Earn rates
The card earns at three tiers. Travel purchases earn the most, dining and recurring business bills earn at a mid-tier rate, and everything else earns at the base rate. At the portal redemption value of 0.67 cents per point, the effective return on each tier is straightforward to calculate.
| Spending category | Earn rate | Effective return at 0.67¢/pt |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible travel (flights, hotels, car rentals) | 3x BMO Rewards | ~2.0¢ per dollar |
| Dining and recurring bill payments | 1.5x BMO Rewards | ~1.0¢ per dollar |
| Everything else | 1x BMO Rewards | ~0.67¢ per dollar |
Effective return calculated at the BMO Rewards portal travel redemption rate of 0.67 cents per point. Always verify current earn rates and redemption values directly with BMO before applying.
How BMO Rewards redemptions work
BMO Rewards points redeem against travel bookings made through the BMO Rewards portal or applied as a statement credit against a travel purchase. The fixed rate of 0.67 cents per point applies to travel redemptions. There are no blackout dates, no seat restrictions, and no airline program membership required — you book any available fare and apply points against the cost.
At 0.67 cents per point, 150,000 points equals $1,005 in travel. Compared to programs like Aeroplan or Avion that reward careful redemption planning, BMO Rewards trades maximum upside for consistency and simplicity. Every point is worth exactly the same amount toward any trip.
What your monthly spend earns
| Category | Monthly spend | Rate | Monthly pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | $375 | 3x | 1,125 pts |
| Dining and recurring bills | $500 | 1.5x | 750 pts |
| All other spending | $1,625 | 1x | 1,625 pts |
| Total | $2,500 | 3,500 pts / mo |
42,000 pts / year (~$281 in BMO Rewards travel, $131 net of $150 fee).
Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| First year fee waived | The $150 annual fee is waived for the first year. |
| Employee cards | Additional employee cards available on the business account, each earning points that flow to the primary account. |
| BMO Rewards portal | Book any available flight, hotel, or car rental through the portal and apply points against the cost. No seat restrictions or blackout dates. |
| Purchase protection | Coverage for eligible purchases against damage or theft for a set period after purchase. |
| Extended warranty | Extended manufacturer’s warranty on eligible purchases made with the card. |
Travel insurance
- Emergency travel medical
- Trip cancellation and interruption
- Flight and trip delay
- Baggage delay and loss
- Car rental collision and damage
- Common carrier accident
Coverage limits and eligibility conditions apply. Review the certificate of insurance and verify current coverage directly with BMO before travel.
BMO Rewards vs. airline program co-branded cards
The core trade-off with BMO Rewards is simplicity versus upside. Points are worth a fixed 0.67 cents on any travel redemption, which means there is no way to get outsized value from a premium cabin transfer. Aeroplan or Avion points can return 2 cents per point or more on business class redemptions, but require understanding partner programs and finding availability.
For a business that values predictability — knowing exactly what accumulated points are worth, no expiry pressure, no program complexity — BMO Rewards delivers a clean, consistent return. For a business actively optimizing for the best redemption value per point, a transferable or co-branded program will typically outperform it on premium travel.
Good fit if
- Your business travels regularly and wants a straightforward travel rewards system with no airline affiliation or redemption complexity.
- You prefer a fixed, predictable point value over managing transfer partner availability and award pricing.
- The first year fee waiver makes it low-risk to evaluate whether BMO Rewards accumulation fits how your business spends.
Less useful if
- You want to maximize redemption value on premium cabin travel — Aeroplan and Avion transfer partners can return significantly more per point on the right redemption.
- You fly a specific carrier exclusively — a co-branded card (Aeroplan, WestJet) earns the airline’s currency directly at higher rates on that carrier.
- You want airport lounge access — the BMO Rewards Business card does not include lounge passes; those belong to the personal BMO Ascend World Elite.