CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business Review

4.31

$120

Annual Fee

$618

Annual Rewards

25,000 points

Intro Offer

$120

Annual fee

$618

Annual rewards

25,000 points

Intro offer


Pros


  • Earn 2 Aventura Points per $1 spent on eligible business travel expenses
  • Earn 1.5 Aventura Points per $1 spent on eligible gas, dining, and hotel purchases
  • Earn 1 Aventura Point per $1 spent on other eligible purchases
  • Signup bonus offering 35,000 Aventura Points and a $120 travel credit for qualified new cardholders
  • Access to Visa SavingsEdge for potential discounts at partner merchants
  • Complimentary supplementary cards for employees
  • No fee for additional authorized users
  • Comprehensive insurance package, including travel emergency medical insurance and flight delay insurance

Cons


  • $180 annual fee, higher compared to some other business credit cards
  • Limited rewards program, primarily focusing on travel-related purchases
  • Not all businesses may benefit from the targeted rewards categories
  • Lower rewards earn rate on non-travel related purchases

Performance test results

At DollarWise, for each credit card we test 7 different factors including the rewards, value for money, perks, insurance, strengths and weaknesses of the card.

You can see our full testing methodology here to learn why we’re the most trusted source for credit card reviews.

The CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business has earned a 4.31 DollarWise Rating out of 5. This score is based on a weighted average of the two highest scoring factors (excluding acceptance and approval).

Rewards

Fees

Perks

Interest rates

Insurance

Acceptance

Approval

The highest scoring categories for the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business are rewards and insurance.

These factors are weighted 70% to the highest scoring factor and 30% to the second highest score to get an overall review score.

This weighting allows us to judge cards on their merits and the customers they are designed for.

For the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business the most important factors for scoring this card are its rewards and insurance.

Rewards

With the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business, here’s the rates at which you earn rewards for different spending categories per dollar you spend:

Bills1 point
Pharmacy1 point
Gas1.50 points
Groceries1 point
Restaurants1 point
Specific Stores2 points
Travel1.50 points
All Other Spend1 point

Calculating your annual rewards

We estimate that spending $2,000 per month with the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business would earn $618 in rewards over the year.

Our performance testing research uses an accurate estimation of the average Canadian households spending patterns to predict the rewards a card will earn.

We found that you’d earn this per category:

Gas$82
Specific Stores$55
Travel$41
All Other Spend$440

Our study investigating the value found that each dollar spent on the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business is worth up to $0.02, depending on how you redeem.

This $618 in rewards value puts the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business in the top 20% of credit cards in Canada based on rewards earned.

The average credit card in our database earns $337 in rewards for the same spend that the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business earns $618 in rewards value.

We can compare this card to other options by looking at the earn rate by category.

This earn rate is the percentage return that you would get when you spend on this card, assuming you redeem at the predicted maximum value.

For example, if a card earned 5 points per dollar on gas and each point is worth up to $0.02, then the earn rate is 5 points multiplied by $0.02 each, divided by the dollar you spent.

In this example, that’s a 10% earn rate on gas.

SpendThis CardAverage
Bills2.29%1.25%
Pharmacy2.29%1.17%
Gas3.44%1.48%
Groceries2.29%1.71%
Restaurant2.29%1.53%
Store4.58%1.94%
Travel3.44%1.19%
Other2.29%1.08%
Above, we’ve calculated the earn rate for the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business for every spend category and compared it to the average for all Canadian credit cards.
Redemption methodAnnual rewards
Redeem for travel$270
Apply to statement credit$224
Charity$270
Gift cards$192
Merchandise$192
Airlines Rewards (Charts)$618
CIBC financial products$224

For an annual spend of $24,000, we estimated annual rewards value at up to $618.

That’s equivalent to a 2.58% return on spending.

The CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business has an annual fee of $120. After deducting this, we predicted net annual rewards of $498.

This puts it in the top 10% of credit cards for net rewards after fees.

In comparison, the average card earns net annual rewards of $254.

Fees

The CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business has a $120 annual fee.

