Earn rates
The Momentum for Business Visa earns cash back at three tiers, aimed at where a small business actually spends. Gas, restaurants, office supply stores, and eligible recurring bill payments earn 3%. Shipping and accounting and bookkeeping services earn 2%. Everything else earns 1%.
| Spending category | Cash back | Back per $100 spent |
|---|---|---|
| Gas stations | 3% | $3.00 |
| Restaurants | 3% | $3.00 |
| Office supply stores | 3% | $3.00 |
| Eligible recurring bill payments | 3% | $3.00 |
| Shipping | 2% | $2.00 |
| Accounting and bookkeeping services | 2% | $2.00 |
| Everything else | 1% | $1.00 |
The 3% and 2% categories share a combined annual cap of $40,000 in purchases. Spending above that cap in those categories earns the base 1% rate for the rest of the year. The cap resets each year. Cash back is paid out once a year as a statement credit, so there is nothing to track or redeem manually.
What the earn math looks like
A business spending $2,500 per month across typical categories:
| Category | Monthly spend | Rate | Monthly cash back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | $500 | 3% | $15.00 |
| Restaurants and client meals | $400 | 3% | $12.00 |
| Office supplies and recurring bills | $400 | 3% | $12.00 |
| Shipping | $200 | 2% | $4.00 |
| All other spending | $1,000 | 1% | $10.00 |
| Total | $2,500 | $53.00 / mo |
$636 in cash back per year at this spend mix, against a $79 annual fee. The bonus categories ($1,500 per month, or $18,000 per year) stay comfortably under the $40,000 combined cap. A business with heavier gas, dining, or supply spending earns more, up to the point where the cap starts converting those categories to 1%.
Welcome offer
The current offer is a financing promotion rather than a cash bonus: a 2.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first six months, with no balance transfer fee. It is useful for a business carrying a balance on another card, but it adds no value if you pay in full each month. There is no upfront cash-back or points bonus on this card.
Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Purchase protection | 90 days against loss, theft, or damage |
| Extended warranty | Doubles the manufacturer’s warranty up to 1 additional year |
| Travel emergency medical | Up to 8 days for cardholders 64 and under; up to 3 days for ages 65–75 |
| Rental car collision / loss damage | Included |
| Visa SavingsEdge | Automatic discounts at participating business suppliers |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% on purchases in a foreign currency |
The travel medical coverage is short, eight days for cardholders under 65, so it suits quick domestic or cross-border business trips rather than longer travel. For anything beyond a week, or for cardholders over 65, supplemental coverage is worth arranging separately.
Cash back, not points
This is a cash-back card, so there is no loyalty currency to manage and no transfer partners. The annual statement credit is simple and predictable, which is the appeal for a business owner who wants to lower operating costs without learning a points program. If the goal is to earn travel rewards on business spending, a Scene+ or Aeroplan-earning business card is the more direct route, but those cards carry a points program and, in most cases, higher fees.
Good fit if
- Your business spends regularly on gas, client meals, office supplies, or recurring bills, where the 3% rate does the most work.
- You want straightforward cash back paid as a statement credit, with no points program to track or redeem.
- You want a low annual fee with no income requirement and cheap supplementary cards for staff.
Less useful if
- You spend heavily in foreign currencies: this card charges the standard 2.5% FX fee, while Scotiabank’s travel cards waive it.
- You want to earn travel rewards on business spending: cash back does not convert to Scene+ or any airline program.
- Your bonus-category spending runs well above $40,000 a year: purchases past the combined cap drop to the base 1% rate.