Head to Head: BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard vs Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ Card
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Two premium cash back credit cards are fighting for the wallets of Canadian families:
The BMO CashBack vs Momentum matchup comes down to a detail the headline rates hide: the cap. The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard shows 5% on groceries, but limits that rate every month. The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ Card shows 4%, but on a much larger yearly cap. To see the other options on the market, check our ranking of the best cash back credit cards.
We base our analysis on the key differences between these two credit cards:
- Welcome bonus
- Annual fees
- Income requirements
- Cash back rates and caps
- Simulation on two household budgets
- Redeeming your cash back
- Insurance
- Annual perks
- The verdict by profile
The comparison table
Here are the two cards side by side, based on our card data as of October 20, 2026, checked against the official BMO CashBack World Elite page and the official Momentum Visa Infinite+ page. We then go through each item in detail.
| Feature | BMO CashBack World Elite | Momentum Visa Infinite+ |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $139 (waived in year 1) | $120 (waived in year 1) |
| Supplementary card | $50 | $50 |
| Income requirement | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household |
| Welcome cash back | Up to $480 ($40 a month with $2,000 in purchases) | Up to $300 (15% on $2,000 over 3 months) |
| Groceries | 5% ($500 per statement) | 4% ($25,000 a year) |
| Recurring bills | 2% ($500 per statement) | 4% (same cap as groceries) |
| Gas and EV charging | 3% ($300 per statement) | 2% |
| Transit | 4% ($300 per statement) | 2% |
| Other purchases | 1% | 1% |
| Travel medical insurance | 8 days | 15 days (under 65) |
| Trip interruption | No | $2,000 |
| Purchase interest rate | 21.99% | 20.99% |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% | 2.5% |
Welcome bonus
Both cards waive the annual fee in the first year. The difference is in the welcome cash back and how much effort it takes to earn it.
The BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® currently offers:
- $40 cash back for every month you spend at least $2,000, during the first year, for up to $480;
- the $139 annual fee waived in the first year;
- a 0% introductory rate on balance transfers for 12 months, with a 2% transfer fee.
BMO presents the whole package as an offer worth up to $650.
The Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card offers:
- 15% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months, on up to $2,000 in purchases, for up to $300;
- the $120 annual fee waived in the first year, including on supplementary cards;
- a 0% introductory rate on balance transfers for 12 months.
The Scotiabank offer ends on November 1, 2026. Here is the effort each bonus requires:
- BMO: $2,000 every month for a year, or $24,000 in total, to get the full $480;
- Scotiabank: $2,000 in total over 3 months to get the full $300.
Annual fees
The BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® costs $139 a year from the second year, plus $50 per supplementary card.
The Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card costs $120 a year from the second year, plus $50 per supplementary card.
Other costs to know:
- Foreign transaction fee: 2.5% on both cards;
- Purchase interest rate: 21.99% at BMO and 20.99% at Scotiabank.
Income requirements
The Momentum is easier to get. It requires a personal income of $60,000 or a household income of $100,000.
The BMO CashBack World Elite requires a personal income of $80,000 or a household income of $150,000, like most World Elite cards.
Cash back rates and caps
This is where the matchup is decided. A high rate is worth little if it stops after a few hundred dollars.
BMO: high rates, capped every month
The BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® pays:
- 5% on groceries, on $500 in purchases per statement period;
- 4% on transit (public transit, taxis, rideshare), on $300 per statement period;
- 3% on gas and EV charging, on $300 per statement period;
- 2% on recurring bills, on $500 per statement period;
- 1% on all other purchases, with no limit.
Above each monthly cap, the rate drops to 1%. In practice, 5% on groceries pays at most $25 a month, or $300 a year.
Momentum: lower rates, capped yearly
The Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card pays:
- 4% on groceries, recurring bills and subscriptions, on up to $25,000 in purchases a year;
- 2% on gas, public transit, rideshare and food delivery, on a second $25,000 yearly cap according to our data;
- 1% on all other purchases.
A $25,000 yearly cap works out to about $2,083 a month. Few households reach it with groceries and bills alone.
Rent and taxes no longer earn 4%
Watch out for a recent change. Starting October 22, 2026, Scotiabank removes rent and tax payments from the 4% recurring bills category. They then earn the base rate of 1%. Our article on earning rewards on rent with no fees covers an alternative outside Quebec.
Simulation on two household budgets
The headline rate is not enough: you have to apply it to a real budget. Here are two typical households, without the welcome bonus, from the second year.
Household 1: big grocery bill and bills
This household charges $3,000 a month to its card, including $900 on groceries and $300 on recurring bills.
| Category (per month) | BMO CashBack World Elite | Momentum Visa Infinite+ |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries ($900) | $348 (5% on $500, then 1%) | $432 (4%) |
| Gas ($250) | $90 (3%) | $60 (2%) |
| Transit ($100) | $48 (4%) | $24 (2%) |
| Recurring bills ($300) | $72 (2%) | $144 (4%) |
| Restaurants ($300) | $36 (1%) | $36 (1%) |
| Other purchases ($1,150) | $138 (1%) | $138 (1%) |
| Yearly cash back | $732 | $834 |
| Annual fee | $139 | $120 |
| Net gain per year | $593 | $714 |
The Momentum wins clearly, at about $714 net a year versus $593 for the BMO. Groceries make all the difference: above $500 a month, every grocery dollar earns only 1% at BMO, versus 4% at Scotiabank.
