bmo rewards travel website

  • Book Travel
  • Credit Cards

BMO Rewards

bmo rewards travel website

Best ways to earn:

Best ways to redeem:.

With the BMO Rewards points earned through welcome bonuses and daily spending on the bank’s credit cards, you can redeem them at a fixed value in a variety of ways, including for travel or cashing them out to a BMO investment account..

In this guide, we’ll cover all the ways to earn and redeem BMO Rewards, including the best ways to squeeze value out of them.

Earning BMO Rewards Points

The only way to earn BMO Rewards points is through BMO credit cards.

As it stands, BMO has five credit cards that earn BMO Rewards points, including four personal cards and one business card:

BMO eclipse rise Visa Card

  • BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card
  • BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card 
  • BMO Ascend World Elite® Mastercard 

BMO World Elite® Business Mastercard

The fastest way to rack up points is by taking advantage of credit card welcome bonuses; however,, you’ll also continue to earn BMO Rewards points on day-to-day spending as well.

Credit Card Welcome Bonuses

Welcome bonuses may fluctuate throughout the year; however, you can expect to earn anywhere from 20,000–90,000 BMO Rewards points after meeting the minimum spending requirements.

Some cards will also include a first-year annual fee rebate as part of the offer, which lets you test-drive the card without any out-of-pocket cost in the first year.

The current welcome bonuses, as well as the cards’ annual fees, can be found below:

Also included in the list is the newly launched BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card, the only no-fee product among BMO Rewards-earning cards.

bmo rewards travel website

Credit Card Spending

BMO Rewards points can also be earned on eligible day-to-day spending on the credit cards mentioned above.

  • Earn 5 BMO Rewards points per 2 dollars spent on eligible recurring bills, groceries, dining, and takeout/delivery purchases† Earn 1 BMO Rewards point per 2 dollars spent on all other eligible purchases†
  • Earn 5 BMO Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible dining, groceries, gas, and transit purchases, up to the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year†
  • Earn 1 BMO Rewards point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases†

BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

  • Earn 5 BMO Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible travel, dining, groceries, gas, and drugstorepurchases, up to the first $100,000 in purchases per calendar year†

BMO Ascend World Elite® Mastercard

  • Earn 5 BMO Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible travel purchases, up to the first $15,000 spent per calendar year†
  • Earn 3 BMO Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible recurring bill payments, dining, ab d entertainment purchases up to the first $10,000 spent per category per calendar year)†
  • Earn 4 BMO Rewards points per dollar spent at eligible gas stations, on office supplies, and on recurring internet/telephone bill payments†

Redeeming BMO Rewards Points

BMO Rewards points have a fixed redemption value that can help offset the cost of travel expenses or add to your BMO investment account.

You can also redeem BMO Rewards points for statement credits and gift cards, but you’ll get a lower redemption rate than if you redeem them for travel expenses or your investment account.

Redeeming BMO Rewards points for travel will get you a fixed value of 150 points = $1, or 0.67 cents per point. This means that every 10,000 BMO Rewards points will get you a value of up to $67.

To redeem your points for travel, you can book with any travel provider and then apply BMO Rewards points against the purchases through your BMO Rewards account with the “Pay with Points” tab.

bmo rewards travel website

Similarly, you can redeem BMO Rewards points at the same rate by turning the points into cash, and having that cash deposited directly into your BMO investment account.

With this option, you must redeem in increments of 15,000 BMO Rewards points, which will result in $100 being deposited into your investment account.

bmo rewards travel website

If you don’t have a BMO investment account, and you have no travel plans, BMO Rewards offers other redemption options.

You can redeem BMO Rewards points for gift cards, merchandise, or as a statement credit against your BMO Rewards credit card.

If you redeem BMO Rewards points for gift cards and merchandise, you’ll only get a subpar average redemption value of about 0.54–0.56 cents per point.

bmo rewards travel website

With both of these options, it’s worth waiting for a promotion, such as holiday sales or Black Friday discounts, during which BMO will often offer promotions of 15% off redemptions.

The last way to redeem BMO Rewards points is directly as a statement credit at a rate of 15,000 points = $50, or 0.33 cents per point. 



bmo rewards travel website

Prior to redeeming your points this way, keep in mind that this is only half the value you get when redeeming BMO Rewards points for travel or for cash in an investment account.

BMO Rewards points are great for their simplicity in earning and redeeming. You won’t have to deal with award availability or having to work to get the most value for your points.

Instead, BMO Rewards points are worth 0.67 cents per point against travel or when cashed out through an investment account. Plus, they’re easy to earn with welcome bonuses from one of the five BMO Rewards credit cards, or from spending on day-to-day purchases on those same cards.

If you wish, you can also redeem BMO Rewards points for gift cards, merchandise, or credit card statement credits, giving you ample ways to engage with the program.

Well written article. Rather than booking a car rental and canceling, if you wanted to redeem your points for cash you would choose the investment option and choose to redeem to a premium rate savings account. You would get the maximum redemption value and have the cash in hand since it’s just in a savings account.

bmo rewards travel website

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

BMO Rewards Points Program Guide 2023

BMO Rewards Program Review image

  • Written by Mohamed Konate
  • Published: December 2, 2023

my rate compass fact checked icon

Table of Contents

BMO Rewards Points review: How to get the m ost Out of Your BMO rewards Points

The Bank of Montreal, more commonly known as BMO, is Canada’s oldest financial institution. Founded more than 200 years ago, BMO started out as a primarily commercial lenders intended to help business customers do business in and around Montreal.

BMO has since grown into a multinational bank, traded on both the Toronto and New York stock exchanges, that employs more than 45,000 people. BMO holds nearly $800 million in assets and serves more than 12 million customers.

Like many major banks, BMO offers a credit card rewards program. Today, we’re going to take a look at that program in depth. So, keep reading to learn all about the specifics of BMO’s rewards program, who it’s for, and how it stacks up to the competition.

BMO Rewards Points Program Overview

Credit card rewards programs are a great way to add a little extra value to money that you would spend anyway. As we’ve seen, credit card loyalty programs aim to reward customers for making most or all of their transactions with a single credit card, instead of using cash, a debit card, or splitting purchases between various cards. They do this by awarding points based on the value of each purchase, then allowing customers to redeem those points for rewards such as travel, merchandise, or statement credits.

But something we haven’t really looked at thus far is why banks offer rewards programs. Any reader of this site can pretty easily figure out that banks don’t offer rewards programs out of pure kindness. Banks, rather, get something in return: the chance to charge interest on credit card purchases.

So, offering credit card rewards incentivizes more people to use the bank’s credit cards , thereby making it more likely the bank will collect at least some interest from that customer.

In short, banks seek to get as many customers to use their credit cards as they can, and they use rewards programs as an incentive to attract and retain customers. The end result is a mutually beneficial relationship between the bank and the customer that ultimately helps the customers’ dollars go a little further, provided the customers utilize prudent spending and money management techniques.

How to earn BMO Rewards Points

Earning BMO Rewards works like any other credit card rewards program. For every purchase made with an eligible BMO credit card, the customer receives a certain number of points based on the value of the purchase. These points accumulate in the customer’s BMO rewards account until the customer redeems them for his or her chosen reward.

As of this writing, BMO offers four credit cards that allow customers to earn BMO Rewards points. We’ll summarize the key features of each of BMO’s eligible credit cards below.

1)  BMO World Elite Mastercard

bmo rewards world elite mastercard

  • $150 annual fee
  • 19.99% interest rate
  • Requires minimum annual income of $80,000 (personal) or $150,000 (household)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on travel, entertainment, and dining
  • 2 points per dollar on all other purchases
  • Includes a complimentary membership in Mastercard Airport Experiences
  • 2 bonus points per dollar on select rental car services
  • Dedicated customer service center
  • Comprehensive travel insurance, including travel health plan to cover up to $2 million in medical expenses incurred while traveling

2)  BMO Rewards Mastercard

bmo rewards mastercard

  • $0 annual fee
  • No annual income requirement
  • 1 point per dollar on every purchase
  • Extended warranties and purchase protection

Annual fee: $120

Interest rate:20.99%

5x five times the points

For every $1 spent on groceries, dining in and out, gas and transit

Earn 10% more points

On all purchases when you add an authorized user to your account.

Get a $50 annual lifestyle credit

To use however you want

  4)  BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard 

Annual fee: $150

5x the points

For every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases.

3x the points

For every $1 spent on eligible entertainment purchases.

For every $1 spent on eligible dining purchases.

