments therefore may not entitle you to earn more points.

10. To earn 1.5 points per dollar in purchases, you must make your eligible purchases via the À la carte Travel^™ Agency section of our À la carte Rewards^™ site.

11. The device must have been purchased using your National Bank Platinum Mastercard credit card, or your phone plan must be paid via recurring payments charged to your National Bank Platinum credit card starting September 1, 2022. For complete terms and conditions, please consult the insurance certificate associated with your card.

Annual fee

Primary card$70

Additional card$35

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xGroceries
2xRestaurants
1.5xBills & recurring payments
1.5xGas
1.5xTravel
0.67xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$749

2nd Year Value$209

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 medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,000

Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+2 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days

Compare

CIBC Aventura^® Visa* Card for Students

CIBC CIBC Aventura

Annual fee: $0
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$125Total$125Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $125
Welcome offerAfter $1 in 4 months: Up to 12,500 points

CIBC Aventura Visa* Card for Students is one of the best travel rewards Visa student credit cards in Canada.

With this offer, get up to $200 in value, with no annual fee:

Get up to 12,500 Aventura points (a value of up to $125 toward travel^†):

2,500 Aventura Points when you complete all five activities within 60 days of your CIBC Aventura^® Visa* account approval.^†
10,000 Aventura points after making your first purchase during the period covered by your first 4 monthly statements^†
A free Skip+ membership as an eligible CIBC cardholder (a $110 first-year value)^†

With this CIBC Aventura Student Credit Card, you get:

1 point for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre^†
1 point for every dollar spent at gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, and eligible grocery and drug stores^†
1 point per $2 spent on all other ^purchases†

What’s more, with this CIBC Student Credit Card, you get a free SPC+ membership, plus over 450 deals on everyday purchases, bigger discounts, special experiences and exclusive giveaways^†. And this CIBC Student Credit Card offers some insurance coverage:

$100,000 Common Carrier Accident Insurance
Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

Legal

This is an exclusive digital offer^†. To be eligible for this offer:
1) this offer must have been directly communicated to you from CIBC or from a partner or affiliate;
2) you must apply for the eligible card through the link provided in the CIBC or partner/affiliate communication to you^†.

This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else. CIBC may approve your application, but you are not eligible to receive this Offer if you have opened, transferred or cancelled another Aventura card within the last 12 months.^†

^† Conditions apply. To learn more, select the Apply Now option.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

1xGroceries
1xPharmacy
1xGas
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$338

2nd Year Value$194

Travel insurance

Travel AccidentUp to $100,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Compare

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students

CIBC Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$125Total$125Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $125
Welcome offerAfter $1,000 in 4 months: Up to $125 cash back

The CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students is one of the best cash back Visa student credit cards in Canada. Apply for the card and get up to $125 in value:

$25 cash back after you make your first purchase within the first 4 monthly statements^†
A 10% cash back welcome bonus for the first 4 monthly statements, up to $100^†

With this CIBC Student Credit Card, you get:

2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases^†
1% cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, transportation, and dining purchases and on eligible recurring payments^†
0.5% cash back on all other purchases^†

What’s more, with this CIBC Student Credit Card, you get a free SPC+ membership, plus over 450 deals on everyday purchases, bigger discounts, special experiences and exclusive giveaways^†.

And this CIBC Student Credit Card offers some insurance coverages:

Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

Legal

This is a digital-exclusive offer.^† To be eligible for this offer: 1) this offer must have been directly communicated to you from CIBC or from a partner/affiliate; and 2) you must apply for the eligible card through the link provided in the CIBC or partner/affiliate communication to you. ^† This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else.

^† Terms and conditions apply. Click on Apply Now to learn more.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xGroceries
1xTransit
1xBills & recurring payments
1xGas
1xRestaurants
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$461

2nd Year Value$263

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Compare

BMO CashBack^® Mastercard^®* for students

BMO Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$125Total$125Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $125
Welcome offerAfter $2,500 in 3 months: Up to $125 cash back; Ends Oct 31, 2027

The BMO CashBack Mastercard for students is ideal for students. You can earn 5% cashback during the first three months.

Also, this card comes with 90 days of protection for your purchases and an extended warranty of one year!

Finally, enjoy three months of Instacart+ membership and a $5 monthly Instacart credit when you sign up with your eligible BMO credit card.

Legal

*Terms and conditions apply

BMO is not responsible for updating the content of this site. For the most up-to-date information, please click on the Online Application link.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

3xGroceries
1xBills & recurring payments
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$491

2nd Year Value$258

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Compare

CIBC Aeroplan^® Visa* Card for Students

CIBC Aeroplan

Annual fee: $0
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$200Total$200Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $200
Welcome offerAfter $1 in 3 months: Up to 10,000 points

With the CIBC Aeroplan^® Visa* Card for Students, get up to 10,000 Aeroplan points:

2,500 points on first purchase
2,500 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,500 or more during the first 4 monthly statements periods
5,000 anniversary bonus points after $10,000 in purchases over 12 months

With the CIBC Aeroplan^® Visa* Card for Students, you earn 1 point per dollar on gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries, and Air Canada purchases. For all other purchases, you will earn 1 point per $1.50 spent.

