CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite* Card
A great trip value in the first year and a great earn rate for flexible rewards for a mid-level annual fee.
Rewards: 2 Aventura Points per dollar spent on travel purchases made through the CIBC Rewards Centre. In addition, you’ll get 1.5 points per dollar spent on gas, grocery, and drug purchases and 1 Aventura point per dollar for all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: Get a total of up to 35,000 Aventura Points (up to $800 in travel value†) during your first year:
15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase and 20,000 Aventura Points when you spend $3,000 or more in net purchases in the first 4 monthly statement periods.
Annual Fee: $139 (rebated in the first year)
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: You’ll get the network exclusives and benefits of the Visa Infinite banner, like special events and experiences. However, the income requirements of $60,000 as an individual and $100,000 as a household prohibit some from ever experiencing the benefits of this card.
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CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card
Rewards: Earn 4% cash back on grocery and gas purchases and 2% cash back on dining, transportation and recurring bills. All other purchases give you 1% cash back, and there’s no cap on how much you can earn.
Welcome Offer: Earn 10% cash back on $2,500 in net purchases over the first four statements.
Annual Fee: $120
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: With this card, you could earn over $500 in cash back each year, but the 60,000 personal and $100,000 household will be too steep for some to stick to annually and consistently qualify for this card.
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CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Business Plus
Rewards: Get 2 points per dollar for every purchase made with Air Canada directly and at the Air Canada eStore. Get 1.5 points per dollar on travel purchases like non-Air Canada flights, cruise lines, rental car companies and tour companies. You’ll also earn the same on transportation purchases like limos, cabs and buses, as well as any dining, shipping, internet and phone purchases. Plus, you’ll get 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: Get up to 60,000 Aeroplan Points in the first year (10,000 when you make the first purchase, 20,000 points when you spend at least 3,000 during your first four monthly statements and 30,000 when you spend at least $35,000 in the first year.
Annual Fee: $120 (rebated in the first year)
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: For a $120 annual fee ($50 annually for each additional cardholder), you’ll also get four complimentary guest passes to Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge and a free first checked bag for you, your employees and up to eight travelling companions. You also get a fourth night free for every three nights you stay at a hotel, redeemed with Aeroplan points. This is over and above the travel and consumer insurance you get, including flight delay, baggage insurance, common carrier accident insurance, rental car auto collision damage or loss insurance, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance. Plus, purchase protection and extended warranty insurance.
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CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card
Rewards: 2 Aventura Points per dollar spent on travel purchases made through the CIBC Rewards Centre. Plus, 1.5 points per dollar spent on gas, grocery, and drug purchases and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: 35,000 Aventura Points (earn 15,000 points when you make your first purchase and 20,000 points when you spend $3,000 or more in the first four monthly statement periods).
Annual Fee: $139 (First year rebated)
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though the $139 annual fee and the $15,000 personal annual income requirement could be considered drawbacks, a big benefit is the fact that one Aventura point is worth an average of $0.02 per point when redeeming for travel and they could be worth between 2.3 to 2.8 cents per point depending on the route you’re redeeming for. This means that the Aventura Gold (and any Aventura credit card) stretches your dollar even further than the typical points-based credit card loyalty program that keeps its points worth an average of one cent per point.
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CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
Rewards: 1.5 Aeroplan Points for every dollar spent on gas, groceries, and Air Canada flights, including through Air Canada vacations. 1 point per dollar on all other purchases and you can earn points twice when you shop at 150 Aeroplan partners and 170 eStore online retailers.
Welcome Offer: A welcome bonus of up to 50,000 Aeroplan points (10,000 points with the first purchase, 15,000 after four months of spending $4,000 or more, and 25,000 as an anniversary bonus). Terms apply. This offer is not available to residents of Quebec.
Annual Fee: $139 (Get an annual fee rebate)
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though you’ll need at least $60,000 in annual individual personal income or $100,000 in household income to qualify for this card, it will give you supplemental benefits like a free checked bag and a full suite of travel insurance options. Plus, redeem for flights, merchandise, gift cards, and more.
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CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite* Privilege Card
Rewards: 3 Aventura points per dollar on all travel purchases made through the CIBC Rewards Centre. Plus, 2 points per dollar on all eligible dining, entertainment, grocery, gas, and transportation purchases. Finally, you’ll get 1.25 points per dollar on all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: 80,000 Aventura Points in the first year. This means 50,000 Aventura Points when you spend $3,000 or more over your first four statement periods and 30,000 Aventura Points as an additional account anniversary bonus.
Annual Fee: $499
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card has a huge $499 annual fee and income requirements that will exclude most Canadians from applying for it at $150,000 individual or $200,000 household annual income. Still, if you can afford it, a world of luxury benefits is open to you, like airport lounge access, dedicated taxi and limousine service, exclusive dining and wine experiences, a car rental discount, high dollar maximums on travel insurance, and even a metal credit card for every successful applicant.
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CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Business Card
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card is best suited for business owners who incur shipping, cable, internet, phone services, travel and dining expenses.
Rewards: Earn 2 points per dollar spent with Air Canada, 1.5 points per dollar spent on business services, travel and dining and 1 point per dollar on everyday purchases.
Welcome Offer: Get 10,000 Aeroplan Points for the first purchase, 20,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first four months and 30,000 bonus points after spending $35,000 during the first year for a total of 60,000 Aeroplan Points.
Annual Fee: $180
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card offers strong earning potential on common business expenses and one of the lowest interest rate options on the market. That said, annual fees are $180 and cardholders must make at least $35,000 in personal annual income to apply.
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CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa Card
The CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa Card offers reasonable cash-back returns on daily essentials for anyone who meets the $60,000 ($100,000 household) income requirements.
Rewards: Collect 3% cash back on gas and groceries, 2% on dining, transportation and recurring bills or subscriptions and 1% on all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: Get 10% cash back on a total spend of $2,000 in the first four months.
Annual Fee: $99 (rebated in the first year)
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The annual fee is lower than that of comparable cards. However, travel insurance is quite limited and there is a $20,000 cap for the 3% and 2% bonus categories.
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CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Card
This card offers a decent earn rate for Aeroplan points with no annual fee. When it comes to travel, Aeroplan points cover taxes and fees. You can redeem flights with a combination of points and cash. Aeroplan points can also be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards, and entertainment.
Rewards: 1 point per dollar spent on gas, groceries, electric vehicle charging and Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada Vacations. 1 point per $1.50 spent on all other purchases, including CIBC Global Money Transfer with no transaction fees. Plus, earn double the points when you make purchases at over 150 retail and 170 online eStore Aeroplan partners.
Welcome Offer: Earn 10,000 Aeroplan Points (a $200 travel value) after your first purchase.
Annual Fee: $0
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Despite flexible redemption offers and the opportunity to redeem for flights faster by using cash with your points, the earn rates on common purchases and the annual earnings value on travel are relatively low compared to other travel credit cards.
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CIBC Costco Mastercard
This card earns you 3% cash back at restaurants and Costco gas stations, 2% at other gas stations and when you shop at Costco.ca and 1% everywhere else.
Rewards: Earn 3% cash back when you dine out at selected restaurants and fill-up at Costco gas stations on the first $5,000 net annual card purchases. You’ll earn 2% at other gas stations and Costco.ca until you hit $8,000 in purchases when it will revert to the base rate of 1% on all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: None.
Annual Fee: $0
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card offers up to $1,000 in repair or replacement coverage for your phone for up to two years, as well as security and extended warranty insurance for some new items purchased with your card.