The average card charges $85. So, the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business is in the top 30% of cards based on the cost of the annual fee.

Perks

We manually review the perks of each credit card to determine how they compare to other cards.

The CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business scored a 2.2 out of 5 for perks, putting it in the top 30% of cards.

The average card scores 1.6 out of 5 for perks.

Interest Rates

Purchase19.99%
Cash Advance21.99%
Balance Transfer21.99%

The average (median) credit card has a purchase interest rate of 19.99% and so the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business charges {{purchase_interest_diff}} than the average.

For cash advances it costs 21.99% compared to the average of 19.96%.

Testing the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business with a $2,000 starting balance, you can see in the graph how the {{purchase_interest_diff}} in interest rates impacts the interest over a year, compared to the average card.

Insurance coverage

InsuranceThis CardAverage
Extended Warranty1 year1 year
Purchase Protection90 days90 days
Travel Accident$500,000$500,000
Trip Cancellation$1,000$1,500
Trip Interruption$2,000$2,000
Flight Delay$500$500
Baggage Delay$500$500
Rental Car Theft & DamageYesNo

We scored it 4.1 out of 5 for insurance.

It offers 8 types of insurance, whereas the average card has 5 types of coverage.

Approval and qualifying

Do I qualify?
Estimated Credit Score760 – 900
Personal Income$35,000
Household Income$0
Fees
Annual Fee$120
Extra Card Fee$0
Card typeVisa

We scored it 2.5 out of 5 for approval.

We predict that you will require a credit score of at least 760 to qualify for the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business, while the average card requires 652 to qualify.

This puts it in the top top 10% of cards by approval difficulty.

The personal income requirements are $35,000, while the average card requires $23,896.

This puts it in the top 30% of cards by the income required to qualify.

The BMO Cashback World Elite MasterCard is a popular cash back BMO credit card in Canada offering rewards and various benefits to cardholders. Its earning potential, benefits, and drawbacks are laid out below.

Earning potential

With the BMO Cashback World Elite MasterCard, cardholders earn 1.5% cash back on all their purchases, with no limits or categories. This consistent cash back rate simplifies earning rewards, allowing users to accumulate cash back at the same rate across dining, travel, grocery, and other spending.

Benefits

  1. Insurance Coverage: This card offers a comprehensive travel insurance package, including travel medical insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and car rental collision/loss damage waiver. This coverage provides peace of mind for cardholders while travelling.
  2. Complimentary Roadside Assistance: Cardholders enjoy complimentary membership to the Dominion Automobile Association (DAA), which gives BMO Cashback World Elite MasterCard users access to valuable roadside assistance benefits in case of emergencies on the road.
  3. BMO Concierge Service: As a cardholder, you have access to the BMO Concierge Service. This exclusive service allows you to make travel arrangements, restaurant reservations, and more with just a call to their dedicated phone line, offering convenience and luxury.
  4. Airport Lounge Access: This card gives cardholders exclusive access to MasterCard Airport Experiences provided by LoungeKey, which can help make travelling more enjoyable with access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide (fees apply per lounge visit).

Drawbacks

  1. Annual Fee: The BMO Cashback World Elite MasterCard has an annual fee of CAD$120, which may be a drawback for users who are budget-conscious or who don’t spend enough to offset this with earned cash back rewards.
  2. Required Income: To be eligible for this card, users must have a minimum personal income of CAD$80,000 (or a minimum household income of CAD$150,000). This requirement can be a significant barrier for individuals who do not meet this income threshold.

Additional information

New cardholders can benefit from a welcome offer of 5% cash back on all purchases (up to CAD$2,500 spending) for the first 3 months. The BMO Cashback World Elite MasterCard also comes with additional purchase protection, such as extended warranty and purchase protection.

This extra layer of security increases its value for consumers who are seeking a reliable and well-rounded cash back credit card.

Interested in other credit cards? Canadians that like the BMO Cashback World Elite MasterCard credit card also like the BMO Rewards MasterCard. If you’re looking for other options you should consider the BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite Card, and the BMO Preferred Rate MasterCard.

