The 10 Best Credit Cards in BC

If you have ever been in the market for a new credit card in BC, you’ve probably found yourself in over your head. Is it just me, or does it seem like there is a credit card for everything these days? Cashback, US dollars, travel miles, and even free donuts with the new Tim Hortons credit card. You name it, there’s a credit card for it in Canada. 

Why is finding the best credit card for you important? It can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars every year if you, pardon the pun, play your cards right. Each card has its own benefits and depending on the type of consumer you are, there are ways to take advantage. 

1. Vancity Enviro Visa Infinite Card: Best Credit Card in BC for Environmentally Friendly Consumers 

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Vancity is one of BC’s largest and most beloved credit unions. It offers several variations of its Enviro Visa card, which provides a little back to the environment each year. Vancity donates 5% of the profits made from each Enviro Visa card and donates it to the Vancity enviroFund program. 

But this isn’t just a credit card for the environment lovers in your life. The Enviro Visa Infinite Card packs a real punch when it comes to travel rewards and purchase coverage. It even helps you to support local BC businesses by providing a 10% discount off your cup of coffee at JJ Bean and a $100 credit for Modo ride-sharing in BC. 

Here are some other key features of the Vancity Enviro Visa Infinite card:

• Earn Vancity rewards for every dollar you spend in BC including 10 points for every dollar spent at a local business and 5 points for public transit
• Airport lounge access 
• Enjoy hotel room upgrades, free WiFi at hotels, and late check-out at more than 900 global hotel properties
• Concierge services 24/7
• Sports and entertainment offers 
• Elevate platinum status at Sandman hotels
• 21-day interest-free grace period on all new purchases
• Tap to pay or use Apple Pay or Google Pay
• 24-hour cash advances through any Visa ATM
• Automatic and recurring payment eligibility

Eligibility criteria

19 years of age or older. Resident of BC with BC address. One of the following: $60,000 annual income or $100,000 annual household income $250,000 or more in investments at Vancity.

2. Vancity Enviro Visa Classic Card: Best No-Fee Green Credit Card in BC

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The Vancity Enviro Visa Classic Card is the no-fee, low-frills version of the Enviro Visa Infinite Card from Vancity. While it does not feature as many benefits as the Infinite version, you can still earn Vancity rewards and do your part for the environment through the Vancity enviroFund program. 

This BC-exclusive credit card does not even require a minimum annual income which makes it great for young consumers or students. It also comes with some travel insurance and purchase coverage insurance as well which is not something you can say for most entry-level cards. Like its banking services, Vancity’s credit cards are here to serve the citizens of BC. 

Here are some other key features of the Vancity Enviro Visa Classic Card: 

• Earn 1 Vancity reward point for every $2 spent 
• Earn 2X Vancity reward points when booking travel through Vancity rewards
• $200,000 in travel accident coverage
• Purchase security insurance for 90 days
• Extended warranty insurance to add one year onto the existing warranty
• 21-day interest-free grace period
• 24/7 Vancity card services 
• 24-hour cash advances through any Visa ATM
• Automatic and recurring payment eligibility
• Integrates with Google and Apple Pay

Eligibility criteria

19 years of age or older. Resident of BC with BC address.

3. KOHO Reloadable Prepaid Mastercard: Best Virtual Credit Card in BC 

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KOHO is a unique financial institution so it should only be fitting that it has a unique credit card. To be honest, the KOHO Reloadable Prepaid Mastercard isn’t a classic credit card. It is a hybrid between a reloadable debit card and a credit card with rewards. Because of this, there are no fees or interest rates attached. 

To use the KOHO Prepaid card you load it with fund yourself through the KOHO app. You cannot spend what is not loaded onto the card. KOHO is even pushing the virtual aspect of the card one step further by making it a mostly mobile card. It can easily be integrated into a mobile device with Apple, Google, or Samsung Pay. 

For you to qualify for the KOHO Prepaid card you must be signed up with a KOHO account. That is all it takes for you to be approved. Note that since it is a reloadable card, it will not provide any benefit to your credit score. Something that might appeal to some BC residences is the 1-2% cashback you receive as well as 4.5% interest earned on the funds loaded to your KOHO card. 

