The Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite is the best cashback credit card in Canada for families who spend heavily on groceries, gas, dining, and recurring bills. Getting 4% back across all four of those categories is unmatched by any other card — the closest competitors (TD Cash Back and CIBC Dividend) only match that rate on one or two categories. At typical family spending levels, this card earns $500–$700 per year in cashback after the $120 annual fee, making it one of the easiest fee cards to justify. Scotiabank customers who bundle their banking may get the annual fee waived entirely.
Card at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Card name | Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite |
| Annual fee | $120 |
| Minimum income | $60,000 personal / $100,000 household |
| Network | Visa Infinite |
| Rewards type | Cash back |
| Welcome bonus | Typically $400-500 in first-year bonus cash back (confirm current offer at Scotiabank) |
| Insurance | Purchase protection, extended warranty, car rental |
Card terms confirmed as of August 2026. The annual fee and income requirements are set by Scotiabank and rarely change, but should be verified on Scotiabank’s credit cards page before applying. The welcome bonus is promotional and changes often — always confirm the current offer directly with Scotiabank.
Cash Back Rates
| Category | Rate | Annual Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | 4% | $25,000 |
| Gas | 4% | $25,000 |
| Dining | 4% | $25,000 |
| Recurring bills & subscriptions | 4% | $25,000 |
| Everything else | 1% | No cap |
Annual Cash Back Estimate
The numbers below assume typical Canadian family spending: $600/month on groceries, $200 on gas, $300 on dining, $200 on recurring bills (phone, internet, subscriptions), and $500 on everything else. That’s $1,800/month in total spending, which earns $684/year in cashback — a net return of $564 after the $120 fee. That works out to a 3.1% effective return on all spending, which is the highest of any cashback card in Canada at this spending level. The $25,000 annual cap per category is generous enough that most families won’t hit it.
| Monthly Spend | Category | Annual Cash Back |
|---|---|---|
| $600 groceries | 4% | $288 |
| $200 gas | 4% | $96 |
| $300 dining | 4% | $144 |
| $200 recurring bills | 4% | $96 |
| $500 other | 1% | $60 |
| Total | $684 |
Net return after $120 fee: $564/year = 3.1% effective return on $1,800/month.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 4% across 4 top categories | $25K cap per category |
| Simple cash back (no points) | Cash back paid annually (not monthly) |
| Visa Infinite acceptance | $120 annual fee |
| Good travel insurance | 1% general rate is average |
| Recurring bills included | Income requirement |
Scotiabank Momentum vs Alternatives
| Feature | Scotia Momentum VI | TD Cash Back VI | CIBC Dividend VI | BMO CashBack MC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $120 | $139 | $139 | $120 |
| Grocery | 4% | 3% | 4% (up to $6K) | 3% |
| Gas | 4% | 3% | — | 1% |
| Dining | 4% | 1% | 2% | 1% |
| Recurring | 4% | 0.5% | — | — |
| General | 1% | 0.5% | 1% | 0.5% |
Who Should Get This Card
| Profile | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| High grocery/gas/dining spend | ✅ Ideal |
| Want simple cash back | ✅ Yes |
| Have Scotia account (bundle discount) | ✅ Fee may be waived |
| Low spend (<$1,000/month) | ⚠️ Fee may not be justified |
| Prefer Aeroplan/travel points | ⚠️ Consider Amex Cobalt |
The Bottom Line
If you spend $400+/month on groceries and gas combined, the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite is the best cashback card in Canada. The 4% rate across four everyday categories produces the highest net return of any fee card. The only reason to look elsewhere is if you prefer travel points over cashback (Amex Cobalt for Aeroplan earning) or if you can’t meet the $60,000 income requirement (try the Tangerine Money-Back at 2% in chosen categories, no fee).
Frequently asked questions
Is the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite worth the annual fee? At $120/year, the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite is one of the best cash back cards in Canada for grocery and recurring bill spenders. The 4% cash back on groceries and recurring bills, 2% on transit and gas, and 1% everywhere else can easily deliver $400–$600+/year in cash back for a typical Canadian family — well above the annual fee. The key is that the 4% applies to subscription services, which is increasingly valuable as recurring digital subscriptions grow.
What qualifies as a recurring bill for the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite? Recurring bills include: utility bills, phone/internet bills, streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, Spotify), gym memberships, and other automatic recurring charges. The 4% earn rate on these categories is among the highest available for non-grocery everyday spending. Note: some merchants code differently than expected — monitor your first few months of statements.
What is the income requirement for the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite? Minimum personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000, consistent with other Visa Infinite products. Credit score of 700+ recommended for approval.