Legal

^† Conditions apply.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

1xGas
1xGroceries
1xAir Canada flights
0.67xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$677

2nd Year Value$338

Travel insurance

Travel AccidentUp to $100,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days

Here’s more information on two of them:

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students

The CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students is one of the best cash back Visa credit cards for students in Canada. Apply for the card and get up to $125 cash back.

With this CIBC student credit card, you get:

2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases^†
1% cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, transportation and dining purchases and on eligible recurring payments^†
0.5% cash back on all other purchases^†

Plus, with this CIBC student credit card, you get a free SPC membership, so you can save instantly at more than 450 retailers in store and online.

This CIBC student credit card also offers some insurance coverage:

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Compare

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students

CIBC Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$125Total$125Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $125
Welcome offerAfter $1,000 in 4 months: Up to $125 cash back

The CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students is one of the best cash back Visa student credit cards in Canada. Apply for the card and get up to $125 in value:

$25 cash back after you make your first purchase within the first 4 monthly statements^†
A 10% cash back welcome bonus for the first 4 monthly statements, up to $100^†

With this CIBC Student Credit Card, you get:

2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases^†
1% cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, transportation, and dining purchases and on eligible recurring payments^†
0.5% cash back on all other purchases^†

What’s more, with this CIBC Student Credit Card, you get a free SPC+ membership, plus over 450 deals on everyday purchases, bigger discounts, special experiences and exclusive giveaways^†.

And this CIBC Student Credit Card offers some insurance coverages:

Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

Legal

^† Terms and conditions apply. Click on Apply Now to learn more.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xGroceries
1xTransit
1xBills & recurring payments
1xGas
1xRestaurants
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$461

2nd Year Value$263

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

National Bank Platinum Mastercard

The National Bank^® Platinum Mastercard^® lets you earn up to 40,000 rewards points through a welcome offer split into several parts, including enrolment in payment insurance, a first spending threshold of $2,500 in the first 3 months and a second threshold of $10,000 in purchases in the first 12 months.

On top of the welcome offer, this card lets you earn up to 2 points per dollar spent in certain categories and includes several travel insurance protections, mobile device insurance, and purchase protection and extended warranty.

The primary cardholder’s $70 annual fee is also rebated in the first year.

Compare

National Bank Platinum Mastercard^®

National Bank NBC RewardsFirst-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual feeNo annual fee the first year: $0 $70
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$360Annual fee rebated$70Total$430Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $430
Welcome offerAfter $12,500 in 12 months: 40,000 points; Ends Nov 4, 2026

The National Bank Platinum Mastercard^® lets you earn up to 40,000 reward points, plus a refund of the $70 annual fee for the first year for the primary cardholder:

10,000 points when you sign up for credit card payment insurance and keep it for at least the first 3 months
15,000 points after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months
15,000 points after $10,000 in purchases within the first 12 months

You have until November 4, 2026 to apply.

After that, you earn:

2 points per dollar on grocery and restaurant purchases
1.5 points per dollar on gas, EV charging, recurring bills and travel booked through the À la carte agency

Since it is a Mastercard, you can use it at Costco. Unlike the other two National Bank travel rewards cards, it does not require a minimum income.

The annual fee is $70, plus $35 per additional card. The annual interest rate is 20.99% on purchases and 22.49% on cash advances.

Legal

PLATINUM CARD PROMOTIONAL OFFER Q3-Q4 2026-AGGREGATOR

Length of the welcome promotion
From June 30, 2026 to November 4, 2026.

Eligibility conditions

Sign up for a National Bank^® Platinum Mastercard^® credit card as a primary cardholder during the promotion period.
Have not held any National Bank personal Mastercard credit card as a primary cardholder during the past 12 months.
Keep the credit card account open and in good standing, in compliance with the Credit Card Agreement, until the annual fee refund and reward points are credited. For example, all minimum payments must be made on time.
Not be employed by National Bank of Canada or an entity in its group.

Description of the promotion
Up to 40,000 reward points upon enrollment, and a refund of the annual fee for the first year for the primary cardholder of a National Bank^® Platinum Mastercard^®.

Annual fees

The $70 annual fee for the primary cardholder will be refunded for the first year.

Annual fees related to authorized users’ cards are not eligible for this promotion.

Reward points

Points offered	Conditions	When points are awarded
10,000	Enrollment in credit card payment insurance* for at least the first three months	Within two months following the minimum enrollment period
15,000	$2,500 in purchases within the first three months**	By the end of the 6th month following enrollment**
15,000	$10,000 in purchases within the first 12 months**	By the end of the 15th month following enrollment**

* To apply for payment insurance, you must complete the sections related to the Credit Card Payment Protection Plan (CCPPP) included in the credit card application form.