Household 2: small grocery bill, lots of driving
This household charges $2,000 a month to its card, including $450 on groceries, $300 on gas and $300 on transit.
| Category (per month) | BMO CashBack World Elite | Momentum Visa Infinite+ |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries ($450) | $270 (5%) | $216 (4%) |
| Gas ($300) | $108 (3%) | $72 (2%) |
| Transit ($300) | $144 (4%) | $72 (2%) |
| Recurring bills ($100) | $24 (2%) | $48 (4%) |
| Other purchases ($850) | $102 (1%) | $102 (1%) |
| Yearly cash back | $648 | $510 |
| Annual fee | $139 | $120 |
| Net gain per year | $509 | $390 |
This time the BMO wins, at about $509 net a year versus $390 for the Momentum. Its 5% on groceries stays under the cap, and its gas and transit rates beat Scotiabank's 2%.
The tipping point is around $667 in groceries a month. Below that, BMO's capped 5% pays more than Scotiabank's 4%. Above it, the Momentum takes the lead.
Redeeming your cash back
Both cards pay real cash back, with no points to convert.
At BMO, you can redeem your cash back at any time from $1, or set up an automatic deposit from $25. Our guide explains how to redeem BMO cash back against your credit card balance.
At Scotiabank, you can redeem your cash back at any time in the Scotia app or Scotia OnLine, from a balance of $25.
Insurance
On this front, the Momentum has the edge for travellers.
The Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card covers:
- Emergency medical: up to $1,000,000 for 15 days, for travellers under 65;
- Trip interruption: up to $2,000;
- Trip cancellation: up to $1,500, according to Scotiabank;
- Mobile devices: up to $1,000.
The BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® covers emergency medical expenses up to $5,000,000, but for 8 days only. Our data shows no trip cancellation or interruption coverage. It does add hotel burglary coverage up to $1,000.
Both cards also include:
- car rental coverage up to $65,000 for 48 days;
- flight delay coverage up to $500;
- delayed and lost baggage coverage up to $500;
- 90-day purchase protection and a one-year extended warranty.
Annual perks
Neither card pays an annual cash credit. Their secondary perks target different profiles.
The BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® offers:
- free roadside assistance (boost, flat tire, lockout, towing), worth $75 a year according to BMO;
- discounts of up to 20% at National and Alamo, and up to 5% at Enterprise;
- a Mastercard Travel Pass membership provided by DragonPass, with paid lounge visits;
- 6 months of Instacart+ membership and a $10 monthly Instacart credit, when you sign up.
The Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card offers:
- Visa Infinite concierge services, the Hotel Collection and the Dining and Wine Country program;
- 1 GB of GigSky mobile data a year;
- savings of up to 7¢ a litre at Shell with a linked Shell Go+ account.
BMO CashBack vs Momentum: the verdict by profile
One answer does not fit everyone. Here are three distinct profiles.
The household with a big grocery budget
You spend more than $700 a month on groceries, plus your phone, internet and subscription bills. In that case, the Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card is the clear choice. Its 4% applies up to $25,000 a year, while BMO's 5% stops at $500 a month.
The household that drives a lot
Your grocery bill is modest, but you spend a lot on gas, EV charging or transit. In that case, the BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® serves you better. Its gas and transit rates beat Scotiabank's 2%, and its roadside assistance adds to the value.
The reader who wants cash back without thinking
You do not want to track your caps every month. In that case, the Momentum is the simpler card: one large yearly cap, lower fees and an easier income requirement. With the BMO, it pays to keep an eye on the monthly caps to get the most out of it.
Conclusion
So which card wins this matchup? The Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card wins for most families. Its $25,000 yearly cap pays more as soon as groceries go above about $667 a month, its fees are lower and its travel insurance is more complete.
However, the BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® still has a real reason to exist. For a small household that drives a lot, its gas and transit rates make the difference. Its welcome cash back can also reach $480 if you spend $2,000 a month.
Finally, nothing forces you to choose. The two cards complement each other: groceries and bills on the Momentum, gas and transit on the BMO. To compare with the rest of the market, see our page of the best credit cards or our ranking of the best credit cards for groceries.
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| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
BMO CashBack vs Momentum: frequently asked questions
Which card earns more on groceries?
It depends on your budget. The BMO CashBack® World Elite® Mastercard® pays 5%, but only on $500 of groceries per statement period, or $25 a month at most. The Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card pays 4% on up to $25,000 in purchases a year. Above about $667 in groceries a month, the Momentum earns more.
Which card has the better welcome bonus?
The BMO offers up to $480 in cash back, at $40 for each month you spend at least $2,000 during the first year, plus its annual fee waived. The Momentum offers up to $300, or 15% on your first $2,000 in purchases over 3 months, plus its annual fee waived. Its offer ends on November 1, 2026.
What is the Momentum's $25,000 cap?
The Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card applies its 4% rate to groceries, recurring bills and subscriptions on up to $25,000 in purchases a year. Above that, these purchases earn 1%. That works out to about $2,083 a month, a level few households reach.
Does rent still earn 4% with the Momentum?
No. Starting October 22, 2026, Scotiabank removes rent and tax payments from the recurring bills category. They then earn 1%. Other eligible bills, such as phone or subscriptions, keep the 4% rate. Our article on rent rewards with no fees covers an option outside Quebec.
Which card has the better travel insurance?
The Momentum, for the length of coverage: 15 days of emergency medical before age 65, versus 8 days at BMO. It also covers trip interruption up to $2,000. The BMO offers a higher medical amount, up to $5,000,000, but for a short period and with no cancellation insurance in our data.
Is there a minimum income for these cards?
Yes. The Momentum requires a personal income of $60,000 or a household income of $100,000. The BMO CashBack World Elite requires a personal income of $80,000 or a household income of $150,000. If you do not meet these thresholds, our ranking of the best cash back credit cards lists other options.
Can I hold both cards at the same time?
Yes, since the two cards come from different issuers. Many readers put groceries and bills on the Momentum, then gas and transit on the BMO. Each card does charge its own annual fee from the second year, so run the numbers before keeping both.
