Find my best card

Independent ClearFin review · National Bank

National Bank Platinum Mastercard

Start with up to 35,000 rewards points plus first-year annual fee rebate, worth about $280.

Apply at National BankCalculate my rewards
Independent comparisonFees includedCanadian card data
Annual fee
$70
Reward type
À la carte Rewards points
Welcome offer
35,000 pts

Current new-cardmember offer

Insurance
1 coverages

Certificate terms apply

$50cash rebate*National Bank Platinum Mastercard💳 Platinum Points
The ClearFin bottom line

💳 Platinum Points

Its strongest published earn rate in our data is 2.0% on dining. The $70 annual fee should be weighed against the rewards and benefits you expect to use.

Checked 2026-08-09 · Official issuer catalogue

Welcome bonus

Up to 35,000 rewards points plus first-year annual fee rebate

How to earn it

  • 10,000 pointsEnroll in payment protection insurance for at least 3 months
  • 10,000 pointsSpend at least $2,500 within first 3 months
  • 15,000 pointsSpend at least $10,000 within first 12 months
  • Annual fee refund (Year 1)Maintain account in good standing

Offer ends 2026-11-04

Offer details

New cardholders who have not held a National Bank personal Mastercard in the past 24 months and meet promotional conditions during the offer period

How you earn

  • Earn up to 2 points per $1 on groceries and restaurant purchases (tiered monthly structure)
  • Earn 1.5 points per $1 on gas, EV charging, recurring bill payments, and travel purchases
  • Earn 1 point per $1.50 on other eligible purchases
  • Higher earn rate applies on first $1,000 in monthly grocery and restaurant spend before tier adjustment
  • Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, merchandise, or statement credits through National Bank’s À la carte Rewards program
  • Points can also be used for travel bookings via the bank’s online travel platform with variable redemption value
Costs and requirements

Fees & eligibility

Confirm final approval criteria and current rates directly with the issuer.

Annual fee$70
Purchase interest20.99%
Cash advance interest22.49%
Foreign transaction fee2.5%
Income requirementNot statedIssuer approval criteria apply
Balance transfer interest22.49%
Recommended credit score620+ Fair to Good (Canada)

Approval is based on credit history, repayment behavior, and overall creditworthiness. No fixed minimum credit score is publicly disclosed by the issuer.

ClearFin estimate on Canada's 300–900 scale. This is not an issuer cutoff or approval guarantee; lenders may use different bureau scores and underwriting criteria. This is a mid-tier rewards card designed for everyday spending optimization. Applicants with fair credit may qualify, though stronger credit profiles improve approval odds and credit limits. Income is not a strict requirement but may influence credit limit assignment.

Reward limits: The Platinum Mastercard uses a tiered rewards system. Accelerated earning applies to groceries and restaurant purchases at 2 points per $1 only on the first $1,000 in gross monthly spend. After this threshold, the earn rate drops to 1.5 points per $1 for these categories. Other categories (gas, recurring bills, travel) earn 1.5 points per $1 without a published cap. Standard purchases earn 1 point per $1.50 with no explicit cap. Overall, the only formal earn cap is the $1,000 monthly accelerated category threshold.

accelerated_category_cap

Using your rewards

Redemption options

Redemption values and availability may vary by option and can change.

Redeem the card's rewards through the issuer's current rewards program.

Available options, minimums, transfer access, and redemption values vary; confirm the current program terms before applying.

Beyond the points

Benefits that come with the card

Consider these extras by the value they add to purchases and experiences you already use.

Tiered accelerated rewards structure

Earn up to 2 points per $1 on groceries and restaurants, with boosted earning on the first $1,000 monthly spend in these categories.

Travel insurance coverage (short trips)

Includes travel insurance for trips of up to 10 days, covering trip interruption, cancellation, and emergency assistance in eligible cases.

Mobile device insurance

Provides coverage up to approximately $1,000 for loss, theft, or damage of eligible mobile devices purchased with the card.

Purchase protection

Covers eligible items against theft or damage for up to 180 days after purchase.

Extended warranty coverage

Extends manufacturer warranties by up to an additional two years on eligible purchases.

Fraud protection and Zero Liability

Protects cardholders against unauthorized transactions when standard Mastercard security conditions are met.

Flexible rewards redemption ecosystem

Points can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, gift cards, statement credits, or through National Bank’s À la carte Rewards platform.

No minimum income requirement

Accessible entry to mid-tier rewards segment, subject to credit approval rather than strict income thresholds.

Protection included

Insurance at a glance

1 coverage listed. Key terms are summarized below; full certificate terms apply.

Travel insurance included

This coverage is listed in ClearFin's card catalogue. Confirm eligibility, limits, exclusions, and payment requirements in the issuer's current insurance certificate.

Coverage is subject to eligibility, exclusions, limits, payment requirements, and claim rules in the insurance certificate.

The verdict

What we like

  • Strong tiered rewards structure (up to 2 points per $1 on groceries and restaurants)
  • Flexible redemption ecosystem (travel, statement credit, gift cards, merchandise)
  • Comprehensive insurance package including travel, mobile device, and purchase protection
  • No minimum income requirement improves accessibility across mid-tier applicants
  • Category-based accelerators increase earn velocity for everyday spending segments

Worth noting

  • Annual fee of $70 reduces net value for low-spend users
  • CPP is variable and not guaranteed, leading to redemption uncertainty
  • Rewards cap structure limits accelerated earning after $1,000 monthly spend in key categories
  • High purchase interest rate (20.99%) makes it unsuitable for carrying balances
  • Lower value compared to premium World Elite cards for travel-heavy users
ClearFin analysis

Our detailed review

A practical reading of where the card earns, what the fee buys, and which limits matter.

💳 Platinum Points

2x points on groceries & restaurants. 1.5x on gas, EV, bills & À la Carte Travel. 1 pt per $1.50 else.

How the rewards work

Dining, Groceries receive the strongest estimated return at 2.0%. Purchases outside the accelerated categories earn an estimated 0.67%.

What the annual cost means

Using the strongest estimated category return alone, roughly $3,500 in annual spending at that rate would equal the $70 fee before considering the value of insurance, partner benefits, or a welcome offer.

Who it may suit

This card is most relevant for someone who spends consistently on dining and groceries and can use enough of the included value to justify the yearly cost.

What to examine before applying

Compare the purchase interest rate, foreign-transaction fee, approval requirements, reward limits, and insurance certificates. Pay particular attention to merchant-category rules because a store may not receive the reward rate its products appear to suggest.

Issuer terms apply. ClearFin is not affiliated with this provider. How we make money. Card facts were checked against the issuer's official source. The issuer's current catalogue was checked. Any field not explicitly listed remains marked as unverified rather than estimated.