How total purchases are calculated

Other conditions

This promotion may only be used once per person.
Issuance of the card is subject to National Bank of Canada’s credit approval. Other conditions apply to the issuance of the card.
Unless otherwise indicated, this promotion cannot be combined with any other National Bank credit card promotion and is not retroactive.
This promotion may be modified or withdrawn without notice.

^®Mastercard and Platinum Mastercard are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Authorized user: National Bank.

^®À LA CARTE EXTRAS, À LA CARTE REWARDS PLAN, NATIONAL BANK and the NATIONAL BANK logo are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

^®THE TOTAL, THE CONNECTED, AND NATIONAL BANK are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

*Platinum Mastercard^®

1. Certain restrictions apply. For more information, consult the Rewards plan section or the Plan rules regarding how to earn points.

Credit terms

Minimum payment: If your account balance is lower than $10, you must pay the entire balance.

If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is the greater of 5% of your account balance, plus any overdue amounts, or $10.

If you live outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of your credit card balance, plus any past-due amount or $10, whichever is greater.

Account statement: A statement is sent monthly.

Example of credit charges over a 30-day period

Annual interest rate	Average balance
	$500	$3,000
22.49% (regular card)	$9.24	$55.45
20.99% (regular card)	$8.63	$51.76
13.2% (Syncro card)	$5.53	$33.16
9.2% (Syncro card)	$3.78	$22.68

Balance transfer and cash advance are subject to credit approval by National Bank. Each balance transfer must be at least $250.

5. Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. Refer to the credit card terms and conditions.

6. Subject to credit approval by National Bank.

10. To earn 1.5 points per dollar in purchases, you must make your eligible purchases via the À la carte Travel^™ Agency section of our À la carte Rewards^™ site.

Annual fee

Primary card$70

Additional card$35

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xGroceries
2xRestaurants
1.5xBills & recurring payments
1.5xGas
1.5xTravel
0.67xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$749

2nd Year Value$209

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 medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,000

Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+2 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days

Limit the Use of Your Student Credit Card

A high credit utilization rate can negatively affect your credit report. Ideally, keep your monthly usage below 30 percent of your limit. For example, if your limit is $1,000, try to stay under $300. This shows that you use credit responsibly and makes you look better to lenders.

Avoid Submitting Multiple Credit Applications

Each new application requires a credit check, which can temporarily lower your credit score. As a student, stick to credit cards that suit your needs, rather than accumulating several cards in a short space of time. A solid student credit report is based on stability and consistency, not on the number of accounts you open.

Key Takeaways: Building a Strong Student Credit Report

Always pay your bills on time, even the minimum;
Do not exceed 30% of your credit limit;
Limit the number of credit applications;
Check your credit report for free every year;
Manage your student loans and utility bills with discipline;
Start early with a student credit card.

By applying these best practices, you’ll build a solid student credit report that will make it easier for you to obtain loans, a mortgage or even a rental apartment once you’ve completed your studies.

Mistakes to Avoid With Your Student Credit Report

Building a student credit report takes discipline. Certain mistakes can hamper your efforts:

Late payments: even a few days late can damage your credit rating. Make sure you pay at least the minimum amount every month;
Excessive use of credit: using more than 30% of your limit can give the impression that you are dependent on credit;
Applying for too many credit cards: each application triggers a check that can affect your credit score;
Ignore your statement: errors can creep in. Check your transactions and balance regularly;
Neglecting to check your credit report: you can check your credit report with Equifax and TransUnion for free every year.

By avoiding these pitfalls, you’ll protect your credit rating as a student and build a solid foundation for your financial future.

Bottom Line

Your student credit report is the first step toward financial independence. By adopting responsible practices today, you give yourself more options and freedom for your future projects. Start small, stay disciplined and your credit history will become a real asset.

Compare

National Bank mycredit^™ Mastercard^®

National Bank Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: No current welcome offer

With NBC mycredit Mastercard, you get:

1% cash back on restaurant purchases and recurring pre-authorized debits
0.5% cash back on all other purchases

And since it’s a Mastercard credit card, you can use it at Costco.

Cash back is automatically applied to your credit card account balance when each monthly statement is issued.

Legal

^®MASTERCARD is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. National Bank is an authorized user.

^®NATIONAL BANK and the NATIONAL BANK logo are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

^™mycredit is a trademark of National Bank of Canada.

Cash back details

Mobile device protection

Subject to purchase of device with card or telephony service subscription paid by recurring pre-authorized payments from your mycredit account.

Credit terms

Minimum payment: If your account balance is lower than $10, you must pay the entire balance.

If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is the greater of 5% of your account balance, plus any overdue amounts, or $10.

