Credit Cards, Playing Without Using Your Credit Card in Canada

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Best casinos in this month

Playing Without Using Your Credit Card in Canada

You can easily lock and unlock your card through RBC Online Banking or the RBC Mobile app by selecting the card you want to lock and switching the toggle forВ Lock Card. Link your eligible RBC credit and debit cards to your Petro-Points card to save on fuel and earn points faster + .

Credit Cards

Instant Fuel Savings at Petro-Canada

Link your eligible RBC credit and debit cards to your Petro-Points card to save on fuel and earn points faster + .

How Do You Want To Get Started?

How Do You Want To Get Started?

Let us help you find the right credit card in 30 seconds or less.

Compare up to 3 cards with our easy to use Comparison Tool.

Get convenient access to everything you need to manage your credit card.

Credit Card Categories

Popular Credit Cards

RBC Avion Visa Infinite

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

RBC Rewards + Visa

RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard

RBCВ AvionВ VisaВ Business

More Ways to Use Your Card

Insurance Coverage For Your Credit Card Balance

Simple and affordable protection when you need it most.

Instant Fuel Savings at Petro-Canada

Link your eligible RBC credit and debit cards to your Petro-Points card to save on fuel and earn points faster + .

Make Contactless Purchases

Make purchases up to $250 without having to touch a payment terminal.

Top Credit Card Questions

If your card has been stolen or permanently lost, call our 24-hour toll-free number 1-800-769-2512 . We’ll block the card from future use and issue you a new card.

You can easily lock and unlock your card through RBC Online Banking or the RBC Mobile app by selecting the card you want to lock and switching the toggle forВ Lock Card.

If you’re ever a victim of credit card fraud, take a deep breath--you’re ok. Call 1-800-769-2512  and we’ll be happy to help you. Provided you’ve take reasonable precautions to protect your PIN and your card, you’re covered for any fraudulent charges both online and in-store. For more information, view the Zero Liability policies by Visa and Mastercard.

Credit cards are important for things like making hotel reservations, car rentals, or online purchases. They’re convenient and secure, and help give you the freedom to manage your finances, cover unexpected emergencies and also take advantage of rewards and special insurances. They’re also an easy way to establish a credit history! Use our credit card selector to find a card that's right for you and apply online in just a few easy steps.

That depends on the card you choose. Some of our cards offer more benefits with an annual fee, while others have no annual fee at all. Browse ourВ no annual fee cardsВ or use ourВ card selectorВ to help narrow down the benefits that are most important to you.

If you collect RBC Rewards points, you can easily redeem them for travel, merchandise, gift cards and more atВ rbcrewards.com. If you earn WestJet dollars, Avios or Asia Miles, you can redeem directly with the airline loyalty program connected to your card.

You can make a payment through any of the methods below:

• RBC Online Banking


• RBC Mobile app


• automated payments (so you’ll never need to worry about making your payment on time)


• by phone


• by mail


• in person at an RBC branch


• at an RBC Royal Bank ATM

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By Julie Cazzin and Keph Senett on December 31, 2020

By Julie Cazzin and Keph Senett on December 31, 2020

These cards provide perks without an annual fee.

Photo by Sid Leigh on Unsplash

If you’re looking for a card that delivers top rewards without an annual fee, look no further. In exchange for slightly lower earn rates, these no-annual-fee cards still get you perks on what you spend. So whether it’s cash back that you want, no foreign transaction fees or generous travel points, these no-fee credit cards offer gold-plated options.

The best no-fee credit cards in Canada 2021

Best no fee flat-rate cash back card

SimplyCash Card from American Express*

These days, many cash back cards offer attractive welcome bonuses, but once the promotion is over, the core card fails to impress. Not so with the SimplyCash Card from American Express. This card gives new cardholders 2.5% back for the first three months (up to $150 in cash back), and afterwards reverts to a regular rate of 1.25%. While some cards complicate things by breaking down their rewards into spend categories, the SimplyCash lets you earn equally across categories—and, there is no limit to the cash you can earn back at the regular rate. Earn more by referring a friend—you can receive $100 in thanks each time, up to 15 friends.

The SimplyCash American Express includes shopping and travel protections, including $100,000 in travel accident protection, buyer’s assurance and purchase protection. And cardholders are automatically enrolled in American Express Invites, giving them access to premium entertainment options.

• Welcome offer: Get a welcome bonus of 2.5% cash back in the first 3 months, up to $150


• Earn rate: Get 1.25% cash back on all purchases regardless of purchase category (after the welcome bonus ends). Plus, no limit on the amount of cash back you can earn; Get $100 cash back for each approved referral up to a maximum annual referral bonus of $1,500


• Additional benefits: Get Front Of The Line access to pre-sale tickets for the most in-demand concerts, theatre productions, restaurants and more; add up to 9 additional cards for free

Best card for cash back

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card*

With its competitive cash back and flexible spending categories, the Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard serves up a sweet deal. Cardholders automatically get 2% back on purchases in two spending categories, with a third category made available when they set up an automatic rewards deposit into a Tangerine Saving Account, which also doesn’t have any fees. All other spending earns 0.5%.

This means 2% cash back is available on purchases in up to three of the following categories: Groceries, restaurants, gas, drug stores, recurring bill payments, entertainment, public transit and parking, furniture, home improvement, and hotel and motel stays.

And while this card offers only minimal perks like purchase assurance and extended warranty, it does allow you unlimited cash back, unlike many other cards that cap your rebates.

If you meet the $60,000 annual income requirement you’ll automatically be considered for the Tangerine World Mastercard, which comes with additional perks such as mobile device and rental car insurance.

• Welcome offer: New cardholders can transfer balances at a low promotional interest rate of 1.95% for 6 months (note that a 1% balance transfer fee will be charged)


• Earn rate: 2% cash back in up to 3 spending categories of your choice from 10 different options; and 0.5% on all other purchases; cash back can be applied monthly, either to your credit card balance or deposited into your savings account


• Income requirement: $12,000


• Additional benefits: Purchase protection and extended warranties

Best no-fee credit card for travel points

MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard*

This card allows account holders to collect MBNA points, redeemable for a variety of rewards including travel, cash back, hotels and merchandise. Trip-happy cardholders will enjoy the ability to redeem 100 points for $1 worth of travel—an impressive redemption rate of 1% that will help you get to your dream vacation faster. If you choose to redeem your points for cash back, the rate is 200 points per $1. For groceries, gas and restaurant purchases, the rate is 2 points per $1 on your initial $5,000 in purchases, and everything else comes in at 1 point per $1. And—great news for those saving against a large travel purchase—the Points never expire as long as your account with MBNA is open.

Additionally, this card offers seven types of insurance, including unexpected return home, rental car collision, and accidental death and dismemberment, balance protection and extended warranty. While you’d likely need additional travel emergency insurance to fill in the gaps, this card gets you started—a rarity on a no fee card.

• Welcome offer: New applicants can earn up to 10,000 bonus points and 4 points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and restaurants for the first 90 days


• Earn rate: Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible gas, groceries and restaurants ($5,000 max annual spend per category) and 1 point per $1 on everything else.


• Additional benefits: Unexpected return home coverage; rental collision and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; balance protection and extended warranty

Best card for no foreign transaction fees

Home Trust Preferred Visa*

There’s more than one way to improve cross-currency shopping, and ditching the foreign exchange fees altogether is a popular—but rare—option. The no-fee HomeTrust Preferred Visa is one of the few cards available to Canadians that have no foreign transaction fees , and along with a respectable 1% cash back on all purchases without limit, it’s a card worth considering. Like many no fee cards, the HomeTrust Preferred doesn’t offer much in the way of insurance beyond purchase security. But when you use this card to pay for an automobile rental, collision and loss coverage are included. The HomeTrust Preferred Visa has a very accessible minimum annual income requirement of $15,000.

