Best National Bank credit cards in Canada
While it might not be a Big 5 bank, National Bank credit cards offer the best of big banks with the service you'd expect from your local branch.
National Bank, the sixth biggest bank in Canada, has some intriguing credit cards that you should consider. But how does National Bank's credit card line-up compare with other of Canada's best credit cards? Here’s a list of products you should consider adding to your wallet:
Summary of our top National Bank credit card picks
| Card | Best for | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| National Bank World Elite Mastercard | Best overall | Apply Now |
| National Bank mycredit Mastercard | Best no annual fee | Apply Now |
| National Bank ECHO Cashback Mastercard | Best cash back | Apply Now |
Best National Bank credit card overall
National Bank World Elite® Mastercard®
4.0
Very Good
Suggested credit scoreGet up to $1,460 in benefits and rewards upon enrollment*
Pros
-
Generous earn categories and welcome bonus
-
Flexible point redemption
-
Impressive $150 travel expense redemption
-
Robust insurance, including mobile device insurance
-
Industry-leading extended warranty and purchase protection
Cons
-
$2,500 spend cap on the max rewards earn rate (from 5 points down to 2 points)
-
High income requirement of 80,000 individual or $150,000 household
-
Lounge visits are only available at one airport
-
High credit score needed
Eligibility
Very Good
Recommended Credit Score
$80,000
Required Annual Personal Income
$150,000
Required Annual Household Income
Recommended Credit Score
Very Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$80,000
Required Annual Household Income
$150,000
5 points
for every dollar spent at grocery stores and restaurants
2 points
for every dollar spent on gas, EV charging, recurring bill payments and A la carte travel
1 point
for every dollar spent on all other purchases
$5,000,000
Maximum for the out-of-province-of-residence emergency medical coverage for up to 60 days
for every dollar spent at grocery stores and restaurants
5 points
for every dollar spent on gas, EV charging, recurring bill payments and A la carte travel
2 points
for every dollar spent on all other purchases
1 point
Maximum for the out-of-province-of-residence emergency medical coverage for up to 60 days
$5,000,000
20.99%
Purchase APR
22.49%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.49%
Cash Advance APR
$150
Annual Fee
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee 2.5% of the transaction in CDN
Purchase APR
20.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.49%
Cash Advance APR
22.49%
Annual Fee
$150
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
Pros
-
Generous earn categories and welcome bonus
-
Flexible point redemption
-
Impressive $150 travel expense redemption
-
Robust insurance, including mobile device insurance
-
Industry-leading extended warranty and purchase protection
Cons
-
$2,500 spend cap on the max rewards earn rate (from 5 points down to 2 points)
-
High income requirement of 80,000 individual or $150,000 household
-
Lounge visits are only available at one airport
-
High credit score needed
Eligibility
Very Good
Recommended Credit Score
$80,000
Required Annual Personal Income
$150,000
Required Annual Household Income
Recommended Credit Score
Very Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$80,000
Required Annual Household Income
$150,000
5 points
for every dollar spent at grocery stores and restaurants
2 points
for every dollar spent on gas, EV charging, recurring bill payments and A la carte travel
1 point
for every dollar spent on all other purchases
$5,000,000
Maximum for the out-of-province-of-residence emergency medical coverage for up to 60 days
for every dollar spent at grocery stores and restaurants
5 points
for every dollar spent on gas, EV charging, recurring bill payments and A la carte travel
2 points
for every dollar spent on all other purchases
1 point
Maximum for the out-of-province-of-residence emergency medical coverage for up to 60 days
$5,000,000
20.99%
Purchase APR
22.49%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.49%
Cash Advance APR
$150
Annual Fee
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee 2.5% of the transaction in CDN
Purchase APR
20.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.49%
Cash Advance APR
22.49%
Annual Fee
$150
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
Of all the travel cards I’ve reviewed, the National Bank World Elite stands out for its nearly unbeatable insurance offerings. It has comprehensive coverage for everything from trip cancellation to flight delays. It even offers 15 days of coverage for travelers between the ages of 65 to 75 – extremely rare for even the most coveted credit cards.
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard also offers pretty decent earning potential, up to 2x points (when you spend between $20,000 to $30,000 on it annually). On either side of that range, you rack up 1.25x points per dollar.
We love the National Bank World Elite for it's double points on purchases and the huge suite of insurance protections it provides cardholders.
