To the point
Here's a comparison of two great credit cards: the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card vs. the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard.
BMO is now one of the few institutions in Canada to offer multiple credit card networks:
The two BMO credit cards in this comparison are part of the BMO Rewards program.
Let’s look at the differences between the BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite* Card versus the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard.
Let’s look at the big differences between these credit cards in regards to:
Welcome bonus
The welcome bonus offered by each of these credit cards varies according to promotions. However, there are differences to be aware of between the two credit cards.
With the new BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card, you can earn up to 70,000 BMO Rewards points and have the$120 annual fee waived for the first year.
With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, you can earn up to 70,000 BMO Rewards points, and the $150 annual fee is waived for the first year.
Draw
If you meet the requirements, you’ll earn the same number of points with each of these two BMO credit cards.
Minimum income
The BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite* Card requires a minimum income of:
- $60,000 (individual)
- $100,000 $ (combined)
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard requires a minimum income of:
- $80,000 (individual)
- $150,000 (combined)
Advantage: BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card is more accessible than the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard (above it, there is the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card which requires an individual income of $150,000 and a family income of $200,000).
Annual fee
The BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite* Card has an annual fee of $120 (but has a waiver of the annual fee the first year).
However, this card offers an annual credit of $50, which means it only costs $70 a year!
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard has an annual fee of $150 (but has an annual fee waiver for the first year).
However, it comes with four airport lounge visits, which may justify its cost.
Advantage: BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite
Both cards are free in the first year.
However, afterwards, the BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite* Card costs less and comes with a credit that can be used in any way you want: travel, everyday purchases, etc.
Earning points
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card and BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard offer multiple levels of point earning.
Maximum earning level
With the new BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn 5 BMO Rewards points for every dollar you spend for:
- Groceries
- Dining
- Food delivery
- Gas
- Transit
With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, you can earn 5 BMO Rewards points per dollar spent on travel.
And you get 3 points for every dollar you spend on:
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Recurring Bill payments
Advantage: BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite
The BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite* Card is perfect for everyday purchases with its 5 points per dollar for everyday categories such as groceries, gas or local transportation.
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is exciting if you make many travel purchases: 5 points per dollar.
Basic earning level
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card and BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard offer a base earning rate outside of these accelerated purchase categories.
With the new BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, you can earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Draw
Both cards offer 1 point per dollar for non-category purchases. The only advantage of the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is that it is accepted at Costco, unlike the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card.
Redeeming points
These are two credit cards with travel points that are part of the BMO Rewards program.
Here’s a chart of your different options for redeeming BMO Rewards points:
| Use | 10,000 points | Value of 1 point |
| Travel | $71.4 | ¢0.71 |
| Investment | $66.7 | ¢0.67 |
| Experiences | $62 | ¢0.62 |
| Merchandise | $60 | ¢0.60 |
| Gift cards | $54 | ¢0.54 |
| Statement credit | $33.3 | ¢0.33 |
Draw
Whichever BMO credit card you choose, the best use of BMO Rewards points will be to book travel (airline ticket, hotel accommodations, car rental, etc.) through the BMO Rewards portal. 40,000 points = $285.
Insurance
The BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite* Card offers a number of insurances:
- Worldwide Emergency Travel Medical Insurance: $5,000,000 and 15 days (under 64 years of age)
- Insurance on board a common carrier: $500,000 per person
- Vehicle Rental Insurance: up to 48 days
- Purchase insurance: 90 days (loss, damage, theft)
- Extended Warranty Insurance: Doubling the Warranty
- Mobile device insurance: $1,000
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard offers many insurance options:
- Worldwide Emergency Travel Medical Insurance: $2,000,000 for 21 days (under 65 years of age)
- Flight Delay Insurance: $500 per person
- Baggage Delay or Loss Insurance: $750 per person
- Trip Cancellation Insurance: $2,500 per person
- Trip Interruption Insurance: $2,000 per person
- Insurance on board a common carrier: $500,000 per person
- Vehicle Rental Insurance: up to 48 days
- Rental Vehicle Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance: Up to $200,000
- Personal effects insurance when renting a vehicle: up to $2,000
- Purchase insurance: 90 days (loss, damage, theft)
- Extended Warranty Insurance: Doubling the Warranty
Advantage: BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is one of the best credit cards in the country for travel rewards insurance. Indeed, for most of the proposed insurances, it is enough to have paid only a part of your trip with the card. Even just the airport taxes for an Aeroplan reward ticket, for example!
In contrast, the BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite* Card does not offer travel-related insurance, other than medical or car rental insurance.
The Benefits
The BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite* Card offers a number of benefits:
- an annual credit of $50 (per calendar year) for any purchase
- 10% more points with an additional account holder
- access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotels Collection
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard offers many benefits:
- 4 complimentary passes to airport VIP lounges
- Wi-Fi Boingo access
- accepted at Costco
Draw
On the one hand, the BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite* Card comes with a $50 annual credit that you can use as you wish.
On the other hand, the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard offers four airport lounge visits worth more than $50, but are more restrictive: if you don’t use them, they are worthless to you.
Conclusion
So? Which card wins this duel?
It’s hard to give a definite winner. In fact, it will be up to each person to make up their own mind according to their needs.
The BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite* Card stands out for:
- the 5 points per dollar earning for regular purchases
- the annual credit of $50
It will be more of a credit card for people who regularly earn points for everyday expenses and do not require robust travel insurance. The points can easily be used for hotel nights or car rentals, for example!
The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard stands out from the crowd:
- 5 points per dollar for travel and 3 points for everyday purchase categories
- 4 annual VIP Lounge passes
- great insurance
- the fact it’s accepted at Costco
This credit card is perfect for people who travel regularly and require extensive insurance.
These are 2 cards that we recommend in many of our rankings:
Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
