Highlights
- There is no annual fee on the Basic Card or supplementary cards, which makes it easy to put Canadian gas and grocery spending on one Card.
- Eligible stand-alone gas stations and grocery stores in Canada earn 2%. The gas and grocery categories share the first $15,000 in purchases each Card year, for a maximum of $300.
- Other eligible purchases earn 1.25%, with no overall cash-back cap.
- Cardmembers can use purchase protection, extended warranty, and common-carrier accident insurance.
Issuer: American Express
Network: Amex
Card type: Credit card
Annual fee: $0 for the Basic Card; $0 for supplementary cards
SimplyCash cash back is not available to redeem whenever you want. It is posted to the account once a year as a statement credit. Amex currently uses the first billing-period closing date on or after August 1 as the calculation date. When the account is in good standing, the credit appears on the following statement, usually the September statement. If you close the account before the annual settlement, unpaid cash back is not paid.
Welcome offer
[August 29, 2026 update] Up to $100:
- An extra 5% on the first $2,000 in purchases during the first three months, up to $100. This bonus stacks on top of the regular cash-back rate.
- Current or former holders of the SimplyCash Card from American Express are not eligible for this welcome offer, even if the application is approved.
Apply on the official website 🔗
Everyday spending
2%: Eligible purchases at stand-alone gas stations in Canada and stand-alone grocery stores in Canada. The gas and grocery categories share the first $15,000 in posted purchases each Card year, equal to a maximum of $300. After the cap, later eligible purchases in those two categories earn 1.25%. The cap resets on each Cardmembership anniversary.
1.25%: Other eligible purchases, plus gas and grocery purchases after the $15,000 cap. This rate has no overall cap.
Whether a merchant codes as gas or grocery is determined by Amex’s merchant classification. Superstores, wholesale clubs, liquor retailers, and general-merchandise retailers that also sell gas or food but whose primary business is not that category do not qualify for the accelerated rate. Transactions completed through third-party payment services, mobile card readers, or multi-merchant platforms may also earn only 1.25%. Interest, Card fees, cash-equivalent transactions, and returns or credits are not eligible purchases.
Benefits and insurance
- Free supplementary cards
You can add supplementary cards at no fee. Amex says you can add family members aged 13 or older. Spending on those cards counts toward the Basic Cardmember’s annual cash back, which the Basic Cardmember receives.
- Amex Offers and Front Of The Line®
You can review Amex Offers for shopping, dining, travel, and other merchants in the Amex App or Online Services. Enrolment, thresholds, and expiry dates vary by offer. Cardmembers may also get access to selected Amex Presale Tickets™ and Amex Reserved Tickets™; event availability and terms apply separately.
Travel insurance
Official insurance certificate 🔗
- $100,000 Travel Accident Insurance
The Basic or Supplementary Cardmember, their spouse, and dependent children under 23 can qualify when the account is billed in Canada and that covered person’s common-carrier fare is charged to an Amex Card before the injury. Common carrier includes air, land, or water passenger services offered to the public, but not rental cars.
On a covered trip, an accident while boarding, riding as a passenger in, or exiting a common carrier that causes death, loss of both hands, both feet, or one hand and one foot, or total loss of sight in both eyes is covered up to $100,000. Loss of one hand, one foot, or total loss of sight in one eye is covered at $50,000. Airline-arranged alternate transportation after a qualifying flight delay or reroute is also covered as the certificate describes. The loss must occur within 100 days of the accident. For the same accident, each covered person is paid only the single highest applicable loss, up to $100,000.
Important exclusions include intentional self-injury, war, criminal acts, operating or crewing a conveyance, rental-vehicle injuries, and alcohol, drugs, or poisons not taken as prescribed. After a covered loss, give the insurer written notice within 30 days, or as soon as reasonably possible if you cannot.
Purchase insurance
- Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan
When you charge the full purchase price of an eligible new personal item or gift to this Card, and the original complimentary written manufacturer’s warranty is valid in Canada or the United States and lasts no more than five years, coverage can extend the original warranty by the same period after it ends, up to one additional year. The limit is $10,000 per item and $25,000 combined per Cardmember per policy year for all occurrences. Payment is limited to the lower of the purchase price or the repair cost, and this is supplementary coverage after other insurance.
Used, refurbished, or display items, automobiles and most motorised equipment, jewellery, consumables and perishables, items used for business, failures caused by a product recall, and goods with an original warranty longer than five years are not covered. After a breakdown, defect, or direct physical damage covered by the original warranty, report the claim within 45 days. Submit the required documents within 60 days of the incident, or within 30 days of the insurer’s request. Keep receipts, statements, and the original warranty documents.
- Purchase Protection® Plan
Eligible new personal items or gifts are covered for direct physical damage or theft worldwide within 90 days of purchase, as long as at least part of the purchase price is charged to this Card. Coverage is supplementary and limited to $1,000 per Cardmember per occurrence. The insurer may repair, replace, or reimburse; reimbursement is limited to the lower of the amount charged to this Card or the repair cost.
Wear and tear, loss or unexplained disappearance, theft of items left in or on a vehicle, inherent product defects, used or refurbished goods, cash and gift cards, tickets, consumables, perishables, items left behind, most vehicles, and business-use items are not covered. Report theft or damage within 48 hours. Give written notice within 45 days of the incident where possible, and submit the required materials within 90 days. A police report is usually required for theft.