The 6 Best Vancity Visa Credit Cards
By Michael Wight | Published on 16 Aug 2023
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Vancity Visa credit cards are popular for supporting the environment and offering exciting rewards. A member-owned financial co-operative, also known as a credit union, Vancity offers a number of Visa cards including some low-rate and business cards for people interested in rewards. If you search the web, you will come across nearly a dozen options. We’ve sorted them out for you. Below you will find the six best Vancity Visa credit cards.
Note: These cards are only for British Columbia residents with a BC address. Consider comparing other credit cards if you don’t live in BC. If you are charity-minded, Aerpolan credit cards let you donate your points to charity. But guess what? So does Vancity! Here are the best Vancity Visa credit cards and what you need to know about them.
Vancity Visa credit cards: spend & save the planet?
British Columbia is known for being a climate-conscious province. So it makes sense that its largest credit union would embrace the opportunity to help its members support green initiatives effortlessly. With every purchase you make on an enviro Visa credit card, 5% of profits go to the Vancity enviroFund™ program. The program helps fund businesses and organizations to help them develop climate-friendly projects and products.
On a personal level, you can use the Carbon Counter™ to help understand the carbon footprint of your Vancity Visa credit card spending. It offers insights and tips for more sustainable choices based on your transactions. You can also refine your estimates by answering additional questions.
If you would like to redeem your points for cash back, you will need to have a Vancity deposit account. As with every financial product and the benefits that come with it, additional terms and conditions apply. For the most complete and up-to-date information regarding your Vancity Visa credit card and its features, please refer to your card agreement.
1. enviro Visa Infinite card with Vancity Rewards: Best for unlimited rewards
The enviro Visa Infinite* card with Vancity Rewards comes with some great perks. It can, however, be a little hard to qualify for this card. Like all Vancity cards, you need to be at least 19 years old to be eligible and to be a BC resident with a BC address. In addition, you must meet one of the following conditions:
- $60,000 annual personal income or $100,000 annual household income
- Or, at least $250,000 in investible funds
Moreover, you must not have declared bankruptcy within the previous seven years or have no credit history. However, once you qualify, you will get access to great rewards.
Cardholders can earn up to 10 points for each $1 spent at select local businesses, including JJBean, FreshPrep, Modo, and more. Spending on public transport, including ferries, earns 5 points for each $1 spent. It goes down to 2.5 points for every $1 spent on groceries and 1.25 points for every $1 spent on any other purchases. Users can earn 2x points when making travel-related bookings through the Vancity Rewards program. Shop freely because the card comes with a 21-day interest-free grace period on all new purchases.
Other benefits include special dining and entertainment offers, as well as 24/7 concierge services. Cardholders enjoy mobile device insurance, price protection service, extended warranty insurance, flight delay insurance, purchase security insurance, rental collision insurance, and up to $500,000 for accidents on common carriers. There, however, are some conditions. For example, you will be eligible for common carrier travel accident insurance only if you purchase at least 75% of the common carrier fare with your enviro Visa card.
The enviro Visa Infinite card can be a great pick for travellers as it comes with a complimentary membership to the Visa Airport Companion Program, which offers airport lounge access at over 1,200 locations worldwide.
The card is secure and offers personal identification number (PIN) protection, lost or stolen card protection, and fraud monitoring. The card works at all Visa-supported ATMs, and supports recurring and automatic payments.
All in all, the enviro Visa Infinite card with Vancity Rewards is one of the best Vancity Visa credit cards.
2. enviro Visa Classic card with Vancity Rewards: Best no annual fee credit card
The enviro Visa Classic card with Vancity Rewards is the most affordable Vancity Visa card. There are no annual charges, but you still have the option to request up to 4 additional cards and enjoy a 21-day interest-free grace period on all new purchases. Applicants only need to be 19 years old and a BC resident to apply for the enviro Visa Classic card, and there are no minimum income requirements.
As far as rewards go, cardholders earn 1 point for every $2 spent. However, making travel-related bookings through the Vancity Rewards program earns twice the rewards (in this case, 1 point for every $1 spent).