Best no annual fee National Bank card
National Bank mycredit™ Mastercard®
3.2
up to 1% back
Welcome offerGood
Suggested credit scoreEarn up to 1% cash back
Pros
-
No annual fee
-
$0 fee for additional cards
-
Low credit score requirement
-
Mobile device protection
-
Cash back automatically applied to next statement balance
-
Zero liability for unauthorized purchases
-
0.5% cash back on all other purchases is on par with other entry-level cards
Cons
-
Low earn top rate of 1% compared to premium and similar entry-level cards level cards
-
Higher interest rates
-
Limited bonus categories with only two offered and no flexibility when selecting
-
No current welcome bonus
-
Not many additional perks offered
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$0
Required Annual Personal Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$0
1%
cashback at restaurants and on pre-authorized payments
0.5%
cashback on groceries and online purchases
2 years
of mobile device insurance against theft or damage
2x
the manufacturer's warranty
90 days
of purchase protection from theft or damage from date of purchase
cashback at restaurants and on pre-authorized payments
1%
cashback on groceries and online purchases
0.5%
of mobile device insurance against theft or damage
2 years
the manufacturer's warranty
2x
of purchase protection from theft or damage from date of purchase
90 days
20.99%
Purchase APR
22.49%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.49%
Cash Advance APR
$0
Annual Fee No annual fee
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee 2.5% of the transaction in CDN
Purchase APR
20.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.49%
Cash Advance APR
22.49%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
Pros
-
No annual fee
-
$0 fee for additional cards
-
Low credit score requirement
-
Mobile device protection
-
Cash back automatically applied to next statement balance
-
Zero liability for unauthorized purchases
-
0.5% cash back on all other purchases is on par with other entry-level cards
Cons
-
Low earn top rate of 1% compared to premium and similar entry-level cards level cards
-
Higher interest rates
-
Limited bonus categories with only two offered and no flexibility when selecting
-
No current welcome bonus
-
Not many additional perks offered
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$0
Required Annual Personal Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$0
1%
cashback at restaurants and on pre-authorized payments
0.5%
cashback on groceries and online purchases
2 years
of mobile device insurance against theft or damage
2x
the manufacturer's warranty
90 days
of purchase protection from theft or damage from date of purchase
cashback at restaurants and on pre-authorized payments
1%
cashback on groceries and online purchases
0.5%
of mobile device insurance against theft or damage
2 years
the manufacturer's warranty
2x
of purchase protection from theft or damage from date of purchase
90 days
20.99%
Purchase APR
22.49%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.49%
Cash Advance APR
$0
Annual Fee No annual fee
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee 2.5% of the transaction in CDN
Purchase APR
20.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.49%
Cash Advance APR
22.49%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
There’s nothing wrong with a no-fee, straightforward cash back card, and National Bank’s mycredit Mastercard is just such an example. In addition to eschewing the annual fee, the mycredit Mastercard offers some basic perks such as mobile device insurance and no limit on the amount of cash back you can earn. Plus, there’s no high credit score required to qualify, making it a decent entry-level option.
We love the National Bank mycredit for its lack of an annual fee, mobile device insurance and amiability of basic cash back rewards for average credit scores.
Best National Bank cash back card
National Bank ECHO® Cashback Mastercard®
3.0
Good
Suggested credit scoreto receive the latest news, tips and offers by email
Pros
-
Earns up to 1.5% cash back on groceries, gas, and select online purchases
-
Redemption is available once $25 cash back accumulated
-
Supplementary cards have no fee
-
Purchase protection for 90 days against theft or damage
-
Extended Warranty doubles manufacturer's warranty up to one year
Cons
-
Limited 1.5% cashback applies only to first $25,000 annual spending
-
Online purchases excluded from higher cashback rate if related to travel or recurring bills
-
$30 annual fee, unlike some competing no-fee cashback cards
-
Requires higher annual spending to offset annual fee
-
Limited acceptance compared to Mastercard by some merchants
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$15,000
Required Annual Personal Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$15,000
1.5%
The ECHO Mastercard earns 1.5% cash back on groceries, gas and most online purchases. All eligible purchases outside those three categories earn 1% cash back.
The ECHO Mastercard earns 1.5% cash back on groceries, gas and most online purchases. All eligible purchases outside those three categories earn 1% cash back.
1.5%
20.99%
Purchase APR
22.49%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.49%
Cash Advance APR
$30
Annual Fee
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee 2.5% of the transaction in CDN
Purchase APR
20.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.49%
Cash Advance APR
22.49%
Annual Fee
$30
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
Pros
-
Earns up to 1.5% cash back on groceries, gas, and select online purchases
-
Redemption is available once $25 cash back accumulated
-
Supplementary cards have no fee
-
Purchase protection for 90 days against theft or damage
-
Extended Warranty doubles manufacturer's warranty up to one year
Cons
-
Limited 1.5% cashback applies only to first $25,000 annual spending
-
Online purchases excluded from higher cashback rate if related to travel or recurring bills
-
$30 annual fee, unlike some competing no-fee cashback cards
-
Requires higher annual spending to offset annual fee
-
Limited acceptance compared to Mastercard by some merchants
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$15,000
Required Annual Personal Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$15,000
1.5%
The ECHO Mastercard earns 1.5% cash back on groceries, gas and most online purchases. All eligible purchases outside those three categories earn 1% cash back.
The ECHO Mastercard earns 1.5% cash back on groceries, gas and most online purchases. All eligible purchases outside those three categories earn 1% cash back.
