BMO eclipse rise Visa Card review

How the eclipse rise earns points

The eclipse rise earns 5 BMO Rewards points for every $2 you spend on groceries, on dining, takeout and food delivery, and on recurring bill payments, which works out to 2.5 points per dollar. Everything else earns 1 point per $2, or 0.5 points per dollar.

As an example, a budget of $500 a month on groceries, $300 on dining and takeout and $200 in recurring bills earns 2,500 points a month. Add $500 of other spending at 1 point per $2 and you earn another 250 points, for 2,750 points a month or 33,000 points a year.

The welcome offer

New cardholders can earn up to 25,000 BMO Rewards points. BMO sets the conditions, such as any spending target and deadline, so read the offer terms before you apply.

For scale, 25,000 points is about nine months of earning in the example budget above, so the welcome offer is a meaningful head start for a no-fee card.

Bonus points and other perks

The eclipse rise rewards good habits directly. Each year you can earn up to 5,000 bonus points for paying your bill on time and redeeming points, so using the card responsibly adds to your balance.

Pay with Points lets you redeem points against any purchase, starting at $1. The card also includes one free BMO PaySmart instalment plan every two years for a purchase up to $1,000, plus three months of Instacart+ and a $5 monthly Instacart credit once you enrol.

Fees, interest and the fine print

There’s no annual fee. Foreign currency purchases carry a 2.5% fee, so $1,000 spent abroad or on a foreign website costs about $25 extra. Purchases are charged 21.99% interest and cash advances 23.99%, so pay the full statement balance by the due date to avoid interest.

There’s also an introductory balance transfer rate of 0.99% for nine months, with a 2% transfer fee. Moving a $3,000 balance would cost $60 up front, and you’d want a plan to pay it off before the nine months end.

Insurance coverage

For a no-fee card, the eclipse rise includes useful purchase coverage, led by mobile device insurance. The insurance certificate sets out the limits and exclusions, so check it before you rely on any of it.

• Mobile device insurance
• Extended warranty insurance
• Purchase security insurance

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

The eclipse rise suits newer cardholders and anyone working on their credit habits who wants a no-fee card that rewards everyday spending and on-time payments. Because the bonus categories cover food and recurring bills, which most people pay every month, it’s easy to earn the higher rate without changing how you spend.

If you spend heavily, the 0.5 points per dollar base rate and modest category rates will hold you back, and a card with an annual fee and higher multipliers may earn more.

How it compares

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card is the step-up option. It costs $120 a year, earns up to 5x on dining and charges the same 2.5% foreign transaction fee. Big spenders on food may earn enough extra to cover the fee.

Among no-fee cards, the Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card earns up to 4% cash back at restaurants, bars and coffee shops. If you’d rather have cash back than points and eat out often, it’s worth comparing.

Before you apply

The recommended credit score is 660 or higher, and BMO makes the final decision based on your full credit profile. Earn rates, perks and the welcome offer can change, so confirm the current terms on BMO’s website before you apply.