Scotiabank SCENE Visa Card Review

If you love going to the movies, then the Scotiabank SCENE Visa card may be the card for you.

Rewards credit cards are great for making your money work for you. With every purchase you make, you earn rewards that you can redeem for various goodies. And with the Scotiabank SCENE Visa card, you’ll earn Scene+ points redeemable at any Cineplex movie theatres, whether it’s for your tickets, food or drinks.

Don’t go to the movies too often? Luckily, the Scene+ card can also be used to earn and redeem points for your travels, visits to your favourite restaurants, or buy merchandise.

Let’s take a closer look at the Scotiabank SCENE Visa card to help you decide if it’s worth applying for.

What is the Scotiabank SCENE Visa Card? 

As of December 13, 2021, Scotia Rewards and the original SCENE rewards program merged to become Scene+. The Scotiabank SCENE Visa card is a no-fee credit card that lets you earn Scene+ points to be redeemed at Cineplex movie theatres. 

Previously existing SCENE points and Scotia Rewards points have now been converted to Scene+ points. Expanding on its previous offers, the credit card allows users to redeem their points for a variety of purchases. Points can now be used at partnered restaurants like Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s, Kelsey’s, East Side Mario’s, and Montana’s.

• Annual fee: $0
• Interest rate: 19.99% purchase rate; 22.99% cash advance rate
• Minimum credit limit: $500

Scotiabank SCENE Visa Card Features

For a credit card with no annual fee, you still have a few convenient features to take advantage of:

Points 

Whenever you use your Scotiabank SCENE Visa card, you’ll earn Scene+ points. Aside from entertainment, Scene+ points can be redeemed for travelling, shopping, and banking.

The earn rate depends on what you’re spending your money on:

• Get 5 Scene+ points for every $1 spent at Cineplex theatres and on Cineplex.com using your Scotiabank SCENE Visa card.
• Get 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Get a welcome bonus of 5,000 Scene+ points with your first $750 spent in the first 3 months.

Insurance 

The Scotiabank SCENE Visa card does not come with any insurance plans. However, for an additional fee, you can apply for insurance coverage against disability, critical illness, or loss of life. Choose from two different coverage bundles:

Basic Protection: 

• Death benefit
• Critical illness   
• Hospitalization 

Comprehensive Protection:

• Death benefit
• Critical illness   
• Hospitalization 
• Disability 
• Job loss 
• Strike 

Perks 

The Scotiabank SCENE Visa card also offers a number of additional perks, including: 

Features Making Checkout Faster

Save time at checkout with handy features like the following:

• My Mobile Wallet lets you tap your mobile phone on the terminal to pay.
• Visa payWave helps you save time when paying for small purchases by simply waving your card over the terminal.
• Click to Pay lets you click to pay with your SCENE Visa card when shopping online.

Save on Car Rentals. 

Scotiabank SCENE Visa cardholders can save up to 25% on car rentals at Budget and AVIS locations across Canada and the United States.

Scotia SelectPay

This feature allows you to pay off eligible Scotiabank Visa credit card purchases of at least $100 with no interest rate and a low fee of 2%. Through the Scotia SelectPay feature, you can pay off your purchases in 3, 6 or 9-month instalments plans. 

For example, if you make a purchase of $900, you could repay that amount in 3 installments of $300, plus fees (2% of $900 = $18). With the fees, your total monthly payment would be $306. 

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Redeeming Scene+ Points

Redeeming your Scene+ points is based on what you’re using your points for. To redeem points, access the Scene+ travel portal on the Scene+ website, then click on “Rewards.” From there, you can choose travel, shopping, gift cards, Cineplex movie tickets, or points for credit to redeem points against a statement credit.

If you want to redeem your points for dining, you can do so in person at participating restaurants (including at the drive-thru or takeout counter).

Scene+ Points Redemption Value

The following list will give you an idea of how many points you need for various redemption options:

Scotiabank SCENE Visa Card Pros And Cons

The Scotiabank SCENE Visa card offers a bunch of perks, but there are also a couple of drawbacks to consider as well.

Scotiabank SCENE Visa Card Pros

• No Annual Fee. There’s no fee for the Scotiabank SCENE Visa card, nor any fees for supplemental cards.
• Easy To Qualify For. You don’t need a strong income or credit score to be eligible for the SCENE card. Moreover, the minimum income requirement is only $12,000.
• Rewards System. Every purchase you make lets you earn Scene+ points that you can redeem for travel, movies, dining, merchandise, and gift cards. 
• Welcome Bonus. Earn 5,000 bonus Scene+ points right out of the gates when you spend $750 in the first 3 months.
• Car Rental Discounts. Get 25% off car rentals from Avis and Budget.
• No Expiry On Scene+ Points. There’s no rush to redeem the points you’ve collected, as they don’t expire. 
• Optional insurance. For an extra monthly fee, you can take advantage of insurance coverage plans for critical illness, disability, and death.

Scotiabank SCENE Visa Card Cons

• No Free Insurance. Many credit cards come with extensive insurance packages at no additional charge. But the Scotiabank SCENE Visa card insurance options require an additional monthly fee. 
• Limited Redemption Options. While you can redeem your points for a variety of goods and services, the choices are somewhat limited compared to other credit card cash back rewards programs. 

Additional Reading

How To Cancel A Scotiabank Credit Card Online?

Banks That Let You See Your Credit Scores

How To Change A Credit Card Billing Due Date?

How To Apply For The Scotiabank Scene Visa Card

You can apply for the Scotiabank SCENE Visa card in a few ways:

• Online. The easiest and quickest way to apply for the Scotiabank SCENE Visa card is online through the Scotiabank website.
• By Phone. Call Scotiabank at 1-800-747-3208 to speak with an agent and apply via telephone. 
• In-Person. Visit your local Scotiabank branch to apply in person. 

Scotiabank SCENE Visa Card Eligibility Requirements

In order to qualify for the Scotiabank SCENE Visa card, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:

• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident 
• Be the age of majority in your province or territory
• Not have filed for bankruptcy in the past 7 years
• Have a minimum income of $12,000 per year

Other Scotiabank Credit Cards

Scotiabank SCENE Visa Card FAQs

Final Thoughts

Most reward credit cards are designed for specific consumers. For those who love catching the latest flick at the movies, the no-fee Scotiabank SCENE Visa card might be a more obvious choice. Not only can you redeem points for movie tickets, but you can also apply them toward other purchases. Just keep in mind that there’s no insurance package included, though they can be purchased for an additional fee.