BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

This is BMO's top card, and the pitch is breadth: 5x on travel, dining, groceries, gas and drugstores, with caps high enough ($15,000 to $25,000 a year per category) that most households will not hit them. I'd point it at someone with a large everyday spend who wants one card to earn on almost everything and books their own travel.

The catch is the currency. BMO Rewards points are worth 0.67 cents each against travel, so 5x is about 3.3% back, and nothing transfers to an airline or hotel. For $599 a year with no first-year waiver, I'd want the lounge visits and the $200 anniversary credit to matter to you before applying.

Welcome offer

BMO is advertising up to 200,000 BMO Rewards points on the eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege, verified on the BMO page on October 13, 2026. This is a limited-time offer: applications must be received by October 31, 2026. The ladder is steep: 80,000 points after $6,000 in net purchases in the first 110 days, 40,000 more once you reach $30,000 within 180 days, and a final 80,000 at $75,000 within the first 12 months.

BMO puts the full 200,000 at up to $1,333 when redeemed for travel at 150 points per dollar, and builds a larger "up to $2,300" headline by adding the lounge membership, the NEXUS credit, the $200 anniversary credit and the authorized-user bonus. Bonus points can be cancelled if the card is closed within 365 days, and the offer is closed to anyone reopening this card or switching in from another BMO card. New accounts also get 0% on balance transfers for the first 12 statement periods, with a 2% transfer fee.

Fees & eligibility

The card costs $599 a year, with no first-year waiver, and additional cards are $99 each. Two credits soften it: a $200 anniversary lifestyle credit every year after a single purchase of $200 or more, and a first-year NEXUS credit of up to $200. Adding an authorized user also lifts the accelerated earn rate by 25%.

Eligibility is the Visa Infinite Privilege bar: $150,000 personal or $200,000 household income, or at least $50,000 of spend on your other credit cards in the past year. Purchases carry 21.99% interest and cash advances and balance transfers 23.99% (21.99% in Quebec). Foreign currency purchases cost 2.5% on top of the network rate, which stings on a card sold on travel. The rewards only add up if the balance is paid in full every month.

Earning rewards

Five categories earn 5 BMO Rewards points per dollar: travel (air fare, hotels and car rentals), dining in and out including takeout, groceries, gas and drugstores. Everything else earns 1 point per dollar.

Each category has its own calendar-year limit: $25,000 for travel, $25,000 for dining, $20,000 for groceries, and $15,000 each for gas and drugstores. Past a cap, that category earns 1 point per dollar until January 1. Adding an authorized user gives a 25% bonus on the accelerated rate for both cardholders, which BMO says stays until it notifies you otherwise.

Redeeming rewards

BMO Rewards has no airline or hotel transfer partners, so the value comes from Pay with Points: book travel with any airline, hotel or agency on the card, then cover the charge with points within 90 days. Travel redeems at 150 points per $1, or 0.67 cents per point (cpp), the best fixed rate in the program.

Other purchases redeem at 200 points per $1 (0.5 cpp), so using points on groceries or everyday charges gives up a quarter of the value. Merchandise, gift cards, financial products and charity are also available, with a $1 minimum redemption. Phone redemptions for merchandise or financial rewards cost $7.50; online is free.

Perks & benefits

The headline perks are a Visa Airport Companion membership with 6 complimentary lounge visits a year, usable for you or travelling guests, and the $200 anniversary lifestyle credit. Primary and additional cardholders enroll separately, and extra visits cost US$32 per person. In year one there is also an up to $200 NEXUS statement credit.

The Visa Infinite Privilege layer adds a priority security lane plus parking and valet discounts at select Canadian airports, the Luxury Hotel Collection, the Dining Series and Wine Country events, Troon golf and a concierge. Avis and Budget give up to 30% and 35% off base rates when you prepay, and six months of Instacart+ is included. There is no airline status, free checked bag or foreign fee waiver.

Insurance

The insurance is a full travel package, underwritten by CUMIS. Emergency medical pays up to $5 million per person for the first 22 days of a trip at age 64 or under, and only 3 days at 65 or over; the trip does not need to be charged to the card. Trip cancellation pays up to $2,500 per person ($5,000 per trip) and trip interruption up to $5,000 per person ($25,000 per trip) when the trip is paid in full or in part on the card.

Flight delays over 4 hours are covered up to $1,000 per trip, delayed bags up to $500 per person, and lost or damaged bags up to $1,000 per person ($2,500 per trip). Rentals with an MSRP up to $85,000 are covered for 48 days. The certificate gives purchase security for 120 days and triples manufacturer warranties up to 2 extra years, though BMO's product page still lists 90 days and one year, so check the certificate before relying on it.

My take

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