If you live outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of your credit card balance, plus any past-due amount or $10, whichever is greater.

Account statement: A statement is sent monthly.

Example of credit charges over a 30-day period

Annual interest rate	Average balance
	$500	$3,000
22.49% (regular card)	$9.24	$55.45
20.99% (regular card)	$8.63	$51.76
13.2% (Syncro card)	$5.53	$33.16
9.2% (Syncro card)	$3.78	$22.68

^*Variable interest rate in effect on September 1, 2021.

Balance transfer and cash advance are subject to credit approval by National Bank. Each balance transfer must be at least $250.

4. Subject to the mobile device’s purchase with the card or mobile plan settled by recurring pre-authorized payments from your mycredit account.

7. Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. Refer to the credit card terms and conditions.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

1xRestaurants
1xBills & recurring payments
1xTelecom
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$216

2nd Year Value$148

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

How do I build a student credit file without income?

Even without a job, you can start with a low-limit student credit card. The important thing is to pay your balances on time to demonstrate your reliability.

What’s the difference between a credit report and a credit score?

The credit score is a number that summarizes your credit risk. The student credit report contains all your credit history: payments, open accounts, loans, etc.

How can I quickly improve my student credit rating?

Always pay your bills on time, reduce your credit utilization to less than 30% and avoid unnecessary new credit applications. These actions will improve your credit rating in just a few months.

Do student loans affect my credit file?

Yes. Your student loans are part of your credit history. On-time payments strengthen your record, but late payments hurt your credit score.

How can I check my credit report as a student?

You can obtain a free copy of your file once a year from Equifax and TransUnion. This allows you to correct any errors and track your progress.

Student Credit Score and Credit Report

This score is calculated from your student credit report, a detailed report produced by agencies such as Equifax and TransUnion. It combines your financial history, including:

Credit cards, student loans and lines of credit;
Payments (on time or late);
Use of available credit;
Recent credit applications;
Service invoices (telephone, internet, etc.).

Many people confuse the two, but it’s important to understand that the quality of your credit report directly affects your credit score.

Factors That Influence Your Credit Score

Your credit score is calculated based on several specific elements of your student or personal credit file:

Payment history: pay your bills and credit cards on time;
Credit utilization rate: using too much of your limit (over 30%) can hurt your score;
Credit history: the longer you hold your credit accounts, the stronger your file;
Credit applications: each application requires a credit check, which can temporarily lower your score;
Types of credit: having a healthy mix (credit card, student loan, line of credit) shows your ability to manage different forms of credit.

Understanding these factors will enable you to better manage your credit file as a student and gradually improve your score.

Best Practices to Improve Your Student Credit Score

Regularly Check Your Credit Report as a Student

What’s more, some financial institutions, such as Desjardins, Tangerine, CIBC and Scotiabank, allow you to check your credit score from their banking platform.

Pay Your Bills on Time to Protect Your Student Credit Score

Manage Your Student Loans and Service Accounts

Start Early with a Student Credit Card

Compare

National Bank mycredit^™ Mastercard^®

National Bank Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: No current welcome offer

With NBC mycredit Mastercard, you get:

1% cash back on restaurant purchases and recurring pre-authorized debits
0.5% cash back on all other purchases

And since it’s a Mastercard credit card, you can use it at Costco.

Cash back is automatically applied to your credit card account balance when each monthly statement is issued.

Legal

^®MASTERCARD is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. National Bank is an authorized user.

^®NATIONAL BANK and the NATIONAL BANK logo are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

^™mycredit is a trademark of National Bank of Canada.

Cash back details

Mobile device protection

Subject to purchase of device with card or telephony service subscription paid by recurring pre-authorized payments from your mycredit account.

Credit terms

Minimum payment: If your account balance is lower than $10, you must pay the entire balance.

If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is the greater of 5% of your account balance, plus any overdue amounts, or $10.

If you live outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of your credit card balance, plus any past-due amount or $10, whichever is greater.

Account statement: A statement is sent monthly.

Example of credit charges over a 30-day period

Annual interest rate	Average balance
	$500	$3,000
22.49% (regular card)	$9.24	$55.45
20.99% (regular card)	$8.63	$51.76
13.2% (Syncro card)	$5.53	$33.16
9.2% (Syncro card)	$3.78	$22.68

^*Variable interest rate in effect on September 1, 2021.

Balance transfer and cash advance are subject to credit approval by National Bank. Each balance transfer must be at least $250.

4. Subject to the mobile device’s purchase with the card or mobile plan settled by recurring pre-authorized payments from your mycredit account.

7. Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. Refer to the credit card terms and conditions.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

1xRestaurants
1xBills & recurring payments
1xTelecom
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$216

2nd Year Value$148

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

Compare

National Bank Platinum Mastercard^®

National Bank NBC RewardsFirst-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual feeNo annual fee the first year: $0 $70
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$360Annual fee rebated$70Total$430Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $430
Welcome offerAfter $12,500 in 12 months: 40,000 points; Ends Nov 4, 2026

The National Bank Platinum Mastercard^® lets you earn up to 40,000 reward points, plus a refund of the $70 annual fee for the first year for the primary cardholder:

10,000 points when you sign up for credit card payment insurance and keep it for at least the first 3 months
15,000 points after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months
15,000 points after $10,000 in purchases within the first 12 months

You have until November 4, 2026 to apply.

After that, you earn:

2 points per dollar on grocery and restaurant purchases
1.5 points per dollar on gas, EV charging, recurring bills and travel booked through the À la carte agency

Since it is a Mastercard, you can use it at Costco. Unlike the other two National Bank travel rewards cards, it does not require a minimum income.

The annual fee is $70, plus $35 per additional card. The annual interest rate is 20.99% on purchases and 22.49% on cash advances.

Legal

PLATINUM CARD PROMOTIONAL OFFER Q3-Q4 2026-AGGREGATOR

Length of the welcome promotion
From June 30, 2026 to November 4, 2026.

Eligibility conditions

Sign up for a National Bank^® Platinum Mastercard^® credit card as a primary cardholder during the promotion period.
Have not held any National Bank personal Mastercard credit card as a primary cardholder during the past 12 months.
Keep the credit card account open and in good standing, in compliance with the Credit Card Agreement, until the annual fee refund and reward points are credited. For example, all minimum payments must be made on time.
Not be employed by National Bank of Canada or an entity in its group.

Description of the promotion
Up to 40,000 reward points upon enrollment, and a refund of the annual fee for the first year for the primary cardholder of a National Bank^® Platinum Mastercard^®.

Annual fees

The $70 annual fee for the primary cardholder will be refunded for the first year.

Annual fees related to authorized users’ cards are not eligible for this promotion.

Reward points

Points offered	Conditions	When points are awarded
10,000	Enrollment in credit card payment insurance* for at least the first three months	Within two months following the minimum enrollment period
15,000	$2,500 in purchases within the first three months**	By the end of the 6th month following enrollment**
15,000	$10,000 in purchases within the first 12 months**	By the end of the 15th month following enrollment**

* To apply for payment insurance, you must complete the sections related to the Credit Card Payment Protection Plan (CCPPP) included in the credit card application form.

How total purchases are calculated

Other conditions

This promotion may only be used once per person.
Issuance of the card is subject to National Bank of Canada’s credit approval. Other conditions apply to the issuance of the card.
Unless otherwise indicated, this promotion cannot be combined with any other National Bank credit card promotion and is not retroactive.
This promotion may be modified or withdrawn without notice.

^®Mastercard and Platinum Mastercard are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Authorized user: National Bank.

^®À LA CARTE EXTRAS, À LA CARTE REWARDS PLAN, NATIONAL BANK and the NATIONAL BANK logo are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

^®THE TOTAL, THE CONNECTED, AND NATIONAL BANK are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

*Platinum Mastercard^®

1. Certain restrictions apply. For more information, consult the Rewards plan section or the Plan rules regarding how to earn points.

Credit terms

Minimum payment: If your account balance is lower than $10, you must pay the entire balance.

If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is the greater of 5% of your account balance, plus any overdue amounts, or $10.

If you live outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of your credit card balance, plus any past-due amount or $10, whichever is greater.

Account statement: A statement is sent monthly.

Example of credit charges over a 30-day period

Annual interest rate	Average balance
	$500	$3,000
22.49% (regular card)	$9.24	$55.45
20.99% (regular card)	$8.63	$51.76
13.2% (Syncro card)	$5.53	$33.16
9.2% (Syncro card)	$3.78	$22.68

Balance transfer and cash advance are subject to credit approval by National Bank. Each balance transfer must be at least $250.

5. Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. Refer to the credit card terms and conditions.

6. Subject to credit approval by National Bank.

10. To earn 1.5 points per dollar in purchases, you must make your eligible purchases via the À la carte Travel^™ Agency section of our À la carte Rewards^™ site.

Annual fee

Primary card$70

Additional card$35

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xGroceries
2xRestaurants
1.5xBills & recurring payments
1.5xGas
1.5xTravel
0.67xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$749

2nd Year Value$209

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 medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,000

Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+2 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days

Compare

CIBC Aventura^® Visa* Card for Students

CIBC CIBC Aventura

Annual fee: $0
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$125Total$125Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $125
Welcome offerAfter $1 in 4 months: Up to 12,500 points

CIBC Aventura Visa* Card for Students is one of the best travel rewards Visa student credit cards in Canada.

