CIBC Adapta Mastercard review

How the Adapta earns points

The Adapta’s twist is that you don’t choose your bonus categories. CIBC tracks your spending across 12 categories and automatically pays 1.5 points per dollar in your top three each month. Travel booked through CIBC by Expedia earns 2 points per dollar, and everything else earns 1 point.

Say your three largest categories add up to $900 in a given month and you spend another $600 elsewhere. You’d earn 1,350 points on the top three and 600 on the rest, for 1,950 points that month. Repeat that for a year and it’s 23,400 points, without changing cards or tracking promotions.

Because the top three are recalculated every month, the bonus shifts with your spending instead of locking you into categories you picked months earlier.

The welcome offer

New cardholders can earn up to 6,000 points: 3,000 after the first purchase and another 3,000 after spending $1,000 in the first four statement periods. That’s about $250 per statement period, which ordinary spending will cover for most people.

Since half the bonus arrives with your first purchase, you don’t need a big spend to get started. With no annual fee, the bonus points are pure gain, and you can apply them using the redemption options below.

Redeeming points and extra perks

Points can be applied as a credit to your card balance or put toward select CIBC financial products. The financial-product option takes fewer points for the same amount, so it’s worth comparing if you hold an eligible CIBC product.

The standout perk is a complimentary roadside assistance membership that covers towing, battery boosts and gas delivery. You also get up to 10 cents off per litre with Journie Rewards, and up to three additional cards with no annual fee.

Fees, interest and the fine print

There is no annual fee, for you or for up to three additional cardholders. Purchases are charged 21.99% interest and cash advances 22.99%, so the points are only worth chasing if you pay the full statement balance each month.

Foreign currency purchases carry a 2.5% fee, which adds about $25 to every $1,000 spent abroad or in US dollars online. The card lists no purchase or travel insurance, so keep that in mind for big-ticket items and trips.

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

The Adapta suits people whose biggest expenses change from month to month and who don’t want to manage categories or switch cards. Drivers get extra value from the roadside assistance and the Journie fuel discount. It also works as a no-fee backup Mastercard for households that want roadside assistance without paying for a separate membership.

Look elsewhere if you want higher bonus rates or insurance. A 1.5x bonus is modest, and cards with fixed categories can pay more on spending you already know about.

How it compares

The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card also has no annual fee and pays 2% cash back in categories you choose, rather than ones picked for you. If your top spending is predictable, choosing your own categories may suit you better.

The RBC ION Visa, also free, earns 1.5 Avion points per dollar on groceries, gas, EV charging, transit, rideshare and streaming, with a welcome offer of up to 7,000 Avion points. It’s a fixed-category alternative at the same bonus rate.

Before you apply

The recommended credit score is 660 or higher, and CIBC makes the final decision based on your full credit profile. Check the current welcome offer and the list of 12 categories on the CIBC website before you apply.