Which has the lower annual fee, Business Platinum Card or Scotiabank American Express?

The Scotiabank American Express has no annual fee, while the Business Platinum Card charges $799/year.

Which card is better for groceries, Business Platinum Card or Scotiabank American Express?

The Business Platinum Card earns 1.25x on groceries, while the Scotiabank American Express earns 0.8x. The better choice depends on your grocery spending and the specific merchants you shop at.

Is the Business Platinum Card accepted everywhere in Canada?

The Business Platinum Card runs on the American Express network, which is not accepted at some Canadian retailers like Costco and Loblaws. Visa and Mastercard have broader acceptance in Canada.

Business Platinum Card vs Scotiabank American Express — Which Is Better? | Churnr

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

Scotiabank American Express wins by $452/yr — strongest in groceries

Business Platinum Card earns $217 more on groceries
Business Platinum Card earns $125 more on travel
$799 lower annual fee

Groceries: +$217Travel: +$125Bills & Utilities: +$82

Business Platinum Card: $30/yr in foreign transaction fees

Business Platinum Card (Amex) — not accepted at Costco, Loblaws, No Frills, Walmart

Scotiabank American Express: $30/yr in foreign transaction fees

Scotiabank American Express (Amex) — not accepted at Costco, Loblaws, No Frills, Walmart

Showing Year 1 analysis

Dollar Value

−$71

/first year

-0.2% effective$6/mo

vs 1% no-fee card: −$489

Annual rewards earned+$756

Welcome bonus+$2

FX costs−$30

Annual fee−$799

Winner

$381

/first year

0.9% effective$32/mo

vs 1% no-fee card: −$37

Annual rewards earned+$361

Welcome bonus+$50

FX costs−$30

Annual fee−$0

Best for your spendingScotiabank American Express—$381Year 1 value

+$452 more than Business Platinum Card

Scroll down for the full breakdown

Earn Rates by Category

Wallet Optimizer

Downgrade

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The Bottom Line

Scotiabank American Express wins by $452/yr — strongest in groceries

Business Platinum Card earns $217 more on groceries
Business Platinum Card earns $125 more on travel
$799 lower annual fee

Groceries: +$217Travel: +$125Bills & Utilities: +$82

Showing Year 1 analysis

Scotiabank American Express wins in both Year 1 and Year 2+ — consistent long-term value.

Data Sources

Issuer terms & conditions (verified Mar 2026)

Merchant MCC verification (239 merchants)

Insurance certificates (PDF review)

Reward program documentation

User-reported acceptance data

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