• Earn rate: 1% cash back on purchases


• Income requirement: $15,000


• Additional benefits: No foreign transaction fees on purchases in other currencies; rental car loss and collision coverage is included

Best no fee card for low interest

MBNA True Line Mastercard*

If you’re carrying a balance, you’ll want to get that debt onto a lower-interest card as quickly as possible. With a rate of 12.99% on balance transfers and new purchases, the MBNA True Line is worthy of consideration. Add the fact that this card commands no annual fee, and this is a powerful card for someone trying to pay off their debt.

• Interest rate on balance transfers and purchases: 12.99%


• Additional benefits: Add up to 9 authorized users without an additional fee

NOTE: this offer is not available for residents of Quebec

Best no fee student card

BMO CashBack Mastercard*

Canadian students have their own needs, including a way to cover the financial burden of tuition and school expenses, the need to establish a healthy credit history and an unending quest for cash on hand. With no annual fee, a welcome bonus of 5% cash back for three months (up to $100) and a low $15,000 annual income requirement, the BMO CashBack card is designed with students in mind.

The 5% cash back welcome offer is top-notch (and applicants who plan ahead might do well by timing their first three months with the beginning of a semester—those books add up!), and the cash back post-welcome is nothing to sneeze at: 3% on groceries and 1% on recurring bill payments (up to $500 spent per month in each category), and an unlimited 0.5% on everything else. As a student card, there’s no specific income requirements and you can get approved even if you’ve never had a credit card before. It also comes with standard insurance coverage, like extended warranty and purchase protection. Overall, this is an attractive entry-level card.

• Welcome offer: New cardholders get 5% cash back for the first 3 months


• Earn rate: 3% cash back on groceries; 1% on recurring bill payments; 0.5% on everything else


• Additional benefits: Members receive 25% off at National and Alamo car rentals

Best retail or store cards

For PC Optimum Points: PC Financial World Elite Mastercard*

For those who shop regularly at Loblaws banner stores and Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Quebec), the PC World Elite Mastercard offers a great way to take advantage of one of the most popular and useful loyalty programs in the country: PC Optimum. Here’s how it works: When you use your PC World Elite Mastercard, you earn a minimum of 10 points per $1 spent, with multipliers for purchases at Shoppers (45 points per $1), and Esso, PC Travel or any Loblaws-owned stores, like No-Frills, Fortinos or Real Canadian Superstore (30 points per $1). Points are redeemed anywhere PC products are sold, in 10,000-Point increments, which works out to $10. PC Optimum is a valuable, easy-to-use program—and the PC World Elite can help you make the most of it.

• Earn rate: 45 points per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart; 30 points per $1 at Esso, PC Travel or any Loblaws-owned stores; 10 points per $1 everywhere else


• Income requirement:$80,000 personal or household income of $150,000


• Additional benefits: Travel emergency medical insurance; car rental loss or collision coverage; concierge services

Best card for Canadian Tire shoppers

Triangle Mastercard from Canadian Tire*

The Triangle Mastercard from Canadian Tire lets you earn your rewards in Canadian Tire M oney (CTM). Get a generous 4% in CTM when you shop at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek and Mark’s and other affiliate stores, and 1.5% on up to $12,000 of purchases at grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Costco). You also get $0.05 back per litre of gas from Gas+ and participating Husky stations.

You may fondly remember the brightly-coloured bills of Canadian Tire Money stashed in parents’ glove boxes when you were younger. While the program has evolved (it’s gone digital, for instance), it still has a strong Canadian flavour. Redeem your CTM at sporting goods stores ( Sport Chek, Sports Rousseau, Sports Experts and Hockey Experts), clothing retailers (Mark’s/L’Equipeur and Atmosphere), and, of course, Canadian Tire. This card is a clear choice for those who regularly shop at Canadian Tire. And it might even win over some who don’t, with its no-fee financing option, which lets you make interest-free installments on qualifying purchases of at least $150 at Canadian Tire or affiliate stores.

Best secured card for building credit

Home Trust Secured Visa*

One of the best ways to repair a not-so-favourable credit history is to use a credit card responsibly. But most typical credit cards are out of reach for those with a low credit score. That’s where secured credit cards come in handy. With a secured card, you put a deposit down (at least $500 for this card) so the bank doesn’t have to assume the risk of lending to someone with poor credit. Then, by using your card and paying it off—ideally in full and always on time—you can begin to rebuild your credit score. It’s unusual to find a secured card with no fee, making the Home Trust Secured Visa outstanding in this category and our top pick.

• Welcome bonus: None


• Earn rate: None


• Additional features: None

Honourable mention

Rogers World Elite Mastercard

With its regular 1.5% cash back and no annual fee, this card should make Canadian no-fee card users sit up and take notice—but for online shoppers and U.S.travellers, it could be a boon. That’s because purchases in U.S. currency earn 3% cash back, which covers the foreign transaction fee credit cards typically charge—between 2.5% and 3%. Cash rewards can then be redeemed towards any eligible purchases made on your card, for the ultimate in flexibility.

There is one drawback, which is that applicants must have an annual income of $80,000; that’ll exclude many Canadians. Under the card’s terms, you’ll also need to spend at least $15,000 on the card over an annual review period (August 1 to July 31) otherwise you could be downgraded to the entry-level Rogers Platinum Mastercard that earns a lower 1% cash back. For those who can meet its income and spending requirements though, the Rogers World Elite is a great option.

• Welcome offer: Get $25 in cash back rewards when you make your first card purchase within 3 months of receiving your card


• Earn rate: Get 3% cash back on purchases in U.S. currency, and 1.5% on all other purchases


• Income requirement: $80,000 individual, $150,000 household


• Additional benefits: Travel insurance including emergency air-transportation or evacuation; reimbursement of prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses up to $1,000 per person, or $5,000 per account; emergency dental care; and more

Advantages of a no-fee credit card

The main advantage of a no-fee credit card is exactly what the name suggests: There’s no fee. This means that unless you’re carrying outstanding debt, using the card costs you nothing. The appeal of a free card is obvious, but there are some things to consider, not the least of which is that no-fee credit cards typically offer far fewer benefits and perks than cards that carry an annual fee. More on that below, but first let’s look at some of the top reasons why a no fee option might be best for you:

• You’re a student or just starting out
  Everyone needs to establish credit. Starting out with a no-fee card lets you build up credit and understand your spending habits before you consider moving on to a card with an annual fee.


• You’re a light credit user
  Cards that carry a fee often have other valuable benefits or rewards—perks that offset the upfront cost with enough use. If you don’t foresee yourself spending enough to make back the cost of the annual fee, a no-fee card may be the better choice.


• You already have a fee card
  There are lots of reasons to carry a second no-fee card as a back-up. You could use an American Express with a fee as your main card, but what about places that don’t accept Amex? Or maybe you carry a rewards card with a fee and chose a no fee cash back card. It’s not a bad (or costly) idea to have a no-fee card in your wallet.

No-fee cards come with fewer frills

One major drawback to no-fee cards is that, with few exceptions, they lack the perks and benefits—particularly insurance—that’s offered by many cards with an annual fee. Typically, no-fee cards do include very basic protections such as zero liability, purchase protection and extended warranty, but you’ll likely miss out on travel medical emergency insurance and rental car collision coverage and on perks such as airport lounge access. Ultimately, you’ll have to weigh these benefits against the fees and decide whether a no-fee credit card works best for you.

More about credit cards

• Best credit cards in Canada


• Best rewards credit cards


• Best travel credit cards


• Best cash back credit cards


• Best low interest credit cards


• Best balance transfer credit Cards


• Best student credit cards

Our methodology

For the best cash back credit cards 2021 ranking, MoneySense tapped into Ratehub.ca’s‡ credit card tool and calculated the numbers for both fee and no fee cash back rewards cards based on $2,000 in monthly spending. We used the following scenario: $500 on groceries, $200 on gas, $200 on restaurants, $125 on bill payments, $175 on travel, $225 on entertainment, $75 on pharmacy purchases and $500 on everything else.

The end game was a magic number—that is, the annual net reward in dollar terms to identify the top cash back cards for each type of spender. Our methodology also took into consideration other factors, including limited-time accelerated earn rates, the range of spending bonus categories, annual fee waivers, purchase protections and travel insurance perks.

