President’s Choice: PC Mastercards
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Most people recognize the President’s Choice brand, a Loblaw-owned company, for its many grocery and pharmacy products. But did you know that President’s Choice Financial also offers PC Mastercard credit cards? In this article, we explain the different PC Mastercard cards, along with their advantages and disadvantages.
Overview of PC Mastercards
President’s Choice Financial offers the following PC Mastercard credit cards:
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
These no-annual-fee cards (with the exception of the PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard®) allow you to earn PC Optimum points on purchases at partner stores, including Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, Joe Fresh and Esso gas stations. You can then redeem your points for free products, discounts or gift cards.
Find out more about the PC Optimum program :
PC® Mastercard®
The PC Mastercard welcomes you with a 20,000 PC Optimum™ points bonus after you spend $50 in the first two months, all with no annual fee. It’s an ideal starter card for collecting points in the Loblaw ecosystem.
- 1% back in points at Loblaw banner grocery stores, including Loblaws®, No Frills®, Real Canadian Superstore®, Maxi® and other locations³.
- At least 3¢ per litre in points back on gas at Esso and Mobil stations
- 2.5% back in points at Pharmaprix and Shoppers Drug Mart
- 1% back in points at Joe Fresh
- 1% back in points everywhere else
That means you earn between 1% and 3% back on your purchases at PC Optimum stores. You can then redeem your points for in-store discounts or a $7 credit for every 10,000 points applied directly to your card balance.
With its 90-day purchase protection, extended warranty and Mastercard Global Service, this card offers valuable protection for a card with no fees at all.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$50Total$50Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $50
- Welcome offerAfter $100 in 2 months
- 50,000 points
Apply Now
on PC Financial's website
PC® World Mastercard®
With a welcome bonus of 20,000 PC Optimum points after you spend $50 in the first two months and no annual fee, the PC World Mastercard is a solid option for regular Loblaw shoppers. Here’s what it earns you:
- 3.5% back in points at Pharmaprix and Shoppers Drug Mart
- At least 3¢ per litre back in points at Esso and Mobil stations
- 2% back in points at Loblaw banner grocery stores, including Loblaws®, No Frills®, Real Canadian Superstore®, Maxi® and other locations³.
- 1% back in points everywhere else
In practical terms, that works out to between 1% and 3.5% back on your purchases at PC Optimum stores. Your points can be redeemed for in-store discounts or converted into a $7 credit for every 10,000 points on your card balance.
The card also includes a concierge service available around the clock, 90-day purchase protection, an extended warranty and Mastercard Global Service for emergencies, all without paying a cent in annual fees.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$50Total$50Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $50
- Welcome offerAfter $100 in 2 months
- 50,000 points
Apply Now
on PC Financial's website
PC® World Elite® Mastercard®
The PC World Elite Mastercard currently offers a welcome bonus of 20,000 PC Optimum points after you spend $50 in the first two months, with no annual fee. With this card, you get:
- 4.5% back in points at Pharmaprix® and Shoppers Drug Mart®
- 3% back in points at Loblaw banner grocery stores, including Loblaws®, No Frills®, Real Canadian Superstore®, Maxi®, and at Joe Fresh
- At least 3¢ per litre back in points on gas at Esso and Mobil
- 1% back in points per dollar spent everywhere else
In other words, you earn between 1% and 4.5% back on your purchases at PC Optimum stores. You can then use your points for in-store discounts or convert them into a $7 credit for every 10,000 points directly on your card balance.
This card also includes travel medical insurance, car rental collision insurance, a concierge service and 90-day purchase protection, benefits that are rare for a card with no annual fee.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$50Total$50Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $50
- Welcome offerAfter $100 in 2 months
- 50,000 points
Apply Now
on PC Financial's website
PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard
With the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard, you get:
- 50 PC Optimum points per dollar spent at Pharmaprix
- 40 PC Optimum points per dollar spent at Loblaws and Joe Fresh stores
- 30 PC Optimum points per litre of gas at Esso and Mobil
- 10 PC Optimum points per dollar spent everywhere else
In other words, you earn between 1% and 5% on your purchases at PC Optimum stores. You can then use your PC Optimum points for in-store discounts at those PC Optimum stores. Plus, the first year is free!
You can also get unlimited $0 grocery delivery and pickup with a free PC Express Pass membership (a $99.99 annual value), valid on eligible orders of $35 or more.
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $120
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueAnnual fee rebated$120Total$120Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $120
- Welcome offer$120 annual fee rebated
- First Year Annual Fee Rebate
Apply Now
on PC Financial's website
Advantages and disadvantages of PC Mastercards and the PC Optimum program
Benefits
- Benefits of the PC Optimum points system
- High grocery rewards (PC Optimum points)
- No annual fee (with the exception of the PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard®)
- No points limit
- Discounts on PC travel expenses
- Free subscription to the PC Express Pass (with the PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard®)
- Extended warranty and purchase protection warranty
- Easy-to-use mobile application
Cons
- Lower rewards outside the Loblaw and PC Optimum networks
- Welcome offer
- Travel benefits (compared with competing cards)
- No high-end travel insurance
Our opinion on PC Mastercards
In our opinion, PC Mastercards are a decent option if you regularly shop within the Loblaw network and PC Optimum.