With this offer, get up to $200 in value, with no annual fee:

Get up to 12,500 Aventura points (a value of up to $125 toward travel^†):

2,500 Aventura Points when you complete all five activities within 60 days of your CIBC Aventura^® Visa* account approval.^†
10,000 Aventura points after making your first purchase during the period covered by your first 4 monthly statements^†
A free Skip+ membership as an eligible CIBC cardholder (a $110 first-year value)^†

With this CIBC Aventura Student Credit Card, you get:

1 point for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre^†
1 point for every dollar spent at gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, and eligible grocery and drug stores^†
1 point per $2 spent on all other ^purchases†

$100,000 Common Carrier Accident Insurance
Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

Legal

^† Conditions apply. To learn more, select the Apply Now option.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

1xGroceries
1xPharmacy
1xGas
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$338

2nd Year Value$194

Travel insurance

Travel AccidentUp to $100,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Compare

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students

CIBC Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$125Total$125Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $125
Welcome offerAfter $1,000 in 4 months: Up to $125 cash back

The CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students is one of the best cash back Visa student credit cards in Canada. Apply for the card and get up to $125 in value:

$25 cash back after you make your first purchase within the first 4 monthly statements^†
A 10% cash back welcome bonus for the first 4 monthly statements, up to $100^†

With this CIBC Student Credit Card, you get:

2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases^†
1% cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, transportation, and dining purchases and on eligible recurring payments^†
0.5% cash back on all other purchases^†

What’s more, with this CIBC Student Credit Card, you get a free SPC+ membership, plus over 450 deals on everyday purchases, bigger discounts, special experiences and exclusive giveaways^†.

And this CIBC Student Credit Card offers some insurance coverages:

Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

Legal

^† Terms and conditions apply. Click on Apply Now to learn more.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xGroceries
1xTransit
1xBills & recurring payments
1xGas
1xRestaurants
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$461

2nd Year Value$263

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Compare

BMO CashBack^® Mastercard^®* for students

BMO Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$125Total$125Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $125
Welcome offerAfter $2,500 in 3 months: Up to $125 cash back; Ends Oct 31, 2027

The BMO CashBack Mastercard for students is ideal for students. You can earn 5% cashback during the first three months.

Also, this card comes with 90 days of protection for your purchases and an extended warranty of one year!

Finally, enjoy three months of Instacart+ membership and a $5 monthly Instacart credit when you sign up with your eligible BMO credit card.

Legal

*Terms and conditions apply

BMO is not responsible for updating the content of this site. For the most up-to-date information, please click on the Online Application link.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

3xGroceries
1xBills & recurring payments
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$491

2nd Year Value$258

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Compare

CIBC Aeroplan^® Visa* Card for Students

CIBC Aeroplan

Annual fee: $0
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$200Total$200Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $200
Welcome offerAfter $1 in 3 months: Up to 10,000 points

With the CIBC Aeroplan^® Visa* Card for Students, get up to 10,000 Aeroplan points:

2,500 points on first purchase
2,500 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,500 or more during the first 4 monthly statements periods
5,000 anniversary bonus points after $10,000 in purchases over 12 months

Legal

^† Conditions apply.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

1xGas
1xGroceries
1xAir Canada flights
0.67xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$677

2nd Year Value$338

Travel insurance

Travel AccidentUp to $100,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days

Here’s more information on two of them:

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students

The CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students is one of the best cash back Visa credit cards for students in Canada. Apply for the card and get up to $125 cash back.

With this CIBC student credit card, you get:

2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases^†
1% cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, transportation and dining purchases and on eligible recurring payments^†
0.5% cash back on all other purchases^†

Plus, with this CIBC student credit card, you get a free SPC membership, so you can save instantly at more than 450 retailers in store and online.

This CIBC student credit card also offers some insurance coverage:

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Compare

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students

CIBC Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$125Total$125Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $125
Welcome offerAfter $1,000 in 4 months: Up to $125 cash back

The CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students is one of the best cash back Visa student credit cards in Canada. Apply for the card and get up to $125 in value:

$25 cash back after you make your first purchase within the first 4 monthly statements^†
A 10% cash back welcome bonus for the first 4 monthly statements, up to $100^†

With this CIBC Student Credit Card, you get:

2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases^†
1% cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, transportation, and dining purchases and on eligible recurring payments^†
0.5% cash back on all other purchases^†

What’s more, with this CIBC Student Credit Card, you get a free SPC+ membership, plus over 450 deals on everyday purchases, bigger discounts, special experiences and exclusive giveaways^†.

And this CIBC Student Credit Card offers some insurance coverages:

Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

Legal

^† Terms and conditions apply. Click on Apply Now to learn more.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xGroceries
1xTransit
1xBills & recurring payments
1xGas
1xRestaurants
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$461

2nd Year Value$263

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

National Bank Platinum Mastercard

The primary cardholder’s $70 annual fee is also rebated in the first year.