‡MoneySense.ca and Ratehub.ca are both owned by parent company Ratehub Inc. We may be partnered with some financial institutions, but this does not influence the “Canada’s Best Credit Card” rankings. You can read more about this in our Editorial Code of Conduct.

What does the * mean?

If a link has an asterisk (*) at the end of it, that means it's an affiliate link and can sometimes result in a payment to MoneySense (owned by Ratehub Inc.) which helps our website stay free to our users. It's important to note that our editorial content will never be impacted by these links. We are committed to looking at all available products in the market, and where a product ranks in our article or whether or not it's included in the first place is never driven by compensation. For more details read our MoneySense Monetization policy.

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Rogers has changed their terms for their World Elite Mastercard:

WE’RE MAKING SOME CHANGES TO YOUR ROGERS WORLD ELITE MASTERCARD ACCOUNT

Effective June 2, 2020, we will be making some changes to your Rogers World Elite Mastercard Account. Please find a summary of what will be included with your card, along with the detailed changes to the following: (1) Rogers Bank Cardholder Agreement, and (2) Rogers World Elite Mastercard Rewards Program Terms and Conditions. Your use of the Account or your Card after the changes noted above go into effect will mean that you have accepted all of those changes. For residents of Quebec, if you do not agree with this change, you may terminate your Account with us by July 1, 2020 without cost or penalty after any remaining balance is paid off.

What is included with your Rogers World Elite Mastercard starting June 2, 2020

3% in cash back rewards on all your eligible purchases made in U.S. dollars (previously 4% on all eligible purchases made in any foreign currency)

1.5% in cash back rewards on all other eligible purchases (previously 2% on Rogers products and services and 1.75% on all other eligible purchases)

There’s also a minimum $15k spend per year starting August 1, 2020

Thought you should know, it might affect where it’s shows in your rankings.

Thanks for letting us know. We will update this as soon as we can. Our goal is to have the most up-to-date information. We do our best to fact check all our content before it gets published and make updates regularly, but some things may get missed. We would like to remind our readers to do their own fact checking before making any personal finance decisions.

No mention of Costco Master Card, No Fees (except for $60 yearly Costco membership fee) 2% cassh back at end of year.

Scotia bank has just changed it’s NO FEE Visa card to charge $29.00 a year. As of April 1st/ 2021. They will be dropping the interest rate on the card. This is a rip off to people who never carry a balance but pay off immediately . In effect, we are now sharing in paying the debts of all the other cardholders. Savers, and people careful with their money, are shafted again. It feels like a ‘bait and switch’.

Getting US Credit Cards for Canadians [2020]

Originally published in 2018, our guide to Getting US Credit Cards for Canadians has been refreshed for 2020, including new information on the 24/7 Parcel address, the convenient Nova Credit method for getting approved for your first Amex US card, and a more up-to-date method for obtaining an ITIN.

In this article, we’ll discuss how savvy Canadian consumers can go about obtaining their very first US-issued credit card.

Once you get your first US card, you’ll start building credit history in the US, and eventually you’ll be eligible for most, if not all, of the credit cards in the US marketplace.

Whether you’re looking to rack up the sky-high signup bonuses on US credit cards to travel the world, or searching for a more comprehensive US dollar spending solution than what’s available here in Canada, having access to US credit cards as a Canadian can be useful in many circumstances. Here’s how to get your US credit file up and running.

In addition to this detailed guide, you can also watch the below video I made on how Canadians can obtain US credit cards:

In This Post

Step 1: Get a US Address

First off, you’re going to need to have a residential address that’s domiciled in the United States.

If you have family or good friends down there – lucky you! As long as they agree to let you use their address, you can ask them to forward your mail periodically, pick it up yourself when you visit them, or simply ask them to take pictures of your mail and send it on to you.

For the rest of us, getting a US address is as simple as using a mail forwarding or mailbox service. I personally use 24/7 Parcel, which has facilities in Washington State (close to Vancouver) as well as Niagara County in New York (close to Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, etc.)

While 24/7 Parcel mainly offer parcel receiving and pick-up services, the Niagara Falls location will also forward your letter mail for US$1 plus postage per envelope (typically US$2.15 in total for letters to Canada).

They do charge an annual fee of US$90 per year; however, Prince of Travel readers can obtain a US$20 discount by mentioning that I referred you to the service. Click here for more details about 24/7 Parcel and the US$20 discount.

There are also other mail forwarding services out there you can choose from, and I encourage you to do some of your own research as well.

(Keep in mind that certain services, like Shipito or MyMallBox, were once popular with Canadians looking to get US credit cards, but have since changed their policies to no longer forward credit cards in the mail. While 24/7 Parcel has publicly committed to continuing to handle credit cards, there have been a small handful of reports of US credit card applicants being questioned about the 24/7 Parcel address during the application process. Most applicants are still using 24/7 Parcel without any issues, but you may wish to choose a different mail forwarding service to be on the safe side.)

No matter what mailbox service you pick, make sure to verify one thing. Go to the USPS address lookup tool and enter the address of your mailbox, and make sure that “Commercial Mail Receiving Agency” isn’t marked as “Y”.

That’s because many credit card companies will deem these addresses ineligible once they see that it’s registered as a mail forwarding service.

As long as the “Commercial Mail Receiving Agency” line is marked with a “N” (as is the case for 24/7 Parcel), issuers will recognize the address as a residential address, and you’ll be good to go.

Step 2: Get a US Bank Account

You’re going to need a US bank account to pay off your US credit card bills, so let’s get one set up.

This step is easy – several Canadian banks have subsidiaries in the US, and if you bank with them on the Canadian side, it tends to be a pretty straightforward process to set up an account in the US as well.

I personally use CIBC for my personal banking in Canada. Their US counterpart, CIBC US, offers a Smart Account account that has a monthly maintenance fee starting at only US$4.95 (covering up to 12 transactions).

That’s a solid proposition in my book, and it’s really easy to get set up if you’re an existing CIBC client with Canada (you can apply online and also transfer US funds in-between your Canadian- and US-domiciled CIBC accounts instantly online).

The equivalent holds true with TD Canada Trust and TD Bank (their Convenience Checking account is a very affordable option), BMO Bank of Montreal and BMO Harris Bank, as well as RBC Royal Bank and RBC Bank. All of these banks have very well-established Cross-Border Banking products and guidelines, so simply go online to get more information on their personal checking options and to open an account.

No matter which US bank account you go with, you’ll ideally want to set your US address (from Step 1!) as the primary address on the account, such that the US address shows up on all your monthly banking statements. This will be useful when it’s time to verify your address with credit card issuers later on.

Step 3: Get Your First American Express US Card via Nova Credit

Once you have a bank account and address, you can actually start applying for cards now.

You need to open a few accounts to start building credit history from scratch, and the easiest issuer to begin with is American Express. Amex is a global company, and they offer their cardholders a number of easy ways to transfer their membership to another country whenever they “relocate”.

The first option is an American Express Global Transfer from Canada to the US. To be eligible for a Global Transfer, you need to have at least one Canadian American Express account that’s been open and in good standing for at least three months.

Then, you can call the Global Transfer number and tell them you’d like to do a Global Transfer as a current Canadian cardholder to a US credit card, and then proceeding to complete the application over the phone.

However, American Express US has recently begun working with a service known as Nova Credit to apply directly using your Canadian credit file, without needing to be an existing cardholder on the Canadian side.

To do this, open up the application form of any Amex US personal credit card, and then click the “International Cardholder” checkbox where it asks for your Social Security Number.

(Note where it says “Sign in for a simpler application process.” Even if you happen to be an existing Canadian cardholder, it isn’t actually necessary to sign in; doing so will initiate the Global Transfer process described above, whereas not signing in will result in the arguably smoother Nova Credit process.)

Submitting the application will bring you to the Nova Credit portal, where you’ll be asked to select the foreign credit history on which you’d like to base your application. Canadians would select Canada, although the same process could be used by residents of Australia, India, Mexico, and the UK to apply for US credit cards as well.