Here are some other key features of the KOHO Reloadable Prepaid Card

• KOHO Prepaid card is entirely virtual and used through Google, Samsung, or Apple Pay
• Guaranteed approval with a KOHO account
• Earn up to 6% cashback on spending in-store or online
• Eligible for subscriptions or recurring payments
• Maximum balance of $20,000 to $40,000 depending on KOHO account plan
• Maximum transactions of 15 to 20 per day depending on KOHO account plan

Eligibility criteria

Open a KOHO account

4. Rogers World Elite Mastercard: Best Credit Card in BC for Avid Travelers To The US

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The Rogers World Elite Mastercard is quickly becoming a strong contender for travel credit cards in British Columbia – especially for snowbirds. Its widespread acceptance and cash back rewards are enticing, and its no-annual-fee structure makes it even more appealing to residents of BC.

Beyond its cash back capabilities, the Rogers World Elite Mastercard also provides comprehensive travel and insurance benefits. Travelers can enjoy the luxury of over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, thanks to its complimentary Mastercard Travel Pass. On the insurance front, cardholders are covered with amenities like Out-of-Province/Out-of-Country Emergency Medical, Trip Interruption, Trip Cancellation, and more.

Here are some distinguishing features of the Rogers World Elite Mastercard:

• 1.5% unlimited cash back on all eligible regular purchases
• 3% cash back on purchases made in U.S. dollars
• A welcoming $25 cash back bonus on the first purchase within 3 months
• Zero annual fee
• Access to over 1,300 airport lounges with Mastercard Travel Pass
• Extensive insurance benefits such as Rental Car Collision/Damage and Extended Warranty
• Instant reward redemption through the Rogers Bank app
• Earn and use rewards on everyday expenses or apply them to your Rogers bill.

Eligibility criteria

Be a Canadian resident. Be the age of majority in your province. Have not filed bankruptcy or consumer proposal in the last 7 years. Annual individual income of $80,000 or annual household income of $150,000. Annual spend of $15,000 on the card each year.

5. American Express Cobalt Card: Best Credit Card in BC for Dining Out

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The American Express Cobalt Card is a great entry-level credit card with generous retail and travel rewards. The rewards point system allows you to earn points on every dollar you spend as well as redeem them for any purchases you make.

Why is this the best credit card in BC for dining out? You earn 5x the reward points at eligible Canadian restaurants, which means every meal you eat out is at a discount. You can also earn 3x the points on streaming subscriptions and 2x the points on gas and travel purchases. 

Here are some other key features of the American Express Cobalt Card:

• Earn reward points on every dollar you spend 
• Redeem reward points for purchases or travel benefits
• Mobile device insurance
• Up to $100 hotel credit 
• Out-of-province/country medical insurance 
• Flight delay insurance 
• Baggage delay insurance
• Lost or stolen bag insurance 
• Car rental insurance
• Access to American Express Experiences including Front of the Line ticket access and 
• Buyer’s Assurance Protection Plan and Purchase Protection
• 24/7 Customer Service 
• Access to American Express Plan It installment payments 

Eligibility criteria

Be a Canadian resident. You are the age of majority in your province.

6. NEO Credit Card: Best Credit Card in BC for Cashback at Popular Brands

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The NEO Credit Card is another card from a digital-only bank, NEO. Unlike the KOHO Prepaid Card, the NEO Card is in fact, an actual credit card. You have to both apply and qualify for it, as well as be a NEO account holder. 

The feature that stands out the most about the NEO Credit Card is receiving unlimited cashback from thousands of retailers. Included in these are notable BC retailers like Canadian Tire, Lululemon, and Sport Chek. On average, purchases will provide you with 5.0% cash back with the NEO Credit Card.

Here are some other key features of the NEO Credit Card:

• Unlimited cashback on purchases with the NEO Credit Card
• An average of 5.0% back from thousands of Canadian retailers
• Use the NEO app to find cashback rewards near you
• NEO Secured Credit allows benefits to those with low credit scores
• Add the virtual NEO Credit Card to Apple or Google Pay on your phone
• Earn 2.25% interest on your cashback funds in your NEO Account
• Subscribing to travel perks can help boost your travel rewards and cashback

Eligibility criteria

Be a Canadian resident. You are the age of majority in your province.

7. Tangerine World Mastercard: Best Credit Card in BC for Customized Cashback Categories 

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The Tangerine World Mastercard is another BC credit card from an online bank. Tangerine gained popularity among Canadians when it first entered the country as ING Direct back in 1997. For a credit card without any annual fees, the Tangerine World Mastercard comes with a long list of features and benefits for Tangerine users. 

Notably, this card also comes with some high eligibility requirements. Not only do you need to have a set amount of annual income, but you also need to be clear of bankruptcies for the past 7 years. You can also take advantage of Tangerine’s flexible cashback system where you can choose up to three different categories to earn your 2.0% cashback.. 

