BMO CashBack Mastercard
Grocery-heavy spending and a welcome bonus make this a practical no-fee pick for household budgets.
Supermarket runs and automatic bill payments are the focus of the BMO CashBack Mastercard, a no-annual-fee card from one of Canada’s big banks.
Consider it if food shopping is the largest line in your budget and you have subscriptions or utilities on pre-authorized payments. It is aimed at that routine, not at big-ticket or travel spending.
The headline numbers are 3% on groceries, 1% on recurring bills and up to $125 as a new-cardholder bonus.
Why is the BMO CashBack Mastercard worth it?
Cash back is only as good as the share of your spending it covers. Here the covered share is intentionally narrow, which keeps the top rates higher but means your results depend on where your money actually goes.
Advantages
- Holding the card costs $0 per year
- Earn 3% at eligible grocery stores, on the first $500 of each billing cycle
- Earn 1% on recurring bill payments
- New cardholders can earn 5% on qualified spending during the welcome period, up to $125 in cash back
- Mastercard acceptance, with BMO as the issuer
Disadvantages
- Only the first $500 of monthly groceries gets the 3% rate, and certain retailers (convenience and general merchandise stores) do not count as groceries
- Everything else you buy earns just 0.5%
- A 20.99% purchase rate makes it a poor choice for carrying debt
Important notice: this content is informational and based on official sources. We do not act as a financial intermediary.
Inside the BMO CashBack Mastercard
BMO is the issuer and Mastercard is the network. Rewards are sorted into tiers by spending type, with groceries first, recurring bills second and the 0.5% base rate for other eligible purchases.
The welcome bonus follows the same tiers. BMO applies the 5% rate to as much as $2,500 of qualified spending, split into $500 for groceries, $500 for recurring bills and $1,500 for other purchases, which gives the $125 ceiling.
Key information
- Bank: BMO
- Network: Mastercard
- Yearly fee: $0
- Groceries: 3% (first $500 per billing cycle)
- Recurring bills: 1%
- Everything else eligible: 0.5%
- Sign-up bonus: 5% on up to $2,500 of qualified spending, up to $125
- Purchase APR: 20.99%
Last updated: 01/10/2026
Digital platform: BMO online banking
We could not confirm the card’s mobile app features from BMO’s product page, so we do not promise any. BMO’s online banking is where you should check account tools after approval.
Who is the BMO CashBack Mastercard ideal for?
A shopper who buys groceries weekly, keeps bills on autopay and pays the balance in full every month will get the most from this card.
People who spread spending across dining, travel and online shopping, or who regularly revolve a balance, are better served elsewhere.
Common questions
Does the BMO CashBack Mastercard have a yearly fee?
No, the annual fee is $0.
Which groceries earn the 3% rate?
Eligible grocery purchases up to $500 per billing cycle. Stores such as convenience and general merchandise retailers are excluded and earn the base rate.
How is the welcome bonus calculated?
BMO pays 5% on up to $2,500 of qualified spending during the welcome period, and the bonus cannot exceed $125.
Is the BMO CashBack Mastercard a good option?
It works best as a no-fee card for people whose spending is mostly groceries and bills. Its limits are the monthly grocery cap, a modest base rate and an interest rate of 20.99%.
Open the full details page to see requirements, application steps and how to reach BMO.
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