You’ll be asked to fill in some information to locate your Canadian TransUnion file, including your name, date of birth, and recent address. Once a potential match to your credit file is located, you’ll also be asked a set of three identity questions based on your TransUnion credit file as another verification step.

(The Nova Credit process results in only a soft inquiry, not a hard inquiry, on your TransUnion credit file in Canada.)

Once that’s done, you check a few boxes to authorize Nova Credit to transmit your Canadian credit information over to American Express US.

Next, you may be asked for some supplemental information about your finances. Providing this information is optional, but may help speed up your application’s processing time.

The final step is to provide details of a foreign ID, such as a passport, that can help prove you are who you say you are. A Canadian passport should work fine.

You may be instantly approved at this stage, or you may be asked to verify your identity documents (such as uploading a PDF copy of the passport information you provided) or verify your address (such as uploading a bank statement from Step 2 with your US address on it, or calling American Express and speaking with an agent, who will initiate a three-way call with your bank to verify your address). See how everything ties together nicely?

Either way, if all goes well, you should expect a shiny new piece of plastic (or metal!) to be on its way to your US address. Congratulations, your US credit history has just been “born”!

Now, one question might be on your mind: which Amex US product should you pick as your first American credit card?

In most cases, I’d actually recommend starting out with a basic Amex credit card with no annual fee, such as the American Express US Blue Card or the American Express US Hilton Honors Card. That’s because this is going to be the oldest account on your US credit history, and you’ll be helping your credit score the most if you keep this account open forever.

Another option would be to choose a card that makes sense to keep around for the long run, such as the Amex US Bonvoy Brilliant Card. Not only does it have an impressive signup bonus of 75,000 Bonvoy points, but its net annual fee of US$150 is easily outweighed by the anniversary free night certificate worth up to 50,000 Bonvoy points that you get year after year.

However, sometimes there are special elevated offers that are worth nabbing as soon as possible, such as the recent 60,000 points on the Amex US Gold Card or 50,000 points on the Amex US Green Card in Fall 2020, and those big bonuses could be wise choices for your first US credit card too.

It’s also worth noting that business credit cards do not report to personal credit bureaus in the States, so they don’t help you build credit history and therefore wouldn’t be a good choice as a starter US card.

Moreover, business credit cards can’t be obtained using Nova Credit either, so if you’re interested in one of the Amex US small business cards, your best bet would be to set up a US credit history by getting one of the personal cards first, and then applying for a business card in 3–6 months’ time.

Step 4: Get an ITIN

While it’s easy to get your first credit card with Amex US or one of the Big 5 banks’ US arms, you’ll need to have a credit file identifier if you want to eventually move onto the other American issuers, like Chase, Citi, Capital One, or Bank of America.

Just like Canada, personal credit reports in the US are associated with a unique identifier – typically a Social Security Number (SSN), the equivalent of our SIN. If you already have a SSN as a result of being born, living, or working in the US, then once again, lucky you! Forget about this step, find those mouthwatering signup bonuses, and go forth and conquer!

For the rest of us, we’re gonna need to put in a little bit of work here. In addition to the SSN, credit card companies also accept what’s known as an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) on credit card applications. ITINs are issued by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS), so getting one requires mailing a bunch of documents to the IRS.

Now, listen up here, because this is important. One of the reasons one might be eligible for (and in fact, encouraged to apply for) an ITIN is if they are a foreign resident who earns income in the US, and needs to prove their foreign residency status in order to be exempt from US withholding taxes.

If we think about it, anyone who’s earned some money through US-based services – such as casino winnings in Las Vegas, betting with US-based online betting companies, selling ebooks on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing, or trading stocks with a US-based brokerage – should be applying for an ITIN and self-reporting their income if they want to fulfill their obligations to the IRS.

After all, if you didn’t have an ITIN, you’d be subject to hefty withholding taxes on all your winnings, royalties, and dividends. We wouldn’t want that, would we? (The fact that these sums may be as low as $5 is not important here.)

Now, in the past, ebook publishing companies like Amazon Kindle or Smashwords were happy to issue you a supporting letter for your ITIN application as a foreign resident who may earn US income through their services, even if you had never published an ebook before.

However, they’re now much more reluctant to do so than before, presumably because too many people tied up their customer service channels to request ITIN support letters for the sole purpose of getting US credit cards.

Instead, these days the most reliable method is to seek out a professional service to help you with your ITIN application. Calgary-based US Tax Services is one such firm that provides dedicated ITIN application support services for Canadians who are seeking one.

For a price of $249.99 (CAD) plus taxes, US Tax Services will provide you with a completed W-7 form, which is the ITIN application form. US Tax Services will also complete a US tax return on your behalf based on any amount of earned income from US sources that you declare, and this serves to justify why you require an ITIN in your application.

$249.99 can be an intimidating upfront investment for some folks, although the rewards from US credit cards down the line will easily outweigh this fee. You can also take comfort in the fact that US Tax Resources, Inc. is a registered Canadian Federal Corporation and handles your personal and payment information through secure encrypted channels.

(For more information on US Tax Resources, you can also refer to my friend Jayce from PointsNerd’s guide to their services, as well as a testimonial to their services by a PointsNerd reader.)

If you’d rather not pay for professional services, you can also take the do-it-yourself approach to getting an ITIN; however, be warned that even small discrepancies in how the W-7 form is filled in can result in a rejected application, and each application can take several weeks or months to complete. In my view, the $249.99 professional fee for an almost-surefire ITIN application is well worth the potential time savings here.

If you’d like to go it alone, you can find the official IRS instructions for the W-7 form here. Unfortunately, tax advice is beyond the scope of this website, although there are many online resources to guide you through the process of filling in IRS forms.

Lastly, whether you’ve sought help from US Tax Services or filled in the W-7 form yourself, you need to include a copy of your passport with the application as a means to verify your status as a foreign national. It’s up to you whether to send in your original passport or a certified copy.

You won’t get your documents back in the mail for at least a few weeks, so keep that in mind if you might need your passport for upcoming travel. Personally I didn’t want to risk my passport getting lost in the mail, so I went with the certified copies.

Importantly, a certified copy is not the same as a notarized copy of a passport that you can get at any lawyer or public accountant’s office. Instead, it’s provided directly to you by Passport Canada, so you’ll have to schedule an appointment with your local passport office.

The fee for certified copies is $45, which is good for one, two, or three copies – most people opt for three copies, sending one to the IRS and keeping the other two around for another occasion when they might prove useful (hint: they probably won’t).

(Note: as of the time of this 2020 update, Passport Canada’s walk-in services are closed until further notice, so you can either send in your original passport or wait for Passport Canada’s offices to reopen to obtain your certified copies.)

Once you’ve got the following all sorted out:

Document justifying the need for an ITIN (if you used US Tax Services, this would be a US tax return)

Original passport or certified copy

Throw them in an envelope addressed to the IRS’s receiving address indicated on the ITIN information website, send it off, and wait. In about six to eight weeks, if you’ve done everything right, you should receive a letter in the mail indicating your newly minted nine-digit ITIN.

Step 5: Build Your Credit History

Once you’ve set up your address, bank account, first credit card, and ITIN, the hard work is over. Now all that’s left is to wait for your credit history to mature long enough for you to be approved for some of the credit cards with bigger bonuses, like the Chase cards.

Chase has the infamous “5/24” rule, where you won’t be approved for any credit cards if you’ve opened more than five cards in the past 24 months, so that’s something to keep in mind as you begin to navigate the US landscape.

If you got started with an American Express US card, you will likely be eligible for more Amex US cards pretty soon (within three to six months); however, you don’t want to get too many Amex US cards or else you’ll lock yourself out of 5/24 by the time your credit history has matured enough to be eligible for Chase cards.

One way around this is by going for the American Express business credit cards after you’ve gotten your first Amex US product. Examples would include the American Express US Marriott Bonvoy Business Card or the American Express US Business Platinum Card.