5)  BMO Rewards Business Mastercard

bmo business rewards mastercard

  • $120 annual fee; 14.99% interest rate
  • 3 points per dollar spent on gas, mobile phone and internet service bills, and office supplies
  • 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases
  • Travel insurance, including trip cancellation and rental car coverage
  • 6)  BMO Rewards Commercial Mastercard
  • $50 annual fee; unpublished interest rate
  • Low 2-4% rate on cash advances
  • Baggage, common carrier, and rental car insurance

All BMO Rewards credit cards allow customers to redeem their points for travel packages, hotels, flights, merchandise, gift cards, statement credits, or to make a charitable donation or deposit in their investment account. Additionally, BMO Rewards are subject to no blackout dates or seat restrictions, and customers can use their BMO Rewards points to cover travel taxes, fees, and surcharges.

BMO Rewards points value

Similarly to the RBC Rewards program , which we’ve looked at before, BMO Rewards point are assigned different values based on the class of reward for which they’re redeemed. Likewise, BMO Rewards points are most valuable when redeemed for travel rewards, but they do not range in value as dramatically as RBC’s rewards points. The value of BMO Rewards points, rather, remains relatively consistent whether they’re redeemed for travel, merchandise, gift cards, or investments.

There are five main categories of rewards for which BMO customers can redeem their rewards points. These five classes are travel, investment, gift cards, merchandise, and experiences.

The figures below represent the cash value of BMO Rewards points for each class of reward:

–    Any travel booked through BMO Rewards: .71¢

–    Addition to BMO investment account: .67¢

–    Gift cards: .56¢

–    Merchandise: .54¢

–    Experience packages: .64¢

These figures indicate that making a purchase of $1,000 using an eligible BMO Reward credit card would reward the customer with between $5.40 and $7.10 of real-world purchasing power depending on the type of reward for which the points are redeemed.

How to redeem BMO Rewards Points

BMO’s online baking portal makes tracking, managing, and redeeming BMO Rewards points simple and convenient. Customers begin by logging into their BMO rewards account. From there, customers can navigate to the BMO Rewards travel portal, the gift card shop, or to BMO’s merchandise catalogue featuring a full selection of products from participating retailers to redeem their points for merchandise from some of the world’s leading retailers in a variety of industries.

Redeem BMO Rewards points for travel

Customers have two options when it comes to redeeming their BMO Rewards points for travel-related rewards. The best option is to log into their BMO Rewards account and book all their travel online. This portal allows customers to book flights, trains, hotels, and rental cars. Customers can pay entirely with BMO Rewards points, including taxes, fees, and surcharges, if their points balance is large enough. Or, customers can elect to use points for part of their expenses and cover the difference with their BMO credit card.

The second option is to book travel over the phone. BMO maintains a Rewards Centre that allows customers to book travel through a BMO travel agent if the customer prefers human interaction. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that BMO charges a booking fee of $29.95 for all travel booked through the BMO Rewards Centre.

Redeem BMO Rewards points for experience

Customers can redeem their BMO Rewards points for a variety of exciting and exclusive dining, shopping, and travel experiences. BMO’s dining packages include experiences like a romantic dinner for two at Luci’s in Toronto or an exclusive wine tasting at the Chateau des Charmes vineyard.

Customers can also redeem points for a relaxing spa experience, and for a variety of tours of some of Canada’s leading attractions including the Vancouver Aquarium, a selection of Kelowna wineries, and the Howe Sound in British Columbia.

Booking these experiences, once again, is done through BMO’s online portal.

Redeem BMO Rewards points for gift cards and merchandise

BMO also allows customers to redeem their rewards points for gift cards and merchandise, although customers will take a slight hit with respect to the value of their BMO Rewards points when redeemed for these classes of rewards.

To redeem points for merchandise or gift cards, customers again begin by logging into their BMO Rewards account. From there, they simply navigate to the BMO Rewards catalogue, browse and select products, then check out when they’re all done. And if you don’t have quite enough points for the product you’ve selected, BMO offers its Points Top-Up program, which allows customers to use their credit card to purchase the additional points they need.

Notably, customers can also use BMO’s Rewards Centre to redeem their points for merchandise with the help of a BMO agent. But here, too, it’s important to point out that BMO charges a $10 redemption fee per item redeemed through the Rewards Centre. BMO waives the redemption fee for items redeemed through their online portal.

Other redemption options-investments and charitable donations

Finally, BMO allows its customers to redeem their rewards points for a contribution to their BMO investment account, to purchase a BMO financial product like a GIC , or to make a donation to a participating charity. This means that customers can redeem a minimum of 15,000 rewards points for a $100 addition to their RRSP or BMO savings account.

Getting the Most Out of Your BMO rewards Points

BMO Rewards points go the furthest when redeemed for travel-related rewards such as flights, hotels, and transportation. But they go almost as far when redeemed to make an addition to a BMO investment account or to purchase a BMO financial product.

It’s also important to keep in mind that dining, entertainment, and travel purchases made with the World Elite Mastercard earn triple points, so making sure to use that card for those classes of purchases will ensure customers maximize their points earning potential.

To ensure their points go the furthest, customers should book all their travel and order all their merchandise online in order to avoid the $29.95 telephone booking fee for travel and $10 redemption fee for merchandise.

How BMO Rewards Compares to Other Loyalty Programs

The BMO Rewards program stacks up fairly well to its competition. The ability to use points to book travel without blackout dates or restrictions provides the flexibility that customers have come to expect, and the fact that BMO Rewards points pretty much maintain their value when redeemed for financial and investment products is a notable difference from BMO’s competitors.

Our review today indicates that BMO Rewards points are less valuable per point than the points of other rewards programs in that their real world purchasing power tops out at .71¢ per point. But BMO points have a couple notable advantages over other programs that are worth focusing on.

Pros and cons

First the BMO World Elite Mastercard allows customers to earn triple points on some purchases, whereas the cards of other programs often max out at 2 points per dollar spent. Additionally, some purchases made with a BMO credit card are eligible to earn bonus points. These incentives could allow users to accumulate enough additional points to make up for the fact that each point is worth a little less than a point in a different rewards program.

The downside, as we’ve mentioned, is that BMO rewards points overall are worth less per point when redeemed for comparable benefits.

Customers that already maintain investment or savings accounts with BMO Financial will likely find it worth their time to use a BMO credit card to make everyday purchases. While there are rewards programs that offer more valuable point-for-point travel benefits, BMO’s World Elite Mastercard allows users to earn triple points on select purchases, double points on all other purchases, and bonus points on others, all for a relatively low annual fee. Additionally, the exclusive experiences offered by BMO Rewards help set it apart from its competition.

FAQ’s

How do i log in to my bmo rewards account.

Customers log in to their BMO Rewards account a www.bmorewards.com.

How to contact BMO Rewards?

Customers can contact BMO Rewards electronically through their online portal or over the phone through the BMO Rewards Centre.

Can BMO rewards Be transferred?

In general, no. Customers can only transfer their rewards into the BMO investment account by redeeming points to make the equivalent of a cash deposit into the account.

Do BMO rewards Expire?

No. BMO Rewards points will not expire as long as BMO maintains its Rewards program.

How do I check my BMO rewards balance?

Customers can view their points balance through their online banking account.

Do BMO rewards cover taxes and fees?

Yes. Customers can use BMO Rewards points to cover all travel-related expenses, including taxes and fees.

Are there any blackout dates with BMO Rewards?

No. BMO Rewards points are subject to no blackout dates or seat restrictions, meaning customers can use points to travel how and when they want.

How do I earn BMO rewards faster?

Customers will earn points the fastest by using their enrolled credit card to make purchases that earn the most point, including dining, entertainment, gas, and mobile phone and internet service bills, depending on which card the customer is using.

How many BMO rewards points do I have to redeem for a flight?

As of this writing, it costs 14,000 rewards points to receive $100 toward a flight. So, if your roundtrip airfare costs \$500, you would need to redeem 70,000 points to cover the entire cost of the trip.

User

Mohamed Konate is a personal finance expert, blogger, and marketing consultant based out of Toronto. He is a former financial services professional who worked for many years at major Canadian financial institutions where he managed the marketing strategy around various financial products ranging from credit cards to lines of credit. Mohamed is passionate about personal finance and holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from the University of Quebec (Montreal) and a Master in International Business from the University of Sherbrooke (Quebec).He is also the author of the Canadian Credit Card Guidebook. Read his full author bio

You may also like..

What is best way to exchange currency before a trip?

Credit Card Deals

Tangerine World Mastercard®

Blog Categories

Best credit cards, popular content, latest articles, subscribe to our newsletter.

BMO Rewards Revealed: A Must-Read Review

BMO Rewards

If you’re someone who loves to travel or shop, you might be interested in the BMO Rewards program. BMO Rewards is a loyalty program that rewards you for using your BMO credit card. Every time you make a purchase, you earn points that can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more.