Here are some other key features of the Tangerine World Mastercard: 

• Unlimited and monthly cashback rewards on all purchases
• Choose from up to 3 different cashback categories 
• Mastercard Travel Rewards and access to Boingo WiFi hotspots around the world
• Enjoy special benefits from on-demand and subscription services
• Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass
• Mobile Device Insurance
• Rental Car Insurance
• Online Pause My Card feature
• Mastercard Zero Liability
• The card is made of 100% recycled plastic
• Eligible to integrate with Apple, Google, and Samsung Pay
• Extended Warranty doubles the period of repair services 

Eligibility criteria

Be a permanent resident in Canada. You are the age of majority in your province. Gross annual income of $60,000 or more or gross household income of $100,000 or more. Total balances of $250,000 or more in Tangerine savings or investment accounts Clear of bankruptcies in the past 7 years.

8. Scotiabank Visa Scene+ Card: Best Credit Card in BC for Movie Lovers

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The Scene+ rewards program has been popular ever since it was introduced in BC in 2007. At first, it started as a way to earn free movie tickets with Scotiabank’s partnership with Cineplex theatres. Today, Scene+ provides everything from free groceries to travel rewards and is partnered with some of BC’s most prominent businesses like Safeway, Home Hardware, and of course, Cineplex. 

Here are some other key features of the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card:

• 2X Scene+ reward points at participating Sobey’s, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, and more.
• 2X Scene+ reward points at Home Hardware and Cineplex theatres.
• Works with Visa payWave and digital wallets like Apple and Google Pay
• Save on car rentals at Budget in Canada and the United States
• Optional Insurance Benefits: Basic and Comprehensive Protections 

Eligibility criteria

Be a Canadian resident. Be the age of majority in your province. Minimum annual income of $12,000.

9. BMO Student Cashback Mastercard: Best Credit Card in BC for Students 

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Are you a student at SFU or UBC and looking for a new credit card? Look no further than the BMO Student Cashback Mastercard which comes with no annual fees and cashback on every dollar you spend at BC retailers. This credit card has a whole trophy case of awards including the Best Student Credit Card from creditcardGenius in 2022 and 2023. 

The BMO Student Cashback Mastercard allows you to redeem your points for cash at any time and can be deposited into your BMO bank account to earn interest. BMO has done a great job of providing BC students with one of the best student credit cards in Canada. 

Here are some other key features of the BMO Student Cashback Mastercard:

• 3% cash back on groceries
• 1% cash back on recurring bill payments
• 0.5% cash back on all other purchases made
• Get 24/7 access to your credit score through BMO’s CreditView
• Extended warranty and purchase protection
• Save up to 25% on car rentals from Alamo and National Car Rental locations
• 15% off Cirque du Soleil shows in Canada and 20% off resident shows in Las Vegas
• Zero liability safeguards from fraudulent card misuse 
• Mastercard Identity Check for online shopping
• Optional add-ons include BMO Roadside Assistance and BMO Credit Card Balance Protection
• Eligible for BMO PaySmart Installment plans

Eligibility criteria

Be a Canadian citizen or permanent residentBe the age of majority in your province. Be a student between the ages of 18 and 24 at a recognized post-secondary school. Earn annual income from employment, scholarship/grant, student loan, or family allowance.

10. RBC Ion+ Visa: Best Credit Card in BC for Avion Point Collectors 

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The RBC ION+ Visa card is a relatively new credit card for BC residents. It has slightly higher fees, although they are reasonable at just $48.00 per year especially when you consider some of the benefits you are eligible for. By being approved for the ION+ Visa card, you are instantly eligible for the very popular Avion Rewards points program. 

If you are into promotions and discounts at some of BC’s most popular retailers, then the RBC ION+ Visa card is definitely worth checking out. Just for being approved, you’ll receive 12,000 Avion Points which has a fair value of about $100.00. 

Here are some other key features of the RBC ION+ Visa Card:

• 3X Avion Points for every dollar spent on groceries, dining, food delivery, rides, gas, EV charging, streaming, digital gaming, and other subscriptions.
• Earn 1X Avion Points on every other dollar you spend.
• Redeem your Avion Points for gift cards, merchandise, bill payments, and even to send money via Interac eTransfer.
• Mobile device insurance for up to $1,000
• Purchase security and extended warranty insurance
• Save $0.03 per litre on gas at any Petro Canada location 
• Earn 50 Be Well points for every dollar spent at Rexall
• Included is a 3-month subscription to DoorDash
• Optional add-on travel insurance, credit and identity theft protection, RBC Road Assist, and RBC BalanceProtector Max Insurance.

Eligibility criteria

Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Be the age of majority in your province.