Like I mentioned earlier, business credit cards don’t report to personal credit files in the United States, so you can rack up the signup bonuses on the business products without affecting your future 5/24 eligibility.

Generally speaking, you’ll need to wait at least one year before Chase or Citi will approve you, and even then it’s not a sure thing, and often requires a reconsideration phone call after an initial denial. For example, I myself was approve for my first Chase card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred, after having about 18 months of US credit history.

One way to build your relationship quicker and speed up the process with Chase is to open a Chase checking account (which you can easily do as a Canadian) at a branch on one of your trips down to the US.

Overall, applying for US credit cards is a lot more about playing the long game than here in Canada. American credit cards tend to have strict rules on welcome bonus eligibility, so the strategy is generally more conservative and more about building your credit history over the long run to be eligible for the much wider range of bonuses south of the border.

Lastly, if you have a spouse or partner, I’d highly recommend going through this process for both of you at the same time. After all, we know that playing the two-person game is one of the best ways to maximize points here in Canada, so just imagine how much is on the table when it comes to US credit cards.

America, the land of opportunity indeed!

Conclusion

Getting your very first US-issued credit card can be quite a complicated but worthwhile undertaking.

From registering for a US mailbox to dealing with the highly involved process of getting an ITIN, it’s a tricky process to manage and can easily take up a good chunk of your time. That’s why I’m hopeful that this guide lays out the key elements for you and helps you break down the process into more manageable steps.

Chip and PIN Technology

Powerful Protection Against Counterfeiting and Fraud

With an encrypted microchip that’s impossible to replicate, your chip & PIN credit card is a secure – and easy – way to pay. The chip ensures the card is not counterfeit while the PIN validates that it is you, giving you security and confidence with every purchase.

How it Works

Paying with your chip and PIN credit card is just 3 easy steps:

Insert your card into the terminal and leave it there

Insert with the chip facing up

Follow the prompts and enter your PIN

Be sure to cover the terminal keypad from wandering eyes

Wait for approval, then remove your card

Most terminals beep when the transaction is complete. Don’t remove your card before you’re prompted as it could cancel the transaction

Attention: Protecting Your PIN

Keeping your PIN safe plays a big role in keeping your transactions secure

• Never share your PIN with anyone – including your bank, family or friends


• Avoid using obvious numbers such as your birthday, address or phone number that are easy to guess if your card is lost


• Change your PIN every so often. If you think someone else knows it, change it immediately by visiting an RBC Branch


• Don’t write down your PIN or store it on your phone


• Cover the key pad when entering your PIN in public

Concerned about Credit Card Fraud?

Rest easy! Provided you’ve been responsible in protecting your card and PIN, you’re protected against any fraudulent or unauthorized use of your card both in-store and online.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ll be assigned a new PIN in the mail separately from receiving your credit card. However, if you already set a PIN for an RBC card in the past, this PIN on your new credit card will be set to match.

If you don’t know your PIN, you can visit any RBC Branch with two valid pieces of ID to change or reset your PIN. If you simply want to update the PIN you know, you can also visit any RBC ATM.

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Credit cards

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Featured cards

CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card

Welcome offer
Join and get up to $800 in value. †

Plus, get a first-year annual fee rebate. †

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CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

Welcome offer
Earn up to 20,000 Aeroplan® points. †

Plus, get a first-year annual fee rebate. †

Get a Buddy Pass to bring anyone along, anywhere Air Canada flies in North America, including Hawaii and Mexico in Economy class. ‡

Interest rate for purchases †
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CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite Card

Welcome offer
Get a first-year annual fee rebate and 10% cash back for the first 4 statements on total purchases of up to $2,000. †

Interest rate for purchases †
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Interest rate for cash †
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Looking for another card?

Plan an escape, get cash back, save on gas and more

Collect rewards and enjoy gas savings with the right CIBC credit card for you.

How can you manage big purchases at a flexible pace?

Some purchases can’t wait. CIBC Pace It™ helps you pay off eligible large credit card purchases with Installment Plans at low interest rates. CIBC Pace It is available to non-Quebec residents.

How close are you to your next trip?

Find out how far your Aventura Points can take you, across Canada and around the world.

Save up to 10 cents per litre on gas

Automatically save up to 10 cents per litre at participating Chevron, Ultramar and Pioneer gas stations when you link your eligible CIBC cards to Journie Rewards.

Manage your CIBC credit card

Access these easy-to-use features in CIBC Online Banking ® and the CIBC Mobile Banking ® App.

Lock or unlock your card

Temporarily lock your credit card if it’s misplaced. Unlock your card when you find it.

Lost, stolen or damaged card

Request a replacement card if your card is lost or damaged.

Activate your card

Activate a new or replacement credit card.

Create healthier financial habits with CIBC Insights

Manage your daily spending and grow your savings with help from CIBC Insights — a tool included in the CIBC Mobile Banking App® that offers tailored tips based on your debit and credit card activity.

Learn about credit

How to read your credit card statement

Understanding basic terms can help you get the most out of your credit card.

Five steps to take if your credit card is stolen

Using a credit card is typically safe, but even careful cardholders are at risk of theft.

Foreign currency transactions with your credit card

Credit cards are a great form of payment when you’re travelling abroad.

Need to talk?

Get in touch. We're here to help

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Getting a Credit Card: 4 Things for Young Adults to Know

Highlights:

• Young adults who may not understand how to use credit cards wisely can find themselves in financial trouble


• As a first step, evaluate whether you need a credit card


• Make a plan, understand minimum payments and debt, and shop around

Whether they’re recent graduates or living on their own for the first time, many young adults find themselves responsible for managing their own finances. But young adults who may not understand how to manage money and how to use credit cards wisely can quickly find themselves in financial trouble.

Here are a few things you should know when it comes to getting a credit card:

1. Evaluate whether you need a credit card

First, think about whether you really need your own credit card – and be honest. What do you need the credit card for? Do you have a job and a strategy for paying back any debt you might accumulate? Do you know how to save for emergencies? These are important things to consider when you’re deciding whether to get a credit card.

If you aren't ready to get a credit card just yet, there are some alternatives. If you want to start building a credit history, for instance, you could become an authorized user on a parent or guardian's credit card account. That means you're added to a primary credit card account and the account will show on your credit reports (assuming the credit card company reports to any of the two nationwide credit bureaus). While authorized users aren't responsible for the financial obligations on the account, they can be impacted by whether or not the account is paid on time -- meaning your credit reports, and by extension your credit scores, will likely reflect positive or negative payment history.

If you think you may need a credit card for emergency expenses, you may want to consider an emergency savings fund as an alternative.

2. Plan it out

Before you apply for a credit card, determine the monthly payments you can afford. What’s your monthly income? If you’re in school, do you need to budget for books and food? Remember that you need to adjust your spending to match your situation. For instance, if you’re paying your credit card bills with income from a job, and you need to work fewer hours during exam time, you will have less money to spend.

3. A word about minimum payments and debt

A minimum payment is shown on your credit card statement, and it's the lowest amount you can pay each month and not face additional fees (although you may incur interest) or have a late payment reported to credit bureaus. It is always best to pay off your balance in full every month, but if you cannot do so, you must at least make the minimum payments to remain in good standing with the creditor.

In Canada, federally regulated credit card issuers are required to tell you on your statements how long it will take you to pay off your debt if you only make the minimum payment. Why is that? That’s because when you enter into an agreement with a lender that extends you credit, in addition to paying back what you borrow, you are also generally paying interest on any balance remaining at the end of each month. Interest is simply the price you pay to borrow money. If you only make the minimum payment, and you have a balance at the end of the month, the lender will charge interest on that balance. The more often you carry a balance, and the more interest you incur over time, the longer it will take you to pay off what you owe. Remember that the way you use credit now may affect your future.

4. Learn how to shop around for the right credit card

If you’re in college or university and looking to get a credit card, some financial institutions offer credit cards specifically geared toward those consumers who are just starting to build a credit history.

Under law, no one can get a credit card on their own in Canada until they are 18 years old or the age of majority in their province or territory. After you reach 18, you might want to consider a secured or student credit card.