Compare

National Bank Platinum Mastercard^®

National Bank NBC RewardsFirst-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual feeNo annual fee the first year: $0 $70
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$360Annual fee rebated$70Total$430Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $430
Welcome offerAfter $12,500 in 12 months: 40,000 points; Ends Nov 4, 2026

The National Bank Platinum Mastercard^® lets you earn up to 40,000 reward points, plus a refund of the $70 annual fee for the first year for the primary cardholder:

10,000 points when you sign up for credit card payment insurance and keep it for at least the first 3 months
15,000 points after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months
15,000 points after $10,000 in purchases within the first 12 months

You have until November 4, 2026 to apply.

After that, you earn:

2 points per dollar on grocery and restaurant purchases
1.5 points per dollar on gas, EV charging, recurring bills and travel booked through the À la carte agency

Since it is a Mastercard, you can use it at Costco. Unlike the other two National Bank travel rewards cards, it does not require a minimum income.

The annual fee is $70, plus $35 per additional card. The annual interest rate is 20.99% on purchases and 22.49% on cash advances.

Legal

PLATINUM CARD PROMOTIONAL OFFER Q3-Q4 2026-AGGREGATOR

Length of the welcome promotion
From June 30, 2026 to November 4, 2026.

Eligibility conditions

Sign up for a National Bank^® Platinum Mastercard^® credit card as a primary cardholder during the promotion period.
Have not held any National Bank personal Mastercard credit card as a primary cardholder during the past 12 months.
Keep the credit card account open and in good standing, in compliance with the Credit Card Agreement, until the annual fee refund and reward points are credited. For example, all minimum payments must be made on time.
Not be employed by National Bank of Canada or an entity in its group.

Description of the promotion
Up to 40,000 reward points upon enrollment, and a refund of the annual fee for the first year for the primary cardholder of a National Bank^® Platinum Mastercard^®.

Annual fees

The $70 annual fee for the primary cardholder will be refunded for the first year.

Annual fees related to authorized users’ cards are not eligible for this promotion.

Reward points

Points offered	Conditions	When points are awarded
10,000	Enrollment in credit card payment insurance* for at least the first three months	Within two months following the minimum enrollment period
15,000	$2,500 in purchases within the first three months**	By the end of the 6th month following enrollment**
15,000	$10,000 in purchases within the first 12 months**	By the end of the 15th month following enrollment**

* To apply for payment insurance, you must complete the sections related to the Credit Card Payment Protection Plan (CCPPP) included in the credit card application form.

How total purchases are calculated

Other conditions

This promotion may only be used once per person.
Issuance of the card is subject to National Bank of Canada’s credit approval. Other conditions apply to the issuance of the card.
Unless otherwise indicated, this promotion cannot be combined with any other National Bank credit card promotion and is not retroactive.
This promotion may be modified or withdrawn without notice.

^®Mastercard and Platinum Mastercard are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Authorized user: National Bank.

^®À LA CARTE EXTRAS, À LA CARTE REWARDS PLAN, NATIONAL BANK and the NATIONAL BANK logo are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

^®THE TOTAL, THE CONNECTED, AND NATIONAL BANK are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

*Platinum Mastercard^®

1. Certain restrictions apply. For more information, consult the Rewards plan section or the Plan rules regarding how to earn points.

Credit terms

Minimum payment: If your account balance is lower than $10, you must pay the entire balance.

If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is the greater of 5% of your account balance, plus any overdue amounts, or $10.

If you live outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of your credit card balance, plus any past-due amount or $10, whichever is greater.

Account statement: A statement is sent monthly.

Example of credit charges over a 30-day period

Annual interest rate	Average balance
	$500	$3,000
22.49% (regular card)	$9.24	$55.45
20.99% (regular card)	$8.63	$51.76
13.2% (Syncro card)	$5.53	$33.16
9.2% (Syncro card)	$3.78	$22.68

Balance transfer and cash advance are subject to credit approval by National Bank. Each balance transfer must be at least $250.

5. Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. Refer to the credit card terms and conditions.

6. Subject to credit approval by National Bank.

10. To earn 1.5 points per dollar in purchases, you must make your eligible purchases via the À la carte Travel^™ Agency section of our À la carte Rewards^™ site.

Annual fee

Primary card$70

Additional card$35

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xGroceries
2xRestaurants
1.5xBills & recurring payments
1.5xGas
1.5xTravel
0.67xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$749

2nd Year Value$209

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 medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 10 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,000

Trip InterruptionUp to $1,500

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+2 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $65,000 / 48 days

Limit the Use of Your Student Credit Card

Avoid Submitting Multiple Credit Applications

Key Takeaways: Building a Strong Student Credit Report

Always pay your bills on time, even the minimum;
Do not exceed 30% of your credit limit;
Limit the number of credit applications;
Check your credit report for free every year;
Manage your student loans and utility bills with discipline;
Start early with a student credit card.