Understanding BMO Rewards is easy. You can earn points on all your purchases, including groceries, gas, and bills. Plus, you can earn bonus points when you shop at participating retailers. The more you spend, the more points you earn, and the more rewards you can enjoy.

If you’re wondering how to redeem BMO Rewards, the process is straightforward. You can use your points to book travel , buy merchandise, or get gift cards. You can even use your points to pay for purchases you’ve already made. With so many options, it’s easy to find a reward that suits your needs.

Key Takeaways:

  • BMO Rewards is a loyalty program that rewards you for using your BMO credit card.
  • You can earn points on all your purchases, including groceries , gas, and bills.
  • You can redeem your points for travel, merchandise, gift cards , and more.

Understanding BMO Rewards

BMO Rewards is a flexible rewards program offered by BMO Bank of Montreal. It allows you to earn points when you spend on your BMO credit card . You can redeem your points for a wide range of rewards, including merchandise, gift cards, travel, and more.

How to Enroll in BMO Rewards

Enrolling in BMO Rewards is easy. If you have a personal BMO credit card , you are automatically enrolled in the program following approval of your credit card application. You can also enroll in BMO Rewards through BMO Online Banking.

How to Earn BMO Rewards Points

You can earn BMO Rewards points by using your BMO credit card for everyday purchases. The number of points you earn depends on the type of card you have and the category of your purchase. For example, with the BMO World Elite Mastercard , you can earn 3 points per $1 spent on dining, entertainment, and travel purchases.

How to Redeem BMO Rewards Points

Redeeming your BMO Rewards points is easy. You can do it online through BMO Online Banking or by calling the BMO Rewards Centre. You can redeem your points for a wide range of rewards, including merchandise, gift cards, travel, and more.

The best way to maximize the value of your BMO Rewards points is by redeeming them for travel benefits. For travel, you can redeem 150 BMO Rewards points for $1 in travel expenses. You can also use your points to book flights, hotels, car rentals, and more through the BMO Rewards Travel Centre.

BMO Rewards

BMO Rewards Program Tiers

BMO Rewards offers three tiers of membership:

BMO Rewards Basic: This is the default tier that you are automatically enrolled in when you sign up for BMO Rewards.

BMO Rewards Gold: You can qualify for this tier by earning 30,000 or more BMO Rewards points in a calendar year.

BMO Rewards Platinum: You can qualify for this tier by earning 100,000 or more BMO Rewards points in a calendar year.

The higher your tier, the more benefits you receive, including higher earn rates on purchases, exclusive offers, and more.

In summary, BMO Rewards is a flexible rewards program that allows you to earn points for everyday purchases and redeem them for a wide range of rewards. By understanding how to enroll, earn, and redeem your points, you can make the most of your BMO credit card and enjoy the benefits of the program.

How to Earn BMO Rewards

If you’re looking to earn BMO Rewards, there are a few ways to do so. The most straightforward way is to use an eligible BMO credit card . With these cards, you can earn points every time you use your card to make a purchase. Some cards also offer additional benefits, such as airport lounge access and travel insurance , making them great options for travelers.

Here are some tips on how to earn BMO Rewards with your credit card:

Choose a card that fits your lifestyle: BMO offers a variety of credit cards that earn BMO Rewards points. Choose one that fits your spending habits and lifestyle to maximize your rewards.

Use your card for everyday purchases: The more you use your card, the more points you’ll earn. Use it for everyday purchases like groceries , gas, and dining out to earn points faster.

Take advantage of bonus offers: BMO often runs promotions that offer bonus points for certain purchases or activities. Keep an eye out for these offers and take advantage of them to earn even more points.

Pay attention to the earning rate: Different cards earn points at different rates. Make sure you understand how many points you’ll earn for each dollar spent and use the card that offers the best earning rate for the purchases you make.

Use Pay with Points: BMO Rewards also offers a feature called Pay with Points, which allows you to use your points to cover the cost of travel and non-travel purchases. This is a great way to stretch your rewards even further.

In addition to credit cards , there are other ways to earn BMO Rewards points. For example, you can earn points by shopping through the BMO Rewards portal, which offers access to hundreds of retailers. You can also earn points by booking travel through the BMO Rewards Travel Service.

Overall, earning BMO Rewards is easy and straightforward. By using an eligible credit card and taking advantage of bonus offers and other earning opportunities , you can quickly accumulate points and redeem them for a variety of rewards.

How to Redeem BMO Rewards

Are you wondering how to redeem your BMO Rewards points? You have several options to choose from, including travel rewards, gift cards and merchandise, and investment rewards. Read on to learn more about each of these redemption options.

Travel Rewards

If you love to travel, redeeming your BMO Rewards points for travel is a great option. You can use your points to book flights, hotels, car rentals, and more. Plus, you have the flexibility to choose any travel provider you prefer. Here’s how it works:

Log in to your BMO Rewards account on the BMO Rewards website.

Click on the “Travel” tab.

Search for the travel you want to book.

Select your travel options and confirm your booking.

Use your points to pay for all or part of your travel.

One of the great things about using your BMO Rewards points for travel is that you can get the best value for your points. You can redeem your points at a rate of 150 points = $1 towards your travel-related purchases. This means that if you have 15,000 points, you can redeem them for $100 towards your travel.

Gift Cards and Merchandise

Another option for redeeming your BMO Rewards points is to choose from a wide selection of gift cards and merchandise. You can use your points to shop for electronics, home goods, fashion, and more. Here’s how to redeem your points for gift cards and merchandise:

Click on the “Shop” tab.

Browse the selection of gift cards and merchandise.

Add the items you want to your cart.

Use your points to pay for all or part of your purchase.

When you redeem your points for gift cards and merchandise, the value of your points can vary depending on the item you choose. Be sure to check the point value before you make your selection.

Investment Rewards

If you’re interested in investing, you can also redeem your BMO Rewards points for investment rewards. This option allows you to invest your points in a BMO investment account, which can help you reach your financial goals faster. Here’s how it works:

Click on the “Invest” tab.

Choose the investment account you want to open .

Follow the instructions to open your account.

Use your points to fund your investment account.

When you redeem your points for investment rewards, the value of your points can vary depending on the type of investment account you choose. Be sure to review the terms and conditions before you make your selection.

That’s it! Now you know how to redeem your BMO Rewards points for travel, gift cards and merchandise, and investment rewards. Choose the option that best suits your needs and start enjoying the benefits of your BMO Rewards points today.

Benefits of BMO Rewards

If you’re looking for a rewards program that offers flexibility, value, and a wide range of redemption options, then BMO Rewards is a great choice for you. Here are some of the benefits of being a BMO Rewards member:

Earn points on every purchase

With the BMO Rewards program, you earn 1 point for every $1 you spend using your BMO Rewards Mastercard. This means that you can accumulate points quickly and easily, just by using your card for everyday purchases like groceries, gas, and dining out.

Flexible redemption options

BMO Rewards offers a wide range of redemption options, including merchandise, gift cards, travel, and more. This means that you can choose the rewards that are most valuable to you and your lifestyle. Plus, with the Pay with Points feature, you can use your points to cover the cost of your travel and non-travel purchases.

Valuable travel benefits

If you’re a frequent traveler, then you’ll appreciate the travel benefits that come with the BMO Rewards program. For example, you can save up to 25% off rentals at participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car locations. Plus, you can redeem your points for flights, hotels, and more, making it easy to save money on your next vacation.

Monthly specials

BMO Rewards offers monthly specials that let your points go even further. For example, you can shop deals on items like lululemon gift cards and Breville The Smart Scoop™ – Brushed Stainless Steel, all while earning points on your purchases.

Overall, the BMO Rewards program is a great choice for anyone looking for a flexible, valuable, and easy-to-use rewards program. With a wide range of redemption options, valuable travel benefits, and monthly specials, you’ll be able to get the most out of your purchases and earn rewards that are truly valuable to you.

Limitations of BMO Rewards

While BMO Rewards can be a great way to earn points and save money on travel and other purchases, there are some limitations to be aware of. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Limited Redemption Options

One of the main limitations of BMO Rewards is that there are limited redemption options available. While you can use your points to cover the cost of travel purchases, such as flights and hotels, you may not be able to use them for other types of purchases, such as merchandise or gift cards. Additionally, the value of your points may vary depending on how you choose to redeem them.

Point Expiration

Another limitation of BMO Rewards is that your points may expire if you don’t use them within a certain timeframe. According to the BMO Rewards website, points earned on a BMO Rewards credit card will expire after 24 months of inactivity. This means that if you don’t use your card to earn or redeem points for 24 months, your points may expire and you’ll lose them.