Remember that when you apply for a credit card, the company will likely review one or more of your credit reports from the two nationwide credit reporting agencies. That’s known as a “hard inquiry.” Multiple hard inquiries at the same time may impact credit scores, which is something you may want to consider before applying for multiple cards at the same time.

If you decide to get a credit card, ask the credit card company if they report to credit bureaus. Then, you can start to get into the habit of checking your credit reports regularly to make sure the information being reported is accurate and complete.

Apple Card

The simplicity of Apple.
In a credit card.

With Apple Card, we completely reinvented the credit card. Your information lives on your iPhone, beautifully laid out and easy to understand. We eliminated fees and built tools to help you pay less interest. 1 Advanced technologies like Face ID, Touch ID, and Apple Pay give you a new level of privacy and security. And with every purchase you get Daily Cash back. Which all adds up to a healthier financial life. Apple Card. It’s everything a credit card should be.

Created by Apple.
Powered by iPhone.

Built for iPhone

Apple Card lives on your iPhone, in the Wallet app. You can sign up in as little as a minute and start using it right away for contactless purchases with Apple Pay. ** Your transactions, payments, and account details are all in one place, where only you can see them. You even make your payments right in the Wallet app — just select your amount, tap, and it’s done.

No Fees

We want to make it easier to pay down your balance, not harder. So Apple Card doesn’t have any fees. No annual, over-the-limit, foreign-transaction, or late fees. 2 No fees. Really. And our goal is to provide interest rates that are among the lowest in the industry. Because your credit card should work for you, not against you.

The first credit card that actually encourages you to pay less interest.

Pay Less Interest

Most credit cards emphasize your minimum amount due. But when you pay only your minimum each month, it costs you a lot in interest over time. Apple Card is different. When you’re ready to make a payment, Apple Card estimates the interest you’ll wind up paying, based on any payment amount you choose. And it does that in real time, so you can make an informed decision about how much of your balance to pay down. 3

Unlimited
Daily Cash back.

Real cash you can use right away. 4

Unlimited Daily Cash

When you buy something using Apple Card, you get a percentage of your purchase back in Daily Cash. It’s real cash, so unlike rewards, it never expires or loses its value. Your cash is deposited right onto your Apple Cash card in the Wallet app — not a month from now, but every day. And there’s no limit to how much you can get. Use it to buy things in stores, on websites, and in apps. Make a payment on your Apple Card. Pay back a friend in Messages. Or send it straight to your bank account and watch it add up.

Get 2%
Daily Cash
back

2% Daily Cash

The best way to use Apple Card is with Apple Pay — the secure payment technology built into iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac and accepted at 85 percent of merchants in the United States. Apple Pay is a safer way to pay that helps you avoid touching buttons or exchanging cash. And with every purchase you make using your Apple Card with Apple Pay, you get 2% Daily Cash back. No points to calculate. No limits or deadlines. Just real cash that’s ready to spend whenever, wherever, and however you want.

Shop with Apple or select merchants and get even more Daily Cash.

3% Daily Cash

Apple Card gives you unlimited 3% Daily Cash back on everything you buy from Apple — whether it’s a new Mac, an iPhone case, games from the App Store, or even a service like Apple Music or Apple TV+. You also get unlimited 3% Daily Cash back on purchases you make at select merchants when you use Apple Card with Apple Pay. ◊

• Apple


• Panera Bread


• Duane Reade


• T-Mobile


• Exxon


• Uber


• Mobil


• Uber Eats


• Nike


• Walgreens

Goodbye, plastic.
Hello, titanium.

Titanium Card

With laser etching and clean styling, Apple Card is designed with the same craftsmanship we bring to all our products. And it’s the only credit card made of titanium — a sustainable metal known for its beauty and durability. When you use the card, you’ll get 1% Daily Cash back on every purchase. Since Mastercard is our global payment network, you can use it all over the world. For apps and websites that don’t take Apple Pay yet, just enter the virtual card number stored securely in your Wallet app. And when you’re using Safari, it even autofills for you.

Privacy and Security

Privacy and Security

Apple takes your privacy and security seriously. It’s not just a philosophy, it’s built into all our products. And Apple Card is no different. With advanced security technologies like Face ID, Touch ID, and unique transaction codes, Apple Card with Apple Pay is designed to make sure you’re the only one who can use it. The titanium card has no visible numbers. Not on the front. Not on the back. Which gives you a whole new level of security. And while Goldman Sachs uses your data to operate Apple Card, your transaction history and spending habits belong to you and you alone. Your data isn’t shared or sold to third parties for marketing or advertising.

Tools to help
you make
financially
healthy
choices.

Financial Health

To see how much you’re spending, there’s no need to log in to a separate website or app. Your totals are automatically added up in the Wallet app, ready to view by week or by month. Color-coded categories make it easy to spot trends in your spending so you can decide if you want to change them. And Apple Card uses Maps to pinpoint where you bought something. 5 No mysterious merchant codes. No guessing.

Trusted partners for a different kind of credit card.

Partnerships

To create Apple Card, we needed an issuing bank and a global payment network. Apple Card is the first consumer credit card Goldman Sachs has issued, and they were open to doing things in a new way. And the strength of the Mastercard network means Apple Card is accepted all over the world.

Get started.

Apply in minutes and
start using
Apple Card right away. **

Apple Footer

• * Apple Card Monthly Installments (ACMI) is a payment option available to select at checkout for certain Apple products purchased at Apple Store locations, apple.com, the Apple Store app, or by calling 1-800-MY-APPLE, and is subject to credit approval and credit limit. See https://support.apple.com/kb/HT211204 for more information about eligible products. Variable APRs for Apple Card other than ACMI range from 10.99% to 21.99% based on creditworthiness. Rates as of April 1, 2020. If you choose the pay in full or one time payment option for an ACMI eligible purchase instead of choosing ACMI as the payment option at checkout, that purchase will be subject to the variable APR assigned to your Apple Card. Taxes and shipping are not included in ACMI and are subject to your card’s variable APR. See the Apple Card Customer Agreement for more information. ACMI is not available for purchases made online at the following special stores: Apple Employee Purchase Plan; participating corporate Employee Purchase Programs; Apple at Work for small businesses; Government, and Veterans and Military Purchase Programs. iPhone activation required on iPhone purchases made at an Apple Store with one of these national carriers: AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, or T‑Mobile.


• ** Subject to credit approval.

• ◊
  

  Merchant offers may change at any time.

  
  

  Nike: 3% Daily Cash is not available at Nike-branded stores outside the United States.

  
  

  Uber: Apple Pay is coming soon to Uber services like Scheduled Rides.

  
  

  Panera Bread: 3% Daily Cash is not available at Panera locations outside the U.S. and excludes online gift card purchases and orders made on third‑party apps.

  
  

  Walgreens: 3% Daily Cash is not available at Sprint Express and independent health service providers, including Walgreens Optical and Walgreens Hearing, or for orders made on third‑party delivery apps.

  
  

  T-Mobile: 3% Daily Cash is available for purchases using Apple Card with Apple Pay in T‑Mobile U.S. stores, and bill payments and AutoPay on t‑mobile.com and in the T‑mobile app. Authorized T‑Mobile dealers are not eligible for 3% Daily Cash and can be found on t‑mobile.com/store-locator. Sprint account payments, and purchases made through any Sprint checkout, including those at T‑Mobile U.S. stores, are not eligible for 3% Daily Cash.

  
  

  Exxon Mobil: 3% Daily Cash is available in the United States when using Apple Card with Apple Pay (where available) at Exxon- or Mobil-branded pumps and attached convenience stores. To pay at the pump with Apple Pay, use either Exxon Mobil Rewards+ mobile app or contactless payment. Excludes purchases at third-party merchants, including independent car washes, located within an Exxon- or Mobil-branded location or the attached convenience store.

  
  
  

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  MBNA True Line ®
  Mastercard ®

  
  

  Choose a card with a low interest rate of 12.99% on purchases and no annual fee.