The enviro Visa Classic card offers limited coverage, including purchase security insurance, up to $200,000 common carrier travel accident insurance, and extended warranty insurance. There may be some conditions, though, so make sure to read the fine print. Nevertheless, cardholders do enjoy Visa protection and security.
3. enviro Visa Gold card with Vancity Rewards: Best for people with low or no income
Annual fee: $99
Interest rate: 19.50%
Rewards: 1 point for every $1 spent
Redeem: 100 points for $1
The enviro Gold Visa card with Vancity Rewards is another great card with very exciting rewards. These include 2,500 bonus points when you make your first purchase ($25 rewards value), and 3,500 bonus points on the card’s anniversary, all of which can be redeemed for cash back.
One benefit that the enviro Visa Gold card has, which the enviro Visa Infinite card does not, is that there are no minimum income requirements to apply, making this the go-to option for many people. Additionally, the card is great for families; users can request up to 4 additional cards, for $0.
The reward system is simple: 1 point for every $1 spent. Unlike the enviro Visa Infinite card, there is no concierge service, lounge access, or local business discounts with this card. The only reward option is to collect and redeem points. Still, users can earn twice the points when making travel-related bookings through the Vancity Rewards program.
This card isn’t as exciting as our first pick but the coverage it offers includes purchase-security insurance, price protection, extended warranty insurance, mobile device insurance, and a range of travel insurances: delayed and lost baggage insurance, auto rental insurance, and up to $500,000 common carrier travel accident insurance.
Similarly to the enviro Visa Infinite card, the enviro Visa Gold card does support recurring and automatic payments and offers cash advance services. It also has the same 21-day interest-free grace period on all new purchases with the same security and protection features discussed above.
4. enviro Visa Infinite Privilege card with Vancity Rewards: Best for high-income earners
Annual fee: $245 for Vancity members and $395 for non‑members
Interest rate: 19.50%
Rewards: Up to 10 points for every $1 spent
Redeem: 100 points for $1
The enviro Visa Infinite Privilege card with Vancity Rewards is one of the most expensive Vancity Visa cards out there. However, the perks it offers make up for the inflated cost. That being said, this card isn’t for everyone as eligibility requirements are very high. You must meet one of the following income requirements to qualify:
- $150,000 in annual personal income or a household income of $200,000
- Or, at least $400,000 in investible funds
The reward system is similar to that of the enviro Visa Infinitecard. Cardholders can earn up to 10 points for every $1 spent at select local businesses. Additional perks include local business discounts and Premium Visa Infinite benefits such as concierge services. Users can earn 5 points for every $1 spent on public transit and ferries, 3 points for every $1 spent on groceries, and 1.5 points for every $1 spent on other purchases.
The card offers all sorts of insurance. You get flight delay insurance, purchase-security insurance, mobile device insurance, price protection service, and auto rental collision insurance. Furthermore, you get up to $500,000 common carrier travel accident insurance, up to $5,000,000 travel emergency medical insurance, up to $5,000 trip interruption insurance, up to $2,500 trip cancellation insurance, delayed and lost baggage insurance, and extended warranty insurance. However, these offers come with prerequisites, so make sure to read the terms and conditions.
These amazing features make the enviro Visa Infinite Privilege Card one of the best credit cards available. It is particularly advantageous for travellers as it offers exciting travel rewards including 6 complimentary lounge visits, Visa Airport Companion membership, and cardholders can earn twice the points by using the Vancity Rewards program to book travel. You can also get room upgrades and sports, entertainment, and dining offers through Visa Infinite benefits.
While the first additional card is free, every supplementary card costs $50 per year, up to 4 cards. Like all other cards, it works at ATMs, offers cash advances, and can be used to set up recurring and automatic payments. Plus, users enjoy Visa protection.
