Highlights
- Eligible Canadian grocery, dining, and automatic recurring charges that Visa codes correctly earn 5 BMO Rewards points per $2 (2.5x).
- No annual fee on the primary card. Other eligible purchases earn 1 point per $2 (0.5x).
- Purchase protection, extended warranty, and mobile-device insurance up to $1,000.
Issuer: BMO
Network: Visa
Card type: Credit card
Annual fee: $0 for the primary card
Foreign transaction fee: 2.50%
This is BMO’s no-annual-fee BMO Rewards Visa.
Related reading: 🇨🇦 BMO Rewards Points: How to Earn and Use Them
Welcome offer
[August 29, 2026 update] Up to 25,000 bonus points (apply by October 31, 2026) + an extra $50 cash back:
- Complete at least $1,500 in eligible net purchases within the first 3 months: 20,000 BMO Rewards points.
- Pay the statement balance in full by the due date for 12 consecutive billing cycles: 2,500 BMO Rewards points.
- Redeem at least 12,000 BMO Rewards points through Pay with Points within 12 months of opening: another 2,500 BMO Rewards points.
- Apply through the blog’s partner cash-back site for an extra $50 rebate.
Eligible net purchases exclude refunds, cash advances, cash-like transactions, interest, fees, and account adjustments. The account must stay open and in good standing when points are issued, and they can take up to 60 business days to post after you qualify. The offer does not apply to current or former cardholders who reopen an account during the offer period, or to existing BMO credit-card holders who switch into this card. If you cancel within 90 days of opening, bonus points are cancelled.
Apply through the referral link 🔗 (This partner link supports the blog.)
Everyday spending
2.5x: Spending in Canada that the Visa network codes correctly as grocery earns 5 BMO Rewards points per $2. The first $5,000 in eligible spend each calendar year (January 1–December 31) per BMO Rewards collector account qualifies; after that, those purchases earn 0.5x.
2.5x: Spending in Canada that the Visa network codes correctly as dining earns 5 BMO Rewards points per $2. The first $5,000 in eligible spend each year per BMO Rewards collector account qualifies; after that, those purchases earn 0.5x. Whether takeout belongs in the category depends on the merchant’s Visa MCC.
2.5x: Automatic recurring bill payments earn 5 BMO Rewards points per $2. The first $5,000 in eligible spend each year per BMO Rewards collector account qualifies; after that, those purchases earn 0.5x. If the same recurring charge is also coded as grocery or dining, the terms do not give accelerated points twice.
0.5x: Other eligible purchases earn 1 BMO Rewards point per $2. Spending over the annual category caps also earns this rate. Transfers, financial-institution cash withdrawals, quasi-cash/foreign currency, gambling, tax payments, and other categories listed in the terms do not earn accelerated points. Visa decides the actual merchant classification.
Benefits and insurance
- Good-habit bonuses of up to 5,000 BMO Rewards points a year
Pay the statement balance in full and on time for 12 consecutive billing cycles to earn 2,500 points. Redeem at least 12,000 points through Pay with Points within 12 months of opening to earn another 2,500 points. Both bonuses require the account to stay open and in good standing when they are issued.
- One fee-free BMO PaySmart instalment plan
The primary cardholder can create one BMO PaySmart instalment plan of $100 to $1,000 every 24 months with no fee. The eligibility period starts on the day you first create that plan, and cancelling a plan later does not reset the period.
- Instacart+ trial and monthly credit
The product page lists a 3-month Instacart+ trial and a $5 monthly Instacart credit. You must follow BMO’s and Instacart’s then-current enrolment eligibility and terms.
- Avis and Budget car-rental discounts
Prepaid Avis rentals booked with this Card can be up to 30% off the base rate, and non-prepaid bookings at least 10% off. Budget is up to 35% prepaid and at least 10% non-prepaid. The discount applies only to the base rate and is subject to booking, location, and rental-company terms.
Purchase insurance
Official insurance certificate 🔗
- Purchase Security Insurance
Canadian residents who charge the full purchase price of a personal item or gift to this Card, with an account in good standing, have worldwide coverage for theft or damage for the first 90 days from the purchase date. The insurer may repair, replace, or reimburse the purchase price. Purchase security and extended warranty share a lifetime maximum of $60,000 per account. Cash, tickets, animals and plants, consumables or perishables, online purchases not delivered and accepted, jewellery/furs in baggage not in your personal care, and items left behind are not covered.
- Extended Warranty Insurance
The payment rules are the same as purchase security, and the original manufacturer’s warranty must be valid in Canada. Coverage doubles the original warranty, up to one extra year, and pays the lower of repair or replacement cost for items the original warranty covers. If the original warranty is longer than five years, you must register with the Operations Centre within one year of purchase. This benefit shares the $60,000 lifetime account maximum with purchase security.
- Mobile Device Insurance
Canadian residents who charge the full purchase price of a mobile device such as a phone to this Card, or finance it through a fixed-term Canadian wireless contract and keep charging the monthly wireless bills to this Card, can have worldwide coverage for loss, theft, or accidental damage. Coverage for a device paid in full starts on day 91 and lasts up to two years. Coverage for a financed device starts with the first related transaction and lasts up to two years. Each claim is limited to $1,000, with at most one claim per account every 12 months and two claims every 48 months. Payment deducts 2% depreciation for each completed month and a 10% deductible. Repair or replacement must be approved first. Business, resale, used, or refurbished devices, accessories, batteries, and laptops are not covered. Contact the Operations Centre immediately after a loss, theft, or damage. For theft or loss, you must also tell the Canadian wireless provider to suspend service within 48 hours, and for theft you must report it to the police within 7 days.