  
  

  $0 Annual Fee

  
  

  12.99% Interest: Purchases

  
  

  12.99% Interest: Balance Transfers
  & Access Cheques

  
  

  24.99% Interest: Cash Advances

  
  

  MBNA True Line Gold
  Mastercard ®

  
  

  With an 8.99% standard interest rate on purchases, this is the lowest rate MBNA card.

  
  

  $39 Annual Fee

  
  

  8.99% Interest: Purchases

  
  

  8.99% Interest: Balance Transfers
  & Access Cheques

  
  

  24.99% Interest: Cash Advances

  
  

  MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus ® Mastercard ®

  
  

  Welcome offer: Earn 4 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, groceries & restaurants purchases. Plus up to 10,000 bonus points †† . Conditions apply.

  
  

  $0 Annual Fee

  
  

  19.99% Interest: Purchases

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Balance Transfers
  & Access Cheques

  
  

  24.99% Interest: Cash Advances

  
  

  MBNA Rewards World Elite ® Mastercard ®

  
  

  Welcome offer: Earn up to 30,000 bonus MBNA Rewards Points †† for travel, cash back and more. Conditions Apply.

  
  

  $120 Annual Fee

  
  

  19.99% Interest: Purchases

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Balance Transfers
  & Access Cheques

  
  

  24.99% Interest: Cash Advances

  
  

  MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus ® Mastercard ®

  
  

  Welcome offer: Earn 5% Cash Back on gas and groceries for the first 6 months †† (until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500).

  
  

  $0 Annual Fee

  
  

  19.99% Interest: Purchases

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Balance Transfers
  & Access Cheques

  
  

  24.99% Interest: Cash Advances

  
  

  MBNA Smart Cash World Mastercard ®

  
  

  Welcome offer: Earn 5% Cash Back on gas and groceries for the first 6 months †† (until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500).

  
  

  $39 Annual Fee

  
  

  19.99% Interest: Purchases

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Balance Transfers
  & Access Cheques

  
  

  24.99% Interest: Cash Advances

  
  

  Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard ®

  
  

  Get 5% back at Amazon.ca, Whole Foods Market stores in Canada, grocery stores and restaurants †† .

  
  

  $0 Annual Fee

  
  

  19.99% Interest: Purchases

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Balance Transfers
  & Access Cheques

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Cash Advances

  
  

  Alaska Airlines ® World Elite ® Mastercard ®

  
  

  Welcome offer: You could get 30,000 bonus miles ††

  
  

  $99 Annual Fee

  
  

  19.99% Interest: Purchases

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Balance Transfers
  & Access Cheques

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Cash Advances

  
  

  Alaska Airlines ® Platinum Plus ® Mastercard ®

  
  

  Welcome offer: You could get 20,000 bonus miles ††

  
  

  $75 Annual Fee

  
  

  19.99% Interest: Purchases

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Balance Transfers
  & Access Cheques

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Cash Advances

  
  

  Best Western ® Rewards
  Mastercard ®

  
  

  Welcome offer: Get 20,000 bonus points †† with your first eligible purchase - enough for a night’s stay!

  
  

  $0 Annual Fee

  
  

  19.99% Interest: Purchases

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Balance Transfers
  & Access Cheques

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Cash Advances

  
  

  Harley-Davidson ®
  Mastercard ®

  
  

  Earn 1 Harley-Davidson® Genuine Rewards point for every $2 you spend on eligible Purchases which can be used at participating Harley® retailers. Conditions Apply.

  
  

  $0 Annual Fee

  
  

  19.99% Interest: Purchases

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Balance Transfers
  & Access Cheques

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Cash Advances

  
  

  Nordstrom
  Rewards Visa *

  
  

  Welcome offer: Earn a $20 Nordstrom Note after your first eligible purchase at a Nordstrom property ††

  
  

  $0 Annual Fee

  
  

  19.99% Interest: Purchases

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Balance Transfers
  & Access Cheques

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Cash Advances

  
  

  Melaleuca
  Mastercard ®

  
  

  Earn 100 Bonus Loyalty Shopping Dollars †† after your first eligible purchase within 90 days of account opening. Conditions Apply.

  
  

  $0 Annual Fee

  
  

  19.99% Interest: Purchases

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Balance Transfers
  & Access Cheques

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Cash Advances

  
  

  The Royal Canadian Legion ® MBNA Rewards Mastercard ®

  
  

  Support Canadian veterans while earning points ‡ toward Cash Back, travel and more.

  
  

  $0 Annual Fee

  
  

  19.99% Interest: Purchases

  
  

  22.99% Interest: Balance Transfers
  & Access Cheques

  
  

  24.99% Interest: Cash Advances

  
  

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  †† To qualify for this offer, an applicant must be approved for the specific credit card account described in the offer. Welcome bonus of 5,000 points will be awarded if $500 in eligible Purchases are made on your Account within the first 90 days of account opening that are not subsequently rescinded, the subject of a charge back request(s) or otherwise disputed. In order to obtain a "Paperless Bonus" of 5,000 bonus points, you must enroll in online banking at www.mbna.ca and consent to Paperless Statements for the account within the first 90 days of account opening, and not subsequently rescind such enrollment throughout this period. For the double the points on gas, grocery and restaurant Purchases offer, for the first 90 days after account opening you will earn an additional 2 points/$1 spent on eligible gas, grocery and restaurant purchases (on top of the regular earn rate of 2 points/$1 spent on such purchases as indicated in the Program terms and conditions), subject to a maximum annual cap of $5,000 in each category. Please allow 8-10 weeks for the applicable bonus points to be posted to your points account. Limit one-time bonus point offer (no cash value) per new account for each bonus point offer. This offer is not available to residents of Quebec. This promotion is offered by MBNA and may be amended or cancelled at any time without notice.

  
  

  †† To qualify for this offer, an applicant must be approved for the specific credit card account described in the offer. The account must be used for at least one eligible transaction that is not subsequently rescinded, the subject of a charge back request or otherwise disputed. Please allow 8-10 weeks from the transaction date for bonus points to be posted to your points account. Limit one-time bonus point offer (no cash value) per new account. This promotion is offered by MBNA and Best Western and may be amended or cancelled at any time without notice.

  
  

  ^ No purchase necessary. Contest closes at 11:59 PM ET on December 31, 2018. Automatically receive one (1) entry for each eligible MBNA® Harley-Davidson®Mastercard® credit card purchase made during each of the Promotional Periods (Promotional Period 1 = Jan 1 to Mar 31, 2018, 11:59 PM ET, Promotional Period 2 = Apr 1 to Jun 30, 2018, 11:59 PM ET, Promotional Period 3 = Jul 1 to Sep 30, 2018, 11:59 PM ET, Promotional Period 4 = Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2018, 11:59 PM ET). Four (4) prizes available to be won (ARV ranges between $10,799 and $17,999). Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received/stamped (as outlined in the Official Rules) during each Promotional Period. Open to Canadian residents who are MBNA® Harley-Davidson® Mastercard® credit card holders and have reached the age of majority at the time of entry. Skill-testing question required. For full rules, including no purchase entry details, visit https://www.mbna.ca/document/PDF/MBNA-Harley-Davidson%20Sweepstakes%20-%20Official%20Rules%20and%20Regulations%202017.pdfOpt-out: If you do not wish to be entered into the Contest, you must indicate your preference to opt-out by contacting Sponsor (and/or its applicable division(s)) by (I) telephone at 1-888-876-6262 (toll-free ‑ 24-hour service) or (II) mail at MBNA Harley-Davidson Mastercard 2018 Contest Opt-out, 23 Prince Andrew Place, Toronto, Ontario, M3C 2H2.

  
  

  ©2018 H-D or its affiliates. HARLEY-DAVIDSON, HARLEY, H-D, and the Bar and Shield Logo are among the trademarks of H-D U.S.A., LLC. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

  
  

  ‡ These are highlights of the credit card rewards program (the "Program") associated with this credit card account. Points will be awarded on eligible transactions charged to your account as set out in the Program terms and conditions. You will earn two (2) points per dollar spent on eligible gas, grocery and restaurant purchases to a maximum annual amount of $5,000 in each category. Eligible purchases that are not eligible gas, grocery and restaurant purchases will earn a Base Earn Rate of one (1) point per dollar. The redemption rate for Points earned may differ depending on the redemption option chosen. Complete terms and conditions describing Program eligibility, accrual, earn limits, and redemption of Points, and other important conditions will be sent after your account is opened. Please read the terms and conditions carefully upon receipt.