Mistakes to Avoid With Your Student Credit Report

Building a student credit report takes discipline. Certain mistakes can hamper your efforts:

Late payments: even a few days late can damage your credit rating. Make sure you pay at least the minimum amount every month;
Excessive use of credit: using more than 30% of your limit can give the impression that you are dependent on credit;
Applying for too many credit cards: each application triggers a check that can affect your credit score;
Ignore your statement: errors can creep in. Check your transactions and balance regularly;
Neglecting to check your credit report: you can check your credit report with Equifax and TransUnion for free every year.

By avoiding these pitfalls, you’ll protect your credit rating as a student and build a solid foundation for your financial future.

Bottom Line

Compare

National Bank mycredit^™ Mastercard^®

National Bank Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: No current welcome offer

With NBC mycredit Mastercard, you get:

1% cash back on restaurant purchases and recurring pre-authorized debits
0.5% cash back on all other purchases

And since it’s a Mastercard credit card, you can use it at Costco.

Cash back is automatically applied to your credit card account balance when each monthly statement is issued.

Legal

^®MASTERCARD is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. National Bank is an authorized user.

^®NATIONAL BANK and the NATIONAL BANK logo are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

^™mycredit is a trademark of National Bank of Canada.

Cash back details

Mobile device protection

Subject to purchase of device with card or telephony service subscription paid by recurring pre-authorized payments from your mycredit account.

Credit terms

Minimum payment: If your account balance is lower than $10, you must pay the entire balance.

If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is the greater of 5% of your account balance, plus any overdue amounts, or $10.

If you live outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of your credit card balance, plus any past-due amount or $10, whichever is greater.

Account statement: A statement is sent monthly.

Example of credit charges over a 30-day period

Annual interest rate	Average balance
	$500	$3,000
22.49% (regular card)	$9.24	$55.45
20.99% (regular card)	$8.63	$51.76
13.2% (Syncro card)	$5.53	$33.16
9.2% (Syncro card)	$3.78	$22.68

^*Variable interest rate in effect on September 1, 2021.

Balance transfer and cash advance are subject to credit approval by National Bank. Each balance transfer must be at least $250.

4. Subject to the mobile device’s purchase with the card or mobile plan settled by recurring pre-authorized payments from your mycredit account.

7. Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. Refer to the credit card terms and conditions.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

1xRestaurants
1xBills & recurring payments
1xTelecom
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$216

2nd Year Value$148

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

How do I build a student credit file without income?

Even without a job, you can start with a low-limit student credit card. The important thing is to pay your balances on time to demonstrate your reliability.

What’s the difference between a credit report and a credit score?

The credit score is a number that summarizes your credit risk. The student credit report contains all your credit history: payments, open accounts, loans, etc.

How can I quickly improve my student credit rating?

Always pay your bills on time, reduce your credit utilization to less than 30% and avoid unnecessary new credit applications. These actions will improve your credit rating in just a few months.

Do student loans affect my credit file?

Yes. Your student loans are part of your credit history. On-time payments strengthen your record, but late payments hurt your credit score.

How can I check my credit report as a student?

You can obtain a free copy of your file once a year from Equifax and TransUnion. This allows you to correct any errors and track your progress.

How Do I Build a Good Credit Score as a Student?

Student Credit Score and Credit Report

Factors That Influence Your Credit Score

Best Practices to Improve Your Student Credit Score

Regularly Check Your Credit Report as a Student

Pay Your Bills on Time to Protect Your Student Credit Score

Manage Your Student Loans and Service Accounts

Start Early with a Student Credit Card

Annual fee

Annual income required

Conversion fees

Earning rate

Value

Purchase protection

Annual fee

Annual income required

Conversion fees

Earning rate

Value

Travel insurance

Purchase protection

Annual fee

Annual income required

Conversion fees

Earning rate

Value

Travel insurance

Purchase protection

Annual fee

Annual income required

Conversion fees

Earning rate

Value

Purchase protection

Annual fee

Annual income required

Conversion fees

Earning rate

Value

Purchase protection

Annual fee

Annual income required

Conversion fees

Earning rate

Value

Travel insurance

Purchase protection

CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card for Students

Annual fee

Annual income required

Conversion fees

Earning rate

Value

Purchase protection

National Bank Platinum Mastercard

Annual fee

Annual income required

Conversion fees

Earning rate

Value

Travel insurance

Purchase protection

Limit the Use of Your Student Credit Card

Avoid Submitting Multiple Credit Applications

Key Takeaways: Building a Strong Student Credit Report

Mistakes to Avoid With Your Student Credit Report

Bottom Line

Annual fee

Annual income required

Conversion fees

Earning rate

Value

Purchase protection

How do I build a student credit file without income?

What’s the difference between a credit report and a credit score?

How can I quickly improve my student credit rating?

Do student loans affect my credit file?

How can I check my credit report as a student?

Our featured card

Annual fee

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students

CIBC Dividend^® Visa* Card for Students