No fee everyday banking
Set up direct deposit and skip the monthly fee. Free to open, and the Easy plan has no monthly fee. Worth doing if you will actually move your pay or your CRA deposits over, not if the card sits unused. Code BREMO2026.
Stop paying 2.5% extra on every international purchase — Canada's best cards with no foreign transaction fees compared.
KOHO gives you cash back with no fees — use code BREMO2026 for a $20 bonus when you spend $20.
Get Free KOHO — Code BREMO2026When you make a purchase in a foreign currency (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.) using a standard Canadian credit card, your bank charges a foreign transaction fee — typically 2.5% of the transaction amount. This fee applies whether you're physically abroad or shopping on a US website from Canada. On a $3,000 US trip, that's $75 in hidden fees — plus whatever exchange rate markup your bank applies.
Most Canadian credit cards charge the foreign transaction fee. Cards that waive it are genuinely valuable for travelers and cross-border shoppers.
| Card | Annual Fee | Foreign TXN Fee | Rewards Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank Gold Amex | $120 | 0% | 5x on dining/food delivery |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | $150 | 0% | 2x Scene+ on most purchases |
| Rogers World Elite Mastercard | $0 | 0% | 3% on USD, 1.5% on CAD |
| Home Trust Preferred Visa | $0 | 0% | 1% cash back everywhere |
| Brim Mastercard | $0 | 0% | 1x Brim points everywhere |
| KOHO Everything Plan | $19.99/mo | 0% | 2% on groceries/transport/dining |
The Scotiabank Gold Amex charges no foreign transaction fees and earns 5 Scene+ points per $1 at restaurants, food delivery, and grocery stores — making it exceptional for both travel spending and everyday use. Annual fee of $120 is easily offset for anyone who travels internationally or shops US websites regularly. No FX fee alone can save $75+ on a one-week trip.
The Rogers World Elite Mastercard charges zero annual fee and zero foreign transaction fees. It earns 3% cash back on all USD purchases and 1.5% on CAD purchases. This is the best no-fee card for Canadians who shop heavily on US websites (Amazon.com, Etsy, US streaming, etc.) — the 3% USD cash back effectively offsets a good portion of the exchange rate.
The Home Trust Preferred Visa earns 1% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. It's a simple, effective card for casual international travelers who want no-fee spending without tracking bonus categories.
For frequent cross-border shoppers or international travelers, switching to a no-FX card pays for itself in months — even if the card has an annual fee.
KOHO's Everything Plan ($19.99/month) includes no foreign transaction fees, 2% cash back on groceries, dining, and transportation, plus no monthly banking fees. For frequent travelers who want a prepaid (debt-free) no-FX solution, KOHO's paid tier is worth considering. The base KOHO plan is free but does charge a small FX fee.
KOHO offers free spending, cash back on groceries and more — no annual fee. Use code BREMO2026 for a $20 bonus.
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