BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students vs Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students
Two cards, one Standard Score rubric. The BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students scores higher overall at 5.7/10, but the right pick depends on which components match your spending.
The verdict
SituationalTwo purpose-built student cards ('best student credit card canada' pulls 1,900/mo, DataForSEO, July 2026) that reward different habits. BMO's card leads on groceries: 3% cash back (to a $500/month cap) with no annual fee, plus a 5%-for-three-months intro worth up to $100; the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa earns 2x on groceries, dining, and Cineplex and redeems directly for movie tickets. Grocery-heavy students take the BMO card for the higher everyday rate; anyone who eats out or hits the movies regularly gets more usable value from Scene+.
See offer · current BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students offer, direct from the issuer
Rewards math assumes you pay your balance in full every month — interest charges quickly exceed any rewards value.
| BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students | Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Score | 5.7/10 · Situational | 5.3/10 · Pass |
| Annual fee | None | None |
| Welcome bonus | 5% cash back on all purchases for the first three months, up to $100 in bonus cash back | Up to 5,000 Scene+ bonus points (2,500 on $250/3 mo + 2,500 on $1,000/3 mo); offer ends November 1, 2026 |
| Est. bonus value | ≈ $100 | ≈ $50 |
| First-year net value | ≈ $150 | ≈ $105 |
| Earn rates |
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| Points currency | Cash back | Scene+ |
| No FX fees | No | No |
| Lounge access | No | No |
Where the BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students wins
- First-year value: scores 5.0/10 on this component
- Ongoing value: scores 5.5/10 on this component
- Flexibility: scores 5.5/10 on this component
Where the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students wins
No component wins: its rival scores at least as well on every Standard Score component.
Read the full reviews: BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students and Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students, or see how both rank in Best Student Credit Cards in Canada.
What the points are worth in dollars: Scene+ Points Value. Each has a calculator for your balance.