BMO · Mastercard · BMO Rewards
Reviewed 2026-07-05 · By The Points Standard editorial team
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
Strong perks and the best travel medical coverage at this fee level, wrapped around a below-average points currency. Buy it for the benefits, not the points.
Standard Score breakdown — Strong
Six weighted components, each rated 0–10. "Contributes" is the rating × weight — add all six and you get the 6.65/10 Standard Score above.
See how the Standard Score works or re-weight it to your priorities.
The numbers
| Annual fee | $150 |
| Welcome bonus | Up to 115,000 BMO Rewards points (60,000 on $5K/110 days + 20,000 on $10K/180 days + 35,000 on $20K/12 mo), plus first-year fee waived — offer window to October 31, 2026 |
| Est. bonus value | ≈ $770 |
| First-year net value | ≈ $820 |
Earn rates
| Travel | 5x |
| Dining, entertainment, recurring bills | 3x |
| Everything else | 2x |
Why it earns its score
- 2x base earn on everything is quietly strong
- Four annual lounge visits via Mastercard Travel Pass
- Best-in-class included travel medical (31 days under 65)
Where it loses points
- BMO Rewards points are worth only ~0.67¢ each on travel
- No airline transfer partners
Who it's for
Travellers who value the insurance package and lounge visits over point-value optimization.
Who should skip it
You compare points per dollar in real cents — BMO Rewards' low point value undercuts the big multipliers.
Included insurance
Travel medical (31 days) · Trip cancellation/interruption · Flight delay · Rental car coverage
Source: issuer card page · Last reviewed 2026-07-05. Details change often — confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.