Annual Fees

Many BMO Rewards credit cards come with annual fees, which can be a significant expense if you don’t use your card frequently enough to earn enough points to make up for the fee. Before signing up for a BMO Rewards credit card, make sure to read the terms and conditions carefully to understand any fees that may apply.

Limited Coverage

Finally, it’s important to note that BMO Rewards may not be accepted by all merchants or travel providers. While BMO Rewards is a popular loyalty program, there may be some instances where you’re not able to use your points or earn points on certain purchases. Make sure to check with the merchant or travel provider before making your purchase to ensure that BMO Rewards is accepted.

Overall, while BMO Rewards can be a great way to earn points and save money on travel and other purchases, it’s important to be aware of the limitations and restrictions that come with the program. By understanding these limitations, you can make informed decisions about how to use your points and get the most value from your BMO Rewards membership.

Gifts

Comparisons with Other Reward Programs

When it comes to reward programs in Canada , there are many options to choose from. BMO Rewards is just one of them. Here’s how it stacks up against some of the other popular reward programs in Canada:

BMO Rewards vs. Air Miles

Air Miles is a popular reward program in Canada that allows you to earn points on everyday purchases that can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, and more. While Air Miles is a great program, BMO Rewards offers more flexibility when it comes to redeeming your points. With BMO Rewards, you can redeem your points for travel, merchandise, gift cards, or even cash. Plus, BMO Rewards points don’t expire, whereas Air Miles points do.

BMO Rewards vs. Aeroplan

Aeroplan is another popular reward program in Canada that allows you to earn points on travel and everyday purchases. While Aeroplan is a great program for frequent flyers, BMO Rewards offers more flexibility. With BMO Rewards, you can redeem your points for travel, merchandise, gift cards, or even cash. Plus, BMO Rewards points don’t expire, whereas Aeroplan points expire after 18 months of inactivity.

BMO Rewards vs. PC Optimum

PC Optimum is a popular reward program in Canada that allows you to earn points on everyday purchases at participating stores, including Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Esso. While PC Optimum is a great program for those who frequently shop at these stores, BMO Rewards offers more flexibility. With BMO Rewards, you can earn points on all purchases made with your BMO credit card , not just at participating stores. Plus, BMO Rewards points don’t expire, whereas PC Optimum points expire after one year of inactivity.

Overall, BMO Rewards offers a lot of flexibility when it comes to redeeming your points, and the fact that they don’t expire is a big plus. While other reward programs may be better for specific types of purchases or travel, BMO Rewards is a great all-around program that can benefit anyone who wants to earn rewards on their everyday purchases.

Final Words 

In conclusion, BMO Rewards isn’t just another loyalty program; it’s your ticket to a world of incredible benefits and opportunities. Whether you’re dreaming of far-off destinations, looking to save on everyday purchases, or simply want to treat yourself to something special, BMO Rewards has you covered.

With a range of credit cards to suit every lifestyle, flexible ways to earn points, and a treasure trove of redemption options, BMO Rewards puts the power of choice back in your hands. It’s more than just a rewards program; it’s a partner in your financial journey.

So, whether you’re a seasoned traveler, a savvy shopper, or someone in between, take the plunge into the world of BMO Rewards. Start earning, start redeeming, and start enjoying the benefits today. Your financial future is brighter with BMO Rewards by your side.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

  • Capital Markets
  • Global Asset Management

BMO Personal Banking

What can we help you find today, special offers.

From everyday banking to credit cards, find ways to save money and make real financial progress.  

New Financial Progress Hub

Access our financial resource hub to help you manage your money and plan for your future.

Explore our checking accounts

We have a checking account to help you achieve your financial goals.

Premier Services

Experienced professionals dedicated to you.

It's Fraud Prevention Month!

Identify and learn how you can protect yourself against the different types of fraud.

Let's talk spending in relationships

Couples are more likely to argue about spending habits. Explore how couples communicate about finances.

BMO Smart Advantage Checking

Make your money go farther with our most popular checking account.

Switch to BMO in 3 easy steps

We’ve prepared a switch kit to make switching banks even easier for you.

Should I open a CD or money market account?

Both are steady methods to help you grow your money.

How to start an emergency fund

Life can be unpredictable – it’s important to build your savings for those “just-in-case" moments.

Money market offer bundle

Earn an even higher interest rate by bundling a money market with a Relationship Checking Account.

BMO Cash Back Credit Card

Earn cash back on your everyday purchases such as groceries, gas and TV streaming services.  

Explore our credit cards

We have a credit card to bring you the best perks and match your lifestyle.

How does a balance transfer work?

Understand the pros and cons of submitting a balance transfer.

Need to activate your credit card?

Learn how to activate your card and manage it on the go.

How do cash back credit cards work?

Learn how to get the most out of your cash back card.

Your rewards. Your way.

Visit bmoflexrewards.com to explore your redemption options.

Get a low rate on a HELOC  

Make the most of the equity in your home with a home equity line of credit ( HELOC ).

Explore our loan options

Whether you need to purchase a new car, buy a home, or cover a large expense, we can help you get there.

Loan calculators

Answer all of your lending questions with the help of our calculators.

Everything you need to know about fixed vs. adjustable rate mortgages

Find out what the difference is and which one is right for you.

HELOC or HELOAN?

Find out whether a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or home equity loan (HELOAN) is right for you.

Mortgage special offers

Learn how you can save on mortgage costs with our special limited-time offers.

IRA Certificates of Deposit (CDs)

Open a retirement account with as little as $1,000.

Invest with BMO

Whether y ou need help with financial planning or you’re saving for retirement,  we’re  here to help.  

Investment calculators

Use our handy calculators to help plan for an investment or for your retirement.

BMO Digital Banking

Financial progress hub, 10 financial goals to set for yourself.

Thinking about how you can rock your goals? Don’t forget your financial ones too!

What's a HELOC?

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) can help you access funds for major purchases such as a home renovation.

What is a credit score?

Get a better understanding of the factors influencing your score and helpful tips to improve your rating.

Bank anywhere with BMO Digital Banking

Bank on-the-go anywhere, anytime with our app. Enjoy 20+ features that help you make real financial progress.

bmo rewards travel website

Need support? That’s what we’re here for

Bmo online support.

Get the support you need using our tool

Find the nearest BMO branch to you

Home » News » Changes coming to the ATB World Elite Mastercard and Gold My Rewards Travel Mastercard

bmo rewards travel website

Changes coming to the ATB World Elite Mastercard and Gold My Rewards Travel Mastercard

As first noted on RFD back in February there are some changes coming to several ATB (Alberta Treasury Branch) Mastercards and the accompanying ATB My Rewards program. The changes will take place on June 4, 2024 and affect the ATB World Elite Mastercard as well as the ATB Gold My Rewards Travel Mastercard.

At first there was a lot of excitement on the RFD thread about these changes to the World Elite Card as the announcement only mentions you’ll earn more rewards and discusses changes to the earn rates plus additional benefits added to the cards. There is no mention of redemption rates however.

With a quick first glance the World Elite’s new earn rates of 2, 6 and 8 points per dollar looked pretty amazing knowing the current ATB My Rewards program is a 100 points to $1 program which would make those earn rates provide 2%, 6% and 8% returns on spending. But….

I was also excited at first but quickly came back down to ground level as I thought there’s no way they’d offer a card with a 2% base earn rate and up to 8% on accelerated earn rates and realized ATB were most likely changing the redemption rate as well. Part of the reason why was the specific wording from ATB to one of the RFD members:

While the actual number of points earned by existing cardholders may change to align with the new rewards program, the redemption value of their points will be maintained after June 4

Key phrase being “may change to align with the new rewards program” which is code for we are increasing the earn rates on the credit cards to match the (yet to be disclosed) redemption rates in the new program.  And then add in the fact they need to shut down redemption options for a couple of days as they transition to a new program and everything pointed towards changes in the redemption rates.

In order to allow us to smoothly transition to the new rewards program, you will be unable to redeem points from June 02 – 04, 2024.

There would be no need to shut down for a new program if the only things changing were the earn rates. So based on 20+ years of hearing all sorts of methodologies and marketing speak from the banks I was 99% sure they would be changing the redemption rates as well.

In that thread I guessed they would move to 200 points to $1 redemption ratio from the current 100 to 1. Sure enough, not too long after that, RFD member ccya965041 posted that they were able to get the new redemption details from ATB. And the answer:

…indeed there will be a change for the redemption ratio coming up on June 4, 2024, and it has not been published on the website yet. Currently redemption of 100 points = $1, it will change to 200 points = $1 on June 4, 2024.

