Which card is better for groceries, ATB Alberta Secured or BMO Rewards Mastercard?

The ATB Alberta Secured earns 0% on groceries, while the BMO Rewards Mastercard earns 0.7x. The better choice depends on your grocery spending and the specific merchants you shop at.

ATB Alberta Secured vs BMO Rewards Mastercard — Which Is Better? | Churnr

Header Quick Take Value Earn Rates Merchants Wallet Bonus FX Benefits Eligibility Perks Downgrade Verdict

BMO Rewards Mastercard edges ahead by $170/yr

BMO Rewards Mastercard earns $63 more on groceries
BMO Rewards Mastercard earns $24 more on bills & utilities

Groceries: +$63Bills & Utilities: +$24Shopping: +$21

ATB Alberta Secured: $30/yr in foreign transaction fees

BMO Rewards Mastercard: $30/yr in foreign transaction fees

Showing Year 1 analysis

Dollar Value

−$30

/first year

-0.1% effective$2/mo

vs 1% no-fee card: −$449

Annual rewards earned+$0

FX costs−$30

Annual fee−$0

Winner

$140

/first year

0.3% effective$12/mo

vs 1% no-fee card: −$279

Annual rewards earned+$170

FX costs−$30

Annual fee−$0

Best for your spendingBMO Rewards Mastercard—$140Year 1 value

+$170 more than ATB Alberta Secured

Scroll down for the full breakdown

Earn Rates by Category

Wallet Optimizer

Neither card currently offers a welcome bonus.

Downgrade

Coming soon

The Bottom Line

BMO Rewards Mastercard edges ahead by $170/yr

BMO Rewards Mastercard earns $63 more on groceries
BMO Rewards Mastercard earns $24 more on bills & utilities

Groceries: +$63Bills & Utilities: +$24Shopping: +$21

Showing Year 1 analysis

BMO Rewards Mastercard wins in both Year 1 and Year 2+ — consistent long-term value.

Data Sources

Issuer terms & conditions (verified Feb 2026)

Merchant MCC verification (239 merchants)

Insurance certificates (PDF review)

Reward program documentation

User-reported acceptance data

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