Scotiabank Gold Amex Review 2026: Best Grocery Card?

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card earns 6 Scene+ points per dollar at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, FreshCo, Foodland, Farm Boy, and other Empire-banner grocery stores — the highest grocery earn rate available on any Canadian credit card without a cap or rotating category. It also charges no foreign transaction fee, making it a rare "do everything well" card.

Earn Rates

6x Scene+ points per dollar at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, FreshCo, and other Sobeys-banner stores. 5x at restaurants, fast food, and food delivery (including Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes, DoorDash). 3x on gas, daily transit (bus, subway, Uber), and select streaming services. 1x on everything else. The stacking opportunity: you can also scan your Scene+ member card at the same Sobeys register to earn additional in-store points on top of the card earn.

No Foreign Transaction Fee

Most Canadian credit cards charge 2.5% on purchases made in foreign currencies. The Scotiabank Gold Amex charges zero. On a $5,000 international trip, that's $125 saved. Combined with the travel insurance and competitive earn rates, this card is one of the most well-rounded options in Canada at its price point.

Is the $120 Fee Worth It?

If you spend $500/month at Sobeys/Safeway, you earn 36,000 Scene+ points ($360) annually on groceries alone. Add dining and other spending and most cardholders easily generate $500+ in points per year. After the $120 fee, that's a $380+ net benefit — before accounting for the saved foreign transaction fees and travel insurance value.