  
  

  †† To qualify for this offer, an applicant must be approved for the specific credit card account described in the offer. The account must be used for at least one eligible transaction within the first 90 days of account opening that is not subsequently rescinded, the subject of a charge back request or otherwise disputed. Please allow 8-10 weeks from the transaction date for bonus Loyalty Shopping Dollars to be posted to your Loyalty Shopping Dollars account. Limit one-time bonus offer (no cash value) per new account. This promotion is offered by Melaleuca and may be amended or cancelled at any time without notice. The Toronto-Dominion Bank is not responsible or liable for any aspect of this promotion.

  
  

  †† To qualify for this offer, an applicant must be approved for the specific credit card account described in the offer. The account must be used for at least one eligible purchase with your new credit card at an eligible Nordstrom location, that is not subsequently rescinded, the subject of a charge back request or otherwise disputed. Eligible Nordstrom locations include Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, Hautelook, and Trunk Club Clubhouse stores in Canada, United States and Puerto Rico, and at nordstrom.com, nordstromrack.com, hautelook.com, and trunkclub.com, as described in the Nordstrom Rewards (Cardholder Program) terms and conditions and can be found at www.nordstrom.com/rewardscaterms. Please allow 8 -10 weeks from the eligible purchase date for bonus points to be posted to your points account. Limit one-time bonus point offer (no cash value) per new account. This promotion is offered by MBNA and may be amended or cancelled at any time without notice.

  
  

  †† To qualify for this offer, an applicant must be approved for the specific credit card account described in the offer. For the first six (6) months after the account is opened (the “Bonus Period“), eligible gas and grocery purchases will earn 5% in MBNA Dollars until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500 (the "Gas and Groceries Monthly Spend Cap"). Once the Gas and Groceries Monthly Spend Cap has been reached, eligible gas and groceries purchases will only earn the Base Earn Rate. Please allow 8–10 weeks from the transaction date for bonus MBNA Dollars to be posted to your MBNA Dollars account. Limit one-time bonus MBNA Dollars offer per new account. This promotion is offered by MBNA and may be amended or cancelled at any time without notice.

  
  

  †† To qualify for this offer, an applicant must be approved for the specific credit card account described in the offer. For the first six (6) months after the account is opened (the “Bonus Period“), eligible gas and grocery purchases will earn 5% in MBNA Dollars until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500 (the "Gas and Groceries Monthly Spend Cap"). Once the Gas and Groceries Monthly Spend Cap has been reached, eligible gas and groceries purchases will only earn the Base Earn Rate. Please allow 8–10 weeks from the transaction date for bonus MBNA Dollars to be posted to your MBNA Dollars account. Limit one-time bonus MBNA Dollars offer per new account. This promotion is offered by MBNA and may be amended or cancelled at any time without notice.

  
  

  † This Promotional Rate applies to any balance transfers made within 90 day(s) of your account opening (each, an "eligible transaction") and will remain in effect for 6 Statement Periods from the transaction date of each eligible transaction. The Promotional Rate will increase and the remaining balance of the eligible transaction will become subject to the Standard Rate for balance transfers either: (1) on the first day of the first Statement Period that occurs after the expiry of the Promotional Rate; or (2) on the first day of the second Statement Period following any late Minimum Payment.

  
  

  ✪ BALANCE TRANSFERS
  Balance transfers will be fulfilled in the order listed and are treated as balance transfers in accordance with your Account Agreement. The total value of balance transfers cannot exceed your authorized credit limit. If the value is greater, MBNA may send a partial payment to the named creditor/designated account. THERE WILL BE A TRANSACTION FEE EQUAL TO 3.00% OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF EACH BALANCE TRANSFER INITIATED WITH THIS APPLICATION. A MINIMUM FEE OF $7.50 WILL APPLY TO EACH BALANCE TRANSFER TRANSACTION. A balance transfer may not be used to pay off or down your account balance or any other balances with us (including our affiliates, which would include any member of the TD Bank Group).

  
  

  † This Promotional Rate applies to any balance transfers made within 90 day(s) of your account opening (each, an "eligible transaction") and will remain in effect for 10 Statement Periods from the transaction date of each eligible transaction. The Promotional Rate will increase and the remaining balance of the eligible transaction will become subject to the Standard Rate for balance transfers either: (1) on the first day of the first Statement Period that occurs after the expiry of the Promotional Rate; or (2) on the first day of the second Statement Period following any late Minimum Payment.

  
  

  Balance transfers will be fulfilled in the order listed and are treated as balance transfers in accordance with your Account Agreement. The total value of balance transfers cannot exceed your authorized credit limit. If the value is greater, MBNA may send a partial payment to the named creditor/designated account. THERE WILL BE A TRANSACTION FEE EQUAL TO 3.00% OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF EACH BALANCE TRANSFER INITIATED WITH THIS APPLICATION. A MINIMUM FEE OF $7.50 WILL APPLY TO EACH BALANCE TRANSFER TRANSACTION. A balance transfer may not be used to pay off or down your account balance or any other balances with us (including our affiliates, which would include any member of the TD Bank Group).

  
  

  †† To qualify for this offer, an applicant must be approved for the specific credit card account described in the offer. Welcome bonus of 20,000 points will be awarded if $2,000 in eligible Purchases are made on your Account within the first 90 days of account opening that are not subsequently rescinded, the subject of a charge back request(s) or otherwise disputed. In order to obtain a "Paperless Bonus" of 10,000 bonus points, you must enroll in online banking at www.mbna.ca and consent to Paperless Statements for the account within the first 90 days of account opening, and not subsequently rescind such enrollment throughout this period. Please allow 8-10 weeks for the applicable bonus points to be posted to your points account. Limit one-time bonus point offer (no cash value) per new account for each bonus point offer. This offer is not available to residents of Quebec. This promotion is offered by MBNA and may be amended or cancelled at any time without notice.

  
  

  †† To qualify for this offer, an applicant must be approved for a Platinum card and a single or combination of purchase transactions totaling at least one thousand Canadian dollars (CAD 1,000) must be made using such account within the first 90 days of account opening that are not subsequently rescinded, the subject of a charge back request or otherwise disputed. Please allow 8-10 weeks from the transaction date for bonus Miles to be posted to your Mileage Plan account. Account must be open and active on posting/delivery date to qualify for bonus Miles. Limit one-time bonus Miles offer (no cash value) per new account. Reissues, fraud, lost/stolen and reopened accounts do not qualify for this offer. This promotion is offered by MBNA and may be amended or cancelled at any time without notice. Additional bonus Miles may be awarded if a completed application is submitted to an Alaska Airlines employee.

  
  

  †† To qualify for this offer, an applicant must be approved for World Elite card and a single or combination of purchase transactions totaling at least one thousand Canadian dollars (CAD 1,000) must be made using such account within the first 90 days of account opening that are not subsequently rescinded, the subject of a charge back request or otherwise disputed. Please allow 8-10 weeks from the transaction date for bonus Miles to be posted to your Mileage Plan account. Account must be open and active on posting/delivery date to qualify for bonus Miles. Limit one-time bonus Miles offer (no cash value) per new account. Reissues, fraud, lost/stolen and reopened accounts do not qualify for this offer. This promotion is offered by MBNA and may be amended or cancelled at any time without notice. Additional bonus Miles may be awarded if a completed application is submitted to an Alaska Airlines employee.

  
  
  
  
  

  So, let's define, what was the most valuable conclusion of this review: Looking for the right credit card? RBC Royal Bank has a wide variety of credit cards, including rewards, travel, cash back, low interest and more. at Playing Without Using Your Credit Card in Canada

  
  

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