So there we have it, the background to some short lived excitement on what many, including myself for a short time, thought could be one of the new best credit cards in Canada, although it is only available to residents of Alberta.

What I find surprising is that in the month or so that has passed since ATB first posted the card changes they have still have not made the redemption rates of the new program publicly available!

Anyways, enough of that, let’s look at the upcoming changes to the cards!

New Earn Rates

As of June 4, 2024 the ATB World Elite Mastercard will have new accelerated earn rates in several categories as well as a new base earn rate:

  • Earn 8 points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases made at select travel merchants, including: airlines, hotels, motels and car rental companies
  • Earn 6 points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases in essential categories, including: groceries, gas, digital streaming services and/or subscriptions, and entertainment
  • Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on any other purchases you make with your card

On the same day the ATB Gold My Rewards Travel Mastercard will receive new earn rates based on the new rewards program as this card was actually part of a different rewards scheme than the World Elite Mastercard. With these changes the Gold card will part of the same program as the World Elite card allowing for better alignment and an easier process for cardholders who may product switch between the two.  These are the new accelerated and base earn rates for this card:

  • Earn 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases in essential categories, including: groceries, gas, digital streaming services and/or subscriptions, and entertainment
  • Earn 1.5 points for every $1 spen t on any other purchases you make with your card

New Redemption Rates & actual value

As mentioned above, the revamped ATB My Rewards program will have a redemption rate of 200 points to $1. That will put actual value of the new earn rates on the ATB World Elite Mastercard as follows:

  • 8 points for travel = 4% return
  • 6 points for groceries, gas, digital streaming services and/or subscriptions, and entertainment = 3% return
  • 2 points for everything else = 1% The accelerated earn rates of 6 and 8 points per dollar are capped at $50,000 in annual spending across all those categories.

As you can see this card is actually a 1%, 3%, and 4% return card despite having those inflated earn rates. The current version of the card provides a straight 1.5% return on all spending. This means the changes to card will see it earn more in the accelerated categories but less on all other spending. So depending on your spending habits you will come ahead with the changes or if you have lots of non-accelerated spending you’ll end up worse than before.

The 8 points for travel (4% return) will become the highest value return out of the book any travel at anytime cards in Canada which means BMO may have to stop marketing their BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard as “ Now get the highest rewards points for travel of any premium flexible travel card in Canada ” as that card earns 5 points/$ with an actual value of 3.33 cents versus ATB’s 8 points and 4 cents.

For most people I would think these changes do make the World Elite card better and more competitive with many other cards in the market.

On the ATB Gold My Rewards Travel Mastercard the actual value of the new earn rates are as follows:

  • 3 points for groceries, gas, digital streaming services and/or subscriptions, and entertainment = 1.5% return
  • 1.5 points for everything else = 0.75% The accelerated earn rate of 3 points per dollar are capped at $10,000 in annual spending in those categories.

Currently the Gold Mastercard has the equivalent of 1% return on all spending so with the changes the card will earn more for some, and less for others.

Additional Benefits and Insurance

In addition to the new earn and redemption rates, the benefits and insurance on the two cards are being enhanced.

The revamped ATB World Elite Mastercard will now receive four (4) free annual lounge visits with its Mastercard TravelPass airport lounge access membership. This is up from the current two passes. This benefit is also extended to co-applicant/joint cardholders who will receive four visits annually.

On the insurance side the World Elite will have Mobile Device Insurance (up to $1,500) and Event Ticket Protector Insurance added to its coverage package.

The ATB Gold My Rewards Travel Mastercard will also receive Mobile Device Insurance (up to $1,500) 

Wrapping it up

Overall I would say the changes to the ATB cards, primarily the World Elite card, are a net positive as long as you have a good amount of spend in the new accelerated categories. For those that have a lot of base earn the cards will likely provide less value.

I do take issue with how ATB has gone about announcing the changes with statements like “Starting June 4, 2024, you’ll earn even more rewards!” and are detailing the earn rates but are not mentioning the new redemption rate. It’s just like BMO and TD with their inflated earn rates and the sly marketing surrounding them.

ATB will be hoping to get unsuspecting people to apply for their cards with these inflated earn rates, namely the 6 points per dollar, as some people will think it is better than 4 or 5 points provided on other cards when it is not. And then they’ll think the 2 points per dollar is better than 1 (when it’s the same) and even existing cardholders may think the 2 points is better than their current 1.5 points when it’s not.

Granted, the 8 points per dollar earned on travel will be the best in Canada if we don’t take into account cards that have conversion options to frequent flyer and frequent guest programs. So at least we have that!

Click here to learn more about these upcoming changes to the ATB Mastercards

Credit cards.

Advertisers are not responsible for the content of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any advertiser product, please visit their website. We may receive compensation for the products and services you obtain through links on our site.

BMO Alto Savings Account Details

Bmo alto cd details, about bmo alto, bmo alto faqs, bmo alto rate comparison.

BMO Alto vs. BMO Harris

BMO Alto Accounts: 2024 Banking Review

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate banking products to write unbiased product reviews.

bmo rewards travel website

BMO Alto, which launched in April 2023, is the online platform of BMO (previously known as BMO Harris ). It offers two types of accounts: a high-yield savings account and CDs.

The BMO Alto Online Savings Account pays 5.10% APY. This makes it one of the best high-yield savings accounts out there, especially from a large, popular bank. Interest compounds daily and is paid to your account monthly.

The BMO savings account has a $0 minimum opening deposit and no fees. It also offers unlimited transfers and withdrawals. (Some banks penalize you for making more than six withdrawals per month from a savings account.)

BMO Alto has six CD terms, ranging from six months to five years. Here are the CD rates:

While all of these rates are high overall, BMO Alto specifically pays one of the best 5-year CD rates right now. There's also a $0 minimum deposit.

If you take out money before the term ends, you'll face an early withdrawal penalty. BMO Alto charges 90 days of interest on terms of 11 months or less, and 180 days interest on terms of 12 months or more. These are fairly standard penalties.

BMO Alto is the online-only division of BMO, and it's available nationwide. It pays high rates on savings and CDs, with no minimum deposits or monthly fees.

It has a basic, easy-to-navigate website — but no mobile app. You can't receive help for your Alto accounts at a BMO branch, but BMO Alto does provide 24/7 customer service over the phone.

Because there is no mobile app, you can't use mobile check deposit with BMO Alto. It also doesn't provide a debit or ATM card. So to deposit money into your account, you'll either have to set up direct deposits or transfer money from an external bank account. This shouldn't be a problem for CDs (like most banks, Alto only lets you deposit money into a CD upon opening the account), but it could be annoying with the savings account.

Yes, BMO Alto is legitimate. It is the online-only division of BMO, and your deposits are FDIC-insured for up to $250,000 in an individual account, or $500,000 in a joint account.

BMO Alto is a brand of BMO. It's the online-only platform, while BMO has branches.

BMO Alto has online-only accounts: the BMO Alto Online Savings Account and BMO Alto High Yield CD , which has terms from six months to five years.

BMO owns BMO Alto.

BMO Alto could be worth it if you want to use a well-known, national bank but are also comfortable banking completely online. It's good for earning high interest rates on savings accounts and CDs.

BMO Alto pays some of the best savings and CD rates out there, especially for a big-name bank. But you might be interested in features other than just interest rates. Here's how BMO Alto compares to other national banks:

BMO Alto Rates vs. Ally Bank Rates

The Ally Savings Account pays 4.35% APY, and Ally CD rates range from 3.00% to 4.50% APY.

Although Ally's rates are lower than BMO Alto's rates overall, it also has two other types of CDs you might be interested in: an 11-month no-penalty CD paying 4.00% APY, and a Raise Your Rate CD paying 3.75% APY. A 2-year Raise Your Rate CD lets you increase your rate once during the term if Ally's rates go up, and the 4-year CD allows two rate increases.

Ally also has a mobile app, plus a checking and money market account. So if you want to do all of your banking online with the same company, it's a good choice.

Ally Bank Review

BMO Alto Rates vs. Discover Bank Rates

The Discover® Online Savings Account pays 4.25% (as of 3/14/24) APY. Discover CD rates are 2.00% to 4.70% APY, and its CDs have a high $2,500 minimum deposit.

But Discover is a good option if you want a mobile app and/or a checking account. It has a cash-back checking account that offers 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in purchases each month.

Discover Bank Review

BMO Alto Rates vs. Marcus by Goldman Sachs Rates

Like BMO Alto, Marcus only offers an online savings account and CDs. The Marcus High Yield Online Savings Account pays 4.50% APY, so you'll earn more with Alto.