However, if you don’t store at partner stores often, take a close look at competing cards (as rewards are much lower outside the Loblaw network). You could earn many more points or cash back with cards that have accelerated grocery accumulation.
Other cards to consider
Here are competing credit cards to consider instead of PC Mastercards. They are a great alternative and earn points or cash back faster:
Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite+* Card
With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite+* Card, you get 25,000 Scene+ points as a welcome bonus after you make $2,000 in purchases on your account in the first three months.
Plus, every year, get an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you make at least $40,000 in purchases on your account. In total, the offer is worth up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, foreign transaction fee savings and airport lounge access.
With the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite+* Card, you earn 3 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating co-op grocery stores, and 2 points per dollar spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per dollar on all other everyday purchases.
These points can be redeemed for any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite+* Card also offers:
- No foreign transaction fees
- 6 free airport lounge visits
- Excellent travel and purchase insurance
- Visa Infinite* concierge service
We named this card the Best Credit Card With No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
- Annual fee
- $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $350
- Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months
- Up to 35,000 points
- Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
on Scotiabank's website
National Bank World Elite® Mastercard®
With Milesopedia, take advantage of an exclusive offer: your first-year annual fee is refunded with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. This offer is available exclusively on the Milesopedia network, from June 30 to November 4, 2026.
- First-year annual fee rebate (a $150 value) for the primary cardholder. The fee is charged to your new card account, then refunded as a statement credit within five months of opening your account, provided it remains open and in good standing.
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is National Bank’s best Mastercard credit card.
With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:
- 5 points per dollar on groceries and restaurants
- 2 points per dollar on gas and EV charging
- 2 points per dollar on recurring bills
- 2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
And since it’s a National Bank Mastercard credit card, you can use it at Costco.
With this card, you get a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:
- Airport parking
- Baggage fees
- Seat selection
- Airport lounge access
- Flight upgrades
You also get access to DragonPass airport lounges and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montréal-Trudeau.
Finally, Milesopedia named the National Bank World Elite Mastercard the Best Travel Credit Card in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Exclusive
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $150
- Welcome offer$150 annual fee rebated
- First Year Annual Fee Rebate
- Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now
on National Bank's website
BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*
The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard is one of the best cash back Mastercard credit cards in Canada.
Right now, you can get up to $650 in value, including $40 cash back every month during your first year. Plus, you won’t pay the $139 annual fee in the first year.
You can also take advantage of a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 12 months, with a 2% balance transfer fee.
With the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard, you get strong cash back rates in the categories that matter most:
- 5% cash back on groceries*
- 4% cash back on transportation, including rideshare, taxis and public transit*
- 3% cash back on gas and EV charging*
- 2% cash back on recurring bill payments*
- 1% cash back on all other purchases, with no limit on how much cash back you can earn*
You also get practical perks such as a free Mastercard Travel Pass membership provided by DragonPass, free roadside assistance services, car rental discounts at National, Alamo and Enterprise, and comprehensive travel and purchase insurance.
Finally, enjoy six months of Instacart+ membership and a $10 monthly Instacart credit when you sign up with your eligible BMO credit card.
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $139
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$480Annual fee rebated$139Total$619Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $619
- Welcome offerGet 40 points after $2,000 in purchases per month for 12 months
- Up to $480 cash back
Apply Now
on BMO's website
Bottom Line
In summary, PC Mastercards are a good choice if you regularly shop at partner stores in the PC Optimum program: Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, Esso, etc. With the exception of the PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard®, these are no-annual-fee cards.
There are better options for faster and better accumulation, with more flexible points.
It all depends on your personal situation and spending habits. If you are a loyal customer of the Loblaws family and you do not travel much, a PC Mastercard will be more than sufficient.
Otherwise, I suggest you take a look at the other options on the market. You may be pleasantly surprised by the possibilities. The important thing is to choose a card that allows you to collect as many points as possible… without dipping into your wallet too much!
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you earn PC Optimum points with my PC Mastercard?
You can easily earn PC Optimum points on your purchases at partner stores, including Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, Joe Fresh and Esso gas stations. It’s a great way to maximize your rewards while you shop. You can then redeem your points for free products, discounts or gift cards.
How can you access your PC Mastercard account?
You can access your PC Mastercard account on the President’s Choice Financial website (pcfinancial.ca) or on the mobile app.
Do PC Mastercards offer travel insurance?
Among the various PC Mastercards, the PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard® is the only one that offers travel medical insurance, which is fairly limited.
Where can I find President’s Choice products?
President’s Choice is a brand name for Loblaw stores’ home-cooked products. They are sold in Loblaws, Maxi and Provigo stores, among others.
Which PC Mastercard earns the most PC Optimum points at Shoppers Drug Mart?
The PC Financial World Elite Mastercard tops the lineup with 30 points per dollar at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix, which combines with the standard 15 PC Optimum loyalty rate to deliver 45 points per dollar (an effective 4.5% return). The PC World Mastercard sits at 35 points per dollar combined and the no-fee PC Mastercard pays 25 per dollar combined. Heavy Shoppers shoppers spending $500 monthly on cosmetics, OTC and household products can unlock $270 yearly with the World Elite versus $150 on the entry-level PC Mastercard. The income hurdle for World Elite is $80,000 personal or $150,000 household.