1.5%
20.99%
Purchase APR
22.49%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.49%
Cash Advance APR
$30
Annual Fee
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee 2.5% of the transaction in CDN
Purchase APR
20.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.49%
Cash Advance APR
22.49%
Annual Fee
$30
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
This card is a bit of a standout, as it does a few things rare among cash back cards. First, it has a $30 annual fee, which is low compared to the premium cash back cards, but higher than a lot of the basic options. With that fee comes a few perks, including 1.5% cash back on gas, groceries and – notably – most online purchases, a feature lacking on many competing cards. This cash back rate only applies to purchases up to $25,000 per year, and then all purchases revert to the cards base rate of 1%.
What is National Bank of Canada?
In Canada you hear a lot about “The Big Six” banks – TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, RBC and National Bank. National Bank, based out of Montreal, manages $120+ billion in assets. While the head office is located in Quebec, it has branches all over Canada, and has international offices to serve Canadian and non-Canadian clients.
Benefits of banking with National Bank
National Bank is considerably smaller than the other core five banks in Canada. But despite that, it offers a wide range of banking services and products such as chequing and savings accounts, lines of credit, mortgages, credit cards, investing and more.
Benefits of banking with National Bank include the ability to bank in person or online, access to its robust offering of banking products and tapping into discounts that target different age groups, newcomers to Canada or professionals. National Bank also has a reputation as a strong and safe financial institution, consistently ranking on lists of the world’s strongest banks.
Types of National Bank credit cards
There’s a number of Mastercard options available from National Bank that include:
- World Elite Mastercard: Our pick for a travel card with great insurance and decent point earning potential
- World Mastercard: A premium card that earns up to 2x on purchases.
- MC1 Mastercard: A no-fee, no-frills credit builder card, with no minimum income required to qualify
- Syncro Mastercard: A low-interest credit card with a modest annual fee and purchase protection
- Allure Mastercard: No-fee cash back card that has a welcome bonus and supports the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation
- ECHO Cashback Mastercard: Low-fee cash back card that lets you earn money back on online purchases
Pros and cons of National Bank of Canada credit cards
Pros
-
Rewards: National Bank cards may provide rewards in the form of points or cash back. À la carteTM Rewards apply towards several award options like plane or train tickets, hotel reservations, cruises, excursions, package tours car and cottage rentals.
-
Insurance: Select National Bank credit cards offer travel insurance that may rival what's available from the Big 5 or other banks.
-
Travel advice: National Bank's partnership with Transat gives you access to specialist advice and assistance.
Cons
-
No transfer partners: À la carteTM Rewards does not offer points transfers with hotel loyalty or frequent flyer programs.
-
Rewards: While National Bank cards offer rewards, the earn rates with those cards are typically lower than what you might find elsewhere.
What to look for in a National Bank of Canada credit card
National Bank of Canada doesn’t overwhelm customers with credit card choice – you get to choose between a credit builder (or low interest) card for those looking to not expose themselves to much debt risk, a few cash back cards and a travel card option.
Consider your personal needs when picking a card. Do you plan on traveling and need insurance? The World Elite Mastercard may hold more appeal than the ECHO. But if you’re a big online shopper, it may be hard to beat the cash back bonus for online purchases offered by the ECHO.
Just remember, most National Bank cards have earning tiers, and cap earning bonuses over a certain annual spend amount. Make sure you’re tracking how much you spend so you can maximize all your bonuses within the appropriate tier.
À la carte Rewards guide
À la carte Rewards is the loyalty program of National Bank of Canada, offering cardholders many of the perks and benefits associated with a BIG 5 rewards program. The A la carte program lets you earn points on every dollar you spend with an eligible National Bank of Canada (*NBC) credit card.
Do À la carte Rewards points expire?
No, A la Carte Rewards points don’t expire as long as your account is open and in good standing, meaning you aren’t behind on payments or subject to any penalty APR.
What are NBC À la carte Rewards points worth?
À la carte Rewards points are worth one cent per point. This valuation is based on the program's redemption rate of 10,000 points = $100.
How to redeem À la carte points
Like other loyalty programs, À la carte Rewards are redeemable for a wide selection of award options:
- Statement credits to pay down your credit card bill
- Applied to an existing NBC mortgage or another financial product
- Charitable donations
- Gift cards
- Merchandise through the program’s boutique
- Travel packages and discounts
If you don’t have enough points for a travel package, don’t worry. À la carte allows members to book travel with a combination of cash and points, meaning you won’t have to miss out on that dream trip because you’re a few points short.
You can easily redeem your points via the À la carte Rewards website or by calling the program’s travel experts directly at 1-800-561-3653.
FAQs
Cam is a content marketer with a passion for saving, financial independence, and pulling off elaborate credit card point schemes. He has worked in Fintech and Finserve (specifically Group Retirement) and loves researching and writing about finance.
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