Marcus CD rates are also lower than BMO Alto rates at 4.00% to 5.05% APY. But Marcus has more terms to choose from, plus two other types of CDs. It has three no-penalty CD terms: 7-, 11-, and 13-month, with the 13-month term paying a high 4.70% APY. It also has a 20-month Rate Bump CD that pays 4.40% APY, and you can increase your rate once during the term if Marcus' rates go up.

Marcus Bank Review

How is BMO Alto different from BMO Harris? First, BMO Harris recently rebranded as BMO. Second, BMO Alto is the online-only division of BMO. So while BMO has branches throughout the US, you can only open and manage your Alto accounts online.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

bmo rewards travel website

  • Main content

bmo rewards travel website

BMO Rewards: Ultimate Guide

bmo rewards travel website

This post is also available in: FR

Earn points

Bank of Montreal (BMO ) offers five credit cards for the BMO Rewards program.

BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card

When you sign up for our exclusive offer on the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card , you can earn up to 70,000 BMO Rewards points as well as a $120 annual fee waiver for the first year :

  • 40,000 points after $3,000 in purchases in the first three months
  • 30,000 points at annual renewal if you have made $25,000 in purchases with the card in the first 12 months

Plus, you’ll get a $50 annual lifestyle credit – per calendar year – to spend however you want.

With the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card , you can earn 5 BMO Rewards points per dollar spent on:

  • Food delivery

And 1 BMO Rewards point for every $1 spent on everything else. Plus, if you add an authorized user to your account, you’ll earn 10% more points.

You can use BMO Rewards points for all travel purchases made through the agency or website of your choice (flights, hotels, car rentals, all-inclusive resorts, Airbnb, etc.) or for rewards and gift cards on the BMO Rewards platform.

The New BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card is a premium metal card! With this card, you can earn up to 120,000 BMO Rewards points:

  • 50,000 points when you spend $6,000 in the first 3 months
  • 30,000 points after $30,000 in card purchases in the first six months
  • 40,000 points at annual card renewal if you have made $75,000 in card purchases in the first 12 months

Plus, you’ll get a $200 annual lifestyle credit – per calendar year – to spend however you want.

As well as a Visa Airport Companion membership with 6 complimentary airport lounge visits per year .

With this Card, you earn 5 BMO Rewards points per dollar of purchases for:

  • travel purchases

And 1 BMO Rewards point for every $1 spent on everything else.

BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card

The new BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card is a no-annual-fee travel rewards credit card with no minimum income required .

With this offer, you can earn up to 25,000 points as a welcome bonus:

  • 20,000 points after $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months
  • 2,500 bonus points for redeeming at least 12,000 points annually towards your statement balance with Pay with points
  • 2,500 bonus points for paying your full credit card balance on time for 12 consecutive months

Moreover, you can get a 0.99% introductory interest rate on Balance Transfers for 9 months (a 2% fee applies to balance amounts transferred).

With the new BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card , you get :

  • 5 points for every two dollars spent on recurring bill payments
  • 5 points for every two dollars spent at the grocery store
  • 5 points for every two dollars in dining and takeout purchases
  • 1 point per two dollars spent on everything else

The new BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card also offers:

  • Mobile Device Insurance
  • Purchase Protection
  • Extended warranty insurance

BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is one of the best World Elite Mastercard credit cards with travel points in Canada. With our exclusive offer, you can get up to 100,000 bonus points :

  • 55,000 points after $4,500 in Card purchases in the first 3 months
  • 3,750 points per month after $2,500 in monthly purchases from the 4th to the 15th month (up to 45,000 points )

Plus, the annual fee is waived in the first year for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.

With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard , a premium credit card from BMO, you get:

  • 5 points per dollar on travel purchases
  • 3 points per dollar on dining purchases
  • 3 points per dollar for entertainment purchases
  • 3 points per dollar on recurring bill payments

And 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else, including at Costco. You can use BMO Rewards points for all travel purchases made through the agency or website of your choice (flights, hotels, car rentals, all-inclusive resorts, Airbnb, etc.) or for rewards and gift cards on the BMO Rewards platform.

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard also offers:

  • Four annual complimentary passes to airport VIP lounges
  • Excellent Premium insurance for your travels or purchases
  • a premium concierge service

BMO Rewards ® World Elite ® * Business Mastercard ® *

The BMO World Elite®* Business Mastercard®* is one of Canada’s best travel points Mastercard for Business credit cards. You can earn up to 70,000 points as a welcome bonus:

  • 50,000 points after you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months
  • 20,000 points after you spend $35,000 in the first twelve months

Plus, there is no annual fee for the first year! And you get 2 free visits a year to DragonPass airport lounges.

You can also enjoy a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for nine months (with a 3% transfer fee).

With the BMO World Elite®* Business Mastercard®*, you earn 4 points per dollar spent on:

  • gas purchases
  • office supply purchases
  • cell phone/internet payments

And 1.5 points for every dollar you spend, including at Costco or for significant purchases at home improvement stores .

You can also combine the points you earn with the other two BMO Rewards cards to save even more on your travels.

With the BMO World Elite®* Business Mastercard®*, you get many travel insurance coverages :

  • Collision Damage Waiver
  • Car Rental Personal Effects & Business Property
  • Car Rental Accidental Death & Dismemberment
  • Baggage & Personal Effects
  • Baggage insurance in case of delay
  • Flight Cancellation
  • Trip Interruption/Trip Delay
  • Flight delay
  • Common Carrier Insurance

And for your purchases :

  • Extended Warranty

Great cards for Costco!

Both BMO Mastercard credit cards are accepted for all your Costco purchases, so you can earn BMO Rewards points!

costco logo

Redeem points

Redeem your bmo rewards points for travel.

The most significant advantage of BMO Rewards points: there are no blackout periods.

You can redeem your BMO Rewards points anytime.

Unlike a loyalty program like Aeroplan or AIR MILES, you can redeem anytime for flights, hotels, cruises and vacation packages.

BMO Rewards points can be used for various types of travel booked with your BMO credit card at the travel agency or website of your choice :

  • Car rentals
  • Vacation packages

To redeem your BMO Rewards points, you’ll need to use the BMO Rewards website .

In all of these cases, the value of your BMO Rewards points will be 15,000 points = $100 (or 0.67¢/point) . And that’s the most value you can get out of them !

If you decide to cancel your car rental, BMO will make a statement credit on your credit card account (rather than a BMO Rewards points credit). An excellent way to redeem your BMO points for cash!

BMO Rewards Price Guarantee

You can call BMO Rewards if you can’t find what you want on the online portal.

But it is also possible to claim a price match guarantee !

Several rules are governing this price guarantee. BMO will match the price for most Canadian travel providers:

  • Vacation Packages: Sunquest Vacations, ALBATours, TransatVacations, Nolitours, Signature Vacations, Air Canada Vacations , Sunwing and WestJet Vacations
  • Airfare: Air Canada or WestJet

Redeem BMO Rewards points for investments/statement credit

After travel, the second-best BMO Rewards points redemption is through a BMO investment account . Not yet a BMO banking customer? Get a welcome offer with one of these BMO Banking Packages .

Here, 15,000 points = $100 (or $0.67/point).

On the other hand, we will totally advise you not to use your points as a statement credit: the rate is far from advantageous: 15,000 points = $50 (or $0.33 /point).

Redeem BMO Rewards points for Gift cards

Another option to redeem your BMO Rewards points is for gift cards.

Here, BMO Rewards points value is variable:

On average, here 10,000 points = $54 (or $0.54/point).

Products with BMO Rewards Points

Like any loyalty program, you can redeem your BMO Rewards points for products .

But, as we say in travel hacking:

You don’t buy a toaster with your points!

Here, we made the comparison on a product, the “Four Smart Oven Air Breville” sold for 90,000 BMO Rewards points.

This same oven costs $599 plus taxes on Best Buy / Amazon , or $688.70 in Quebec. This makes a valuation of 10,000 points = $76.52 (or 0.765 ¢).

Surprisingly, you find more value in buying this item than through travel! The exception confirming the rule?

After several valuation tests, we found that the value varies greatly from product to product (between 0.30 and 0.80 ¢!).

It will be up to you to test for your desired products!

Redeem BMO Rewards Points for experiences

Finally, you can redeem your BMO Rewards points for experiences!

This option applies to only a few cities in Canada. When writing this post, the only one in Quebec is in Mont-Tremblant.

64,500 BMO Rewards points for a getaway for two at Le Grand Lodge Mont-Tremblant:

  • One night for 2 in a suite
  • Breakfast for 2
  • Bottle of wine
  • Welcome cocktail

Compared to the rates spotted on the web, this values 10,000 points = $62 (or 0.62 ¢ per point).