5. enviro Visa Infinite Business card with Vancity Rewards: Best for BC small businesses
Annual fee: $120
Interest rate: 19.50%
Rewards: Up to 10 points for every $1 spent
Redeem: 100 points for $1
The enviro Visa Infinite Business card with Vancity Rewards is designed for small to medium-size businesses. To be eligible for the card, you have to be a Vancity business member, run a small to medium-sized business and be a sole proprietor, partnership, limited company or co-operative. There are also income requirements:
- $60,000 in annual personal income or $100,000 in annual household income
- Or, $250,000 in investible funds
The enviro Visa Infinite Business card is for people who want a lot of additional cards, as it supports up to 10 supplementary cards, at the cost of $50 each (except for the first one which is free). Your business will receive a unified monthly statement covering all issued credit cards, thus making it easier to manage them.
The card impresses when it comes to rewards. Spending at local businesses could earn 10 points for every $1 spent. Furthermore, spending on office supplies, hardware and electronics offers 2.5 points for every $1 spent. The card covers almost all public transport options including rail and parking – offering 5 points for every $1, and 1.25 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Insurance is another department where this card scores well. Coverage includes liability waiver insurance, which can be great for businesses. It provides protection against unauthorized expenses through card misuse by employees.
In addition, cardholders enjoy flight delay insurance, up to $500,000 common carrier travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, flight delay insurance, auto rental collision insurance, delayed and lost baggage insurance, mobile device insurance, extended warranty insurance, and purchase security insurance. As with the other cards, there is a 21-day interest-free grace period on all new purchases.
This card can be great for people who travel a lot for business. You also have access to interesting business tools. The first tool is Visa Spend Clarity for Business to track your transactions, see trends and create customized reports. It also helps you control expenses, set up custom card-activity alerts and decide where and when they are allowed to use the card. You’ll also enjoy access to Visa SavingsEdge which provides discounts at participating merchants.
One of the highlights of the card is the Visa Spend Clarity for Business feature that allows entrepreneurs to decide how, where, and when a card is used. With this option, you will be able to manage your employees’ spending limits.
6. enviro Visa Classic card with low-interest rate & Vancity Rewards: Best low-rate card with rewards
[Offer productType=”CreditCard” api_id=”6581ca4debaf420b98489f63″]The enviro Visa Classic card with a low interest rate plus Vancity Rewards can be a great option for people who carry a balance. It is one of the most affordable credit cards out there and has no income requirements. For this reason, rewards are also on the lower side.
The card offers limited coverage, including purchase-security insurance, extended warranty insurance, and up to $200,000 common carrier travel accident insurance. However, there are no bonus rewards and your only option is to accumulate points that can be redeemed at a rate of $1 for every 100 points. Every $2 spent will earn you 1 point, and you’ll earn double points on travel when you book through Vancity Rewards
Like every other card discussed on this list, this one offers cash advances, recurring and automatic payments, a 21-day grace period, and up to 4 additional cards. Moreover, cardholders enjoy Visa protection and security.
FAQs about Vancity Visa credit cards
You can apply for a Vancity card by visiting a physical branch, calling 1-888-826-2489, or applying online. However, you will have to book an appointment online if you wish to request a business card.
No, Vancity does not offer Visa-Debit cards. However, Vancity’s MEMBER CARD® debit card works at over 3,200 international ATMs and can be used online as well. However, it does not offer the same rewards as most Vancity Visa credit cards.
In order to pay an enviro Visa bill online or by mobile app, you need to log in to your Online Banking – this requires a Vancity MEMBER CARD debit card and your online banking password. Head to the “Pay Bills” section and add a new payee if your card isn’t already added. Choose ‘Pay Bills’ from the menu and provide the required details. It can take up to 24 hours for this change to show in your account. If you do not have a MEMBER CARD debit card or an online banking password, contact the Member Services Centre at 604.877.7000.
Points can be redeemed in a variety of ways. You can buy gift cards starting as low as 2,500 points. Available options include names like Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons, and Hudson’s Pay. In addition, you can support a charity, starting as low as 2,000 points. Furthermore, points can be used to pay down your Visa card or a recent purchase. It is also possible to convert points into cash and add funds to your savings, investment, or retirement account. Head to the app or website and choose your desired method once you reach the minimum threshold.
100 Vancity points are worth $1. This applies to all Vancity Visa cards.
