Guides

Best BMO Credit Cards in Canada for 2026

BMO has strong travel and cash back options — including the BMO Ascend with 100,000 points and the eclipse Rise with no annual fee. Here's how they stack up.

Sarah Chen· Credit Cards EditorApril 4, 2026Updated April 22, 20268 min read
Financial district skyscrapers at dusk

BMO's credit card lineup has improved substantially. Their flagship BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard now offers up to 100,000 BMO Rewards points as a welcome bonus — one of the largest in Canada. Across no-fee, mid-range, and premium tiers, BMO has a card for every type of Canadian spender.

Best BMO Card for Travel: BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard ($150/year) earns 5x BMO Rewards points on travel (flights, hotels, car rentals), 3x on dining and entertainment, and 1x everywhere else. The card includes airport lounge access through DragonPass (4 complimentary passes), comprehensive travel insurance (up to $5M travel medical, trip cancellation/interruption, flight delay, baggage), and no foreign transaction fee.

BMO Rewards point value

BMO Rewards points are worth approximately 0.67–1 cent each depending on redemption. 100,000 points = roughly $667–$1,000 in travel value. The welcome bonus alone can exceed the annual fee by 4–5x in the first year.

Best BMO Card for Everyday Earn: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite ($120/year) earns 5x BMO Rewards on groceries, dining, gas, and transit in Canada — strong everyday categories. It also provides a $50 lifestyle credit annually that partially offsets the fee. For Canadians who spend heavily in these four categories, the eclipse can outperform many competitors.

Best BMO No-Fee Option

The BMO eclipse Rise Visa is a no-annual-fee card that earns 3x BMO Rewards on groceries, dining, gas, and transit. It's one of the better no-fee options for category-based earning in Canada, making it a strong choice for students or anyone not ready to commit to an annual fee.

Cards Mentioned in This Article

BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

BMO · Visa

Earn 20,000 BMO Rewards

$150/yrUp to 5x earn
BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite

BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite

BMO · Visa

Earn 20,000 BMO Rewards

$120/yrUp to 5x earn

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