Here is a table of your various options:

As you can see, the value of your BMO Rewards points can vary greatly.

One thing is for sure: do not use them for a statement credit; it is the worst possible redemption!

If you don’t redeem your points for travel, use it for investments, experiences or even gift cards.

What are BMO Rewards points?

BMO Rewards is Bank of Montreal’s (BMO) loyalty program. Points earned are called BMO Rewards points. These BMO Rewards points can be redeemed for travel, merchandise or gift cards through the BMO Rewards portal.

How do I earn BMO Rewards points?

There are five BMO Rewards Credit Cards , including one business credit card .

According to offers, each one gives you some welcome bonus points. You’ll earn points depending on your purchases charged to the credit card. Depending on your buyer profile, some cards will be more suitable than others.

For example, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card offers 5 points for every dollar spent on purchases:

Finally, other BMO Rewards credit cards are Mastercard , so it’s a good idea to use them at Costco . Take the time to read through the benefits of each card to match your needs.

How much is a BMO Rewards point worth?

Each BMO Rewards point is worth approximately 0.7 cents . So if you have 50,000 points, it’s a $350 value.

What are BMO Rewards points used for?

You can redeem BMO Rewards points in 5 different ways:

  • Investments
  • Experiences
  • Statement credit

However, the best use is for travel. Here’s the approximate value of 10,000 BMO Rewards points based on the type of redemption:

Can BMO Rewards points be transferred to another program?

BMO Rewards points cannot be transferred to another program.

Do BMO Rewards points expire?

As long as a BMO Rewards credit card is open, the points are valid. After the account is closed, you have 90 days to use them.

What is the Best Price Guarantee at BMO Rewards?

BMO has a best price guarantee for most Canadian travel suppliers: Vacation Packages: Sunquest Vacations, ALBATours, Transat Holidays, Nolitours, Signature Vacations, Air Canada Vacations , Sunwing Vacations, and WestJet Vacations. And airline tickets: Air Canada or WestJet.

Is there an annual fee for BMO Rewards credit cards?

Some BMO Rewards credit cards have no annual fee, some are waiving the first-year annual fee and some not.

What’s more, there are minimum annual income requirements to apply for some cards (BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard ), while others are available to all, such as the ® Rewards ® Mastercard ® *” href=”https://milesopedia.com/en/go/bmo-rewards-mastercard/” rel=”nofollow sponsored”>BMO Rewards Mastercard .

What are the other benefits of BMO Rewards credit cards besides points?

With select BMO Rewards Credit Cards , you get great insurance for travel or purchases, as well as extended warranties depending on the credit card you choose. You can also get free access to airport VIP lounges .

How do I apply for a BMO Rewards credit card?

As with most Canadian credit cards, Milesopedia is affiliated with Bank of Montreal (BMO). You can filter your search in the Credit Card Comparison Page , or go to the BMO Credit Cards page.

Credit cards

Milesopedia

All posts by Jean-Maximilien

Suggested Reading

  • Special offers

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card: A secured card with rewards that can be used to cover travel purchases

Photo of Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card on a blue and green abstract background

Our take: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card offers a cost-effective approach to building credit and earning rewards with its lack of annual and foreign transaction fees. Use it to help you climb the rungs of the credit score ladder.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card Overview

Card Type: Secured

The Bank of America Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card offers a budget-friendly option for individuals looking to build or improve their credit. With a $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, it provides a cost-effective way to manage your finances while earning rewards. Since the card is designed for cardholders who want to boost their credit score or establish a credit history, it’s a card with few frills or perks: You won’t get a welcome bonus or 0% introductory APR on balance transfers or purchases. 

To open a card, you must make a minimum security deposit of $200 and a maximum of $5,000. Typically, with a secured card , your security deposit determines your credit limit. The security deposit acts as collateral if you default on your payments. 

According to Bank of America, your maximum credit limit is calculated based on your security deposit, income, and creditworthiness. The issuer will also regularly review your account to decide whether you’re eligible to get your security deposit back. 

Who is the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card good for?

The BoA Travel Rewards Secured is good for someone who wants to use the card for travel, especially for international travel as it doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.

Who shouldn’t get the BoA Travel Rewards Secured? 

If your interest is cash-back, this card isn’t a good fit for you as points are only worth .6 cents each for cash vs 1 cent each for travel. 

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card: Points

With the Travel Rewards Secured, there’s not much to remember when it comes to rewards: You’ll earn a flat rewards rate of 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases.

The card does not offer a new customer bonus.

How to redeem Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card points

When you’re ready to redeem your rewards, you’ll get less flexibility than you would with a traditional travel credit card. You won’t be able to transfer them to a hotel or airline partner or use them to book flights or hotel stays through a travel portal. Instead, you can use points to cover past travel purchases, get a statement credit, or purchase gift cards. 

Get a travel statement credit

To redeem points, you have the option to receive a statement credit to cover qualifying travel and dining expenses such as airlines, hotels, and car rentals, incurred within the last 12 months. 

However, this statement credit is limited to the most recent 2,500 qualifying transactions in these categories. With this redemption method, the exchange rate is straightforward: One point equals one cent.

Earn cash-back and buy gift cards

You can turn your points into real money by getting a check, having them electronically deposited into your Bank of America® checking or savings account, or getting them credited to an eligible Cash Management Account® with Merrill. 

Keep in mind that by redeeming points for cash, you won’t be maximizing their value. One point is valued at 0.6 cents, meaning 2,500 points will only get you $15. As for gift cards, their redemption value can vary.

Rates and fees

  • Purchase APR: 28.24% variable
  • Annual fee: $0
  • Foreign transaction fee: None

Additional benefits

Free FICO score. Through online and mobile banking, you can access your FICO score, which is updated monthly, for free.

Credit cards similar to Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card

If covering travel expenses with rewards isn’t your priority, explore the Capital One Quicksilver Secured—a card closely mirroring the Travel Rewards card. The choice boils down to personal preference: Do you want a travel-focused Bank of America card or a cash-back Capital One card?

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card vs. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card

The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card and Bank of America Travel Rewards are similar cards with identical rewards structures, minimum opening deposits, and fees. With the Quicksilver, you’ll pay no annual or foreign transaction fees and earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase.

Similar to the Travel Rewards Card, you’ll need to make a $200 minimum deposit to open a Quicksilver card. By making on-time and in full payments on your Quicksilver card, you could get back your deposit and graduate to an unsecured Quicksilver card. Plus, every six months, Capital One will automatically consider you for a credit limit increase without having to put any extra money down.

While the Travel Rewards Card emphasizes rewards redemption for travel-related expenses, Quicksilver rewards can primarily be redeemed for cash-back or gift cards. 

Is the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card right for you?

The Bank of America Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card is best suited for those who don’t need lots of bells and whistles and are focused on establishing or improving their credit scores. The card also has a low barrier to entry: You’ll just need to make a minimum security deposit of $200 to open a card.

This card, however, is likely not a good fit if you’re not interested in credit building and want a flashier travel credit card with benefits like a hefty welcome bonus and luxurious perks. 

Frequently asked questions

Is it hard to get a bank of america® travel rewards secured credit card.

While Bank of America does not disclose what credit score you need to qualify for the Travel Rewards Secured card, since it’s a secured card meant for credit building, you won’t need a good credit score to be eligible.

What is the credit limit for a Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card?

The credit limit for the Bank of America Travel Rewards Secured card is determined by the security deposit, which can be as low as $200 and as high as $5,000.

Can I get denied for a secured credit card with Bank of America?

Though secured credit cards are intended for credit building, Bank of America may reject some secured card applicants due to a lack of credit history, a poor credit score, bankruptcy, and more.

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.  

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE : The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends ™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.

Guide to secured credit cards

The best secured credit cards for march 2024, best prepaid debit cards of march 2024, a secured credit card can help you rebuild your credit score. here's how it works, how to use a secured credit card to build good credit history, a prepaid debit card is an easy way to charge it—here's what you need to know, it's harder, but not impossible: how to get a credit card with bad credit, capital one quicksilver secured cash rewards credit card: earn first-rate cash back while building credit, chime credit builder visa credit card review: built-in safety for those with bad credit, upgrade secured onecard review: great rewards with extra effort, how to use a prepaid debit card—the tool that lets you leave your cash at home.

