Earn rates

Spending category Earn rate Value per $100 spent
Groceries 5 pts / $1 ~$0.33
Dining in and out (restaurants, food delivery) 5 pts / $1 ~$0.33
Gas 5 pts / $1 ~$0.33
Drugstore 5 pts / $1 ~$0.33
Travel 5 pts / $1 ~$0.33
Everything else 1 pt / $1 ~$0.07

BMO Rewards points are worth a fixed 0.67¢ each (150 pts = $1) when applied to travel purchases. The 5x categories return ~0.33% in travel value per dollar spent. Accelerated earn applies to the first $50,000 in net annual purchases across all categories combined; spending beyond that earns 1x. Verify the current cap with BMO before applying.

Benefits

Benefit Details
$50 annual lifestyle credit Statement credit issued annually. Apply to any purchase — not restricted to travel.
10% bonus earn with authorized user Adding a supplementary cardholder unlocks a 10% bonus on the 5x accelerated earn rate for both the primary and authorized user.
Welcome bonus Up to 80,000 BMO Rewards points (~$533 in travel). Earned in tiers: 40,000 pts after $4,000 spend in the first 110 days; 20,000 pts after $7,000 in 180 days; 20,000 pts after $12,000 in 365 days. Verify current offer with BMO before applying.
Travel insurance Out-of-province/country emergency medical (up to $5 million), trip cancellation and interruption, flight delay, delayed and lost baggage, rental car collision/damage. Verify current coverage limits in the certificate of insurance.
Visa Infinite benefits Visa Infinite Concierge, Visa Infinite Hotel Collection, and Visa Infinite Dining Series access.
Mobile device insurance Coverage for mobile devices purchased on the card against theft, loss, or damage.

What your monthly spend earns

Monthly spend $2,500
Category Monthly spend Rate Monthly pts
Groceries, dining, gas, drugstore & travel $1,500 5x 7,500
All other spending $1,000 1x 1,000
Total $2,500 8,500 pts / mo

102,000 pts / year (~$680 in travel). After the $120 fee and $50 lifestyle credit, net value ~$610. The eclipse Privilege earns at the same rate but adds a $200 lifestyle credit and lounge access for $599/yr.

Good fit if

  • You spend regularly on groceries, dining, gas, or drugstore purchases — the 5x rate on these categories is one of the strongest everyday earn structures available in Canada.
  • You want a simple rewards program. Book travel wherever you like, then apply points at a flat 150 pts = $1. No award chart, no availability windows.
  • The $50 lifestyle credit reduces the effective fee to $70, which the earn rate covers quickly on moderate monthly spend.

Less useful if

  • You want maximum cents per point. BMO Rewards caps at 0.67¢/pt. Programs like Aeroplan can return 2¢+ on the right long-haul redemptions.
  • You spend more on travel than on everyday categories. The BMO Ascend World Elite earns 5x specifically on travel and 3x on dining and entertainment — a better structure for frequent travellers.
  • You don’t meet the $60,000 income requirement for Visa Infinite cards.
eclipse Privilege overview → eclipse vs. eclipse Privilege → BMO Ascend World Elite → BMO Rewards program →