IMAGES

  1. BMO: Redeem your points for any travel

    bmo rewards travel website

  2. BMO Rewards Points Value Guide

    bmo rewards travel website

  3. BMO: Redeem your points for any travel

    bmo rewards travel website

  4. The BMO Rewards Program has a little bit of everything: rewards to use

    bmo rewards travel website

  5. How the BMO Rewards program works?

    bmo rewards travel website

  6. The Essential Guide to BMO Rewards

    bmo rewards travel website

VIDEO

  1. LIVE CRUISE SHIP AND TRAVEL SHOW ON TRAVELLING WITH BRUCE AT 8PM ET

  2. One Wish Granted: The Power of Faithfulness to God #shorts

  3. uboa and mado leave las vegas

  4. Hawkeye

  5. Insomniac Games pay their respects to Stan Lee ❤️

  6. How To Trade On Monthly Expiry Day ll Banknifty & Nifty 50 Analysis

COMMENTS

  1. Travel

    Book travel any way you like using your BMO credit card at time of purchase. Select the Pay with Points tab above, and from the 'Eligible for Redemption' section, choose any travel purchase you made within the last 90 days that you want to redeem for. 28. Select the number of points you want to apply to your transaction.

  2. BMO Rewards

    Now, book travel with any provider and redeem BMO Rewards points for your eligible travel purchases. Learn More. Pay with Points is now better than ever! Now you can redeem your points for purchases made as far back as 90 days, including purchases by authorized users on your credit card account!

  3. BMO Travel

    Travel with BMO Rewards and enjoy the flexibility and convenience of booking your trip with any provider of your choice. You can use your BMO Rewards points to pay for your travel expenses, including flights, hotels, car rentals and more. Plus, you can earn more points with BMO Rewards credit cards and redeem them for gift cards, investments or cash back. Join BMO Rewards today and start ...

  4. BMO Rewards

    BMO Ascend TM World Elite ® * Mastercard ® *. Earn 5 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases 1,2a,3. Earn 3 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on eligible dining and entertainment purchases and recurring bill payments 1,2b,3. Earn 1 BMO Rewards point for every $1 spent everywhere else 1,3.

  5. How to use BMO Rewards points

    The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is one of the best World Elite Mastercard credit cards with travel points in Canada. With our exclusive offer, you can get up to 100,000 bonus points:. 55,000 points after $4,500 in Card purchases in the first 3 months; 3,750 points per month after $2,500 in monthly purchases from the 4th to the 15th month (up to 45,000 points)

  6. The Essential Guide to BMO Rewards

    Redeeming BMO Rewards points for travel will get you a fixed value of 150 points = $1, or 0.67 cents per point. This means that every 10,000 BMO Rewards points will get you a value of up to $67. To redeem your points for travel, you can book with any travel provider and then apply BMO Rewards points against the purchases through your BMO ...

  7. Rewards Credit Cards: Get Rewarded for Using Your Card

    Cash BackEarn cash on all purchases. Low Interest RateLow fees, low interest. RewardsEarn rewards on every dollar. TravelEarn points on travel. AIR MILESFor travel, merchandise & more. VisaEnjoy exclusive perks and rewards. No FeeKeep your costs low. All cardsExplore your options. Specialty Cards.

  8. BMO: Redeem your points for any travel

    To the point Starting August 2, 2022, BMO Rewards will allow you to use your points on any travel charged to your card! Summary. 15,000 points = $100 on any travel purchase Exclusive offers from Milesopedia Bottom Line. Milesopedia recommends this card from BMO. BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* 🇨🇦.

  9. Points Rewards Credit Cards: Great Offers to Earn More

    BMO Platinum Rewards Credit Card. Our no annual fee * reward card. Welcome offer: 25,000 points when you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months of opening the account.1. 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas and groceries, up to $2,500 in combined spend each calendar quarter1. 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases1.

  10. How the BMO Rewards program works?

    BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card. The new BMO eclipse rise Visa* Card is a no-annual-fee travel rewards credit card with no minimum income required.. With this offer, you can earn up to 25,000 points as a welcome bonus:. 20,000 points after $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months; 2,500 bonus points for redeeming at least 12,000 points annually towards your statement balance with Pay with points

  11. BMO Flex Rewards

    A Variety of Rewards Options. Travel. Gift Cards. Shop. Cash. Search our wide selection of merchandise and gift cards. This is combobox, autocomplete results are available on typing 3 letters use up and down arrows to review. And enter to select. Search by brand, item or point value.

  12. BMO Rewards Program Guide: How To Maximize Your Points

    For travel, you can redeem 150 BMO Rewards points for $1 in travel expenses. This means one BMO Rewards point is worth 0.67 cents ($0.0067), the maximum value available. If you would prefer to redeem your points for investments, 15,000 points are equal to $100 in an investment account.

  13. Calculator: What's The Value of BMO Rewards Points?

    The simple answer: 0.67 cents per point. Every 150 BMO Rewards Points you redeem towards travel redemptions is equal to $1 in cash value. Here's our full valuations for BMO Rewards points: Redemption. BMO points value (in cents) Redeeming points for travel. 0.67. Using points for investments with BMO. 0.67.

  14. BMO Rewards

    Now, book travel with any provider and redeem BMO Rewards points for your eligible travel purchases. Learn More. Pay with Points is now better than ever! Now you can redeem your points for purchases made as far back as 90 days, including purchases by authorized users on your credit card account!

  15. BMO Rewards Now Offering Members The Flexibility To ...

    Starting on August 2, 2022, you'll be able to use your BMO Rewards points to pay for any travel charged to your card. With this perk, you'll get the same value as booking through BMO Rewards. And while you can do this now (BMO has booking site issues right now), it will be a permanent fixture starting on August 2nd.

  16. BMO Rewards Points Calculators

    Use or BMO credit card rewards calculators to calculate total BMO Rewards points and overall card value based on the spend amounts you enter into the tool, how much you value card benefits, and annual fees. Compare up to a total of 3 credit cards from any issuer side-by-side.

  17. BMO Rewards

    BMO Rewards is a loyalty program that lets you earn and redeem points for a variety of rewards, such as merchandise, gift cards, investments, donations, and travel. Log in to your BMO Rewards account to access your points balance, card benefits, and exclusive offers. If you are not a member yet, sign up today and start enjoying the perks of BMO Rewards.

  18. PDF BMOFlexRewardsFAQ's

    BMO Flex Rewards. 07/09/2023. BMOFlexRewardsFAQ's. Getting Started. What is BMO Flex Rewards? BMO Flex Rewards is the rewards program from BMO Bank that offers flexibility and personal choice to cardholders. BMO Flex Rewards offers cardholders the opportunity to earn points redeemable for travel,

  19. Technical issues hamper new flight bookings with BMO Rewards, bank

    inconvenience. In the meantime, you can book travel any way you like on your BMO credit card and enjoy a promotional rate for your eligible travel purchases using our current Pay with Points travel promotion, redeeming only 175 points for every $1 credit! Terms and conditions apply 28. The BMO Rewards Call Centre is currently experiencing ...

  20. BMO Rewards Points Program Guide 2023

    These five classes are travel, investment, gift cards, merchandise, and experiences. The figures below represent the cash value of BMO Rewards points for each class of reward: - Any travel booked through BMO Rewards: .71¢. - Addition to BMO investment account: .67¢. - Gift cards: .56¢. - Merchandise: .54¢.

  21. BMO Rewards Revealed: A Must-Read Review

    According to the BMO Rewards website, points earned on a BMO Rewards credit card will expire after 24 months of inactivity. ... While other reward programs may be better for specific types of purchases or travel, BMO Rewards is a great all-around program that can benefit anyone who wants to earn rewards on their everyday purchases.

  22. BMO U.S.

    Visit us. Find the nearest BMO branch to you. Locate a branch. We're here to help! BMO offers a wide range of personal and business banking services, including bank accounts, mortgages, credit cards, loans and more.

  23. Changes coming to the ATB World Elite Mastercard and Gold My Rewards

    The 8 points for travel (4% return) will become the highest value return out of the book any travel at anytime cards in Canada which means BMO may have to stop marketing their BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard as " Now get the highest rewards points for travel of any premium flexible travel card in Canada " as that card earns 5 points ...

  24. BMO Alto Accounts: 2024 Banking Review

    The BMO Alto Online Savings Account pays 5.10% APY. This makes it one of the best high-yield savings accounts out there, especially from a large, popular bank. Interest compounds daily and is paid ...

  25. How the BMO Rewards program works?

    The New BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card. The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card* is a premium metal card! With this card , you can earn up to 90,000 BMO Rewards points:. 50,000 points when you spend $6,000 in the first 3 months; 40,000 points twelve months after the Credit Card account open date after you spend a minimum of $100,000 within the first twelve months

  26. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card Overview

    The card does not offer a new customer bonus. How to redeem Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card points. When you're ready to redeem your rewards, you'll get less flexibility ...