FAQ

The BMO Cashback World Elite MasterCard allows you to redeem your accumulated cashback rewards in multiple ways. Here are your redemption options:

  • Statement Credit: You can redeem your cashback as a credit applied directly to your account balance, reducing your credit card balance owed.
  • InvestorLine Account: You can choose to deposit your cashback into your BMO InvestorLine account if you have one, contributing to your investment growth.
  • Bank Account: Another option is to redeem your cashback rewards as a deposit into a BMO chequing or savings account, allowing you to spend or save the money as you please.
  • Mortgage Payments: If you have a BMO mortgage, you can opt to apply your cashback rewards towards your mortgage payments, contributing to paying off your mortgage more quickly.
  • Travel Bookings: For travel enthusiasts, you can use your cashback to book flights, hotels, or other travel-related expenses through the BMO Rewards Travel Centre.
  • Charitable Donations: If you wish to support a good cause, you can donate your cashback to a registered charity of your choice.

Please note that redemptions can be made at any time with no minimum cashback threshold and no expiration date on the earned rewards. This offers greater flexibility and control over your rewards utilization.

The BMO Cashback World Elite MasterCard credit card does charge foreign transaction fees. Specifically, cardholders can expect a foreign transaction fee of 2.5% on all purchases made outside of Canada or in foreign currencies. This fee applies to both online and in-person transactions that involve currency conversion.

The BMO Cashback World Elite MasterCard credit card has a minimum annual income requirement of $80,000 for individuals or a combined household income of at least $150,000.

Key benefits

  • Earn 5% cashback during your first three months, up to $100 in total rewards
  • 1.5% cashback rate with no caps on everyday purchases
  • Enjoy 4 complimentary Mastercard Airport Experience visits yearly
  • Access to a 24/7 concierge service for personalized assistance
  • Protection with extended warranty and purchase protection benefits
  • AVIS and Budget car rental discounts up to 25%
  • Out-of-Province/Country emergency medical coverage for trips up to 8 days
  • Delayed or lost baggage, personal effects, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance options
  • Worldwide common carrier accident protection and travel emergency medical insurance
  • Roadside support available through a complimentary membership in BMO Roadside Assistance
  • 1.99% APR on balance transfers for 9 months (3% transfer fee), then 22.99% APR applies
  • 19.99% annual interest rate on purchases
  • Expedited security line access at select Canadian airports with Mastercard®*Valet™ airport service

The CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business is designed to cater to the needs of business owners by offering competitive reward rates and additional benefits. Here is an in-depth review of this credit card, taking into consideration its earning potential, major advantages, drawbacks, and other relevant information.

Earning potential:

With the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business, cardholders can earn valuable Aventura Points for various spending categories. Users gain 2 points for every $1 spent on travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Centre, 1.5 points per $1 for eligible gas station, office supply store, and cellphone/internet bill payments, and 1 point per $1 for all other spending.

Benefits

  1. Benefit: One of the major advantages of this card is its comprehensive travel insurance offering. Cardholders can enjoy trip cancellation/interruption coverage, flight delay coverage, lost or stolen baggage coverage, car rental collision/damage coverage, and so on.
  2. Benefit: Another significant benefit is the variable annual interest rate of 12.99%. This lower-than-average interest rate can help in managing balances over time and ultimately save on interest charges compared to cards with higher rates.
  3. Benefit: The Aventura Points earned through the card can be easily redeemed for travel, accommodations, and vacation packages with no blackout dates. Users can also redeem their points for gift cards, merchandise, or statement credits.
  4. Benefit: CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business offers exclusive access to individual airport lounges via Priority Pass membership. Additionally, cardholders receive a credit of up to $550 CAD for lounge visits outside Canada.

Drawbacks

  1. Drawback: A notable drawback of this card is the annual fee of $120. Although the card offers an extensive list of benefits, the annual fee may deter some business owners from choosing this option.
  2. Drawback: Another significant drawback is that the bonus earn rate for travel purchases applies only to bookings made through the CIBC Rewards Centre. Some users might prefer shopping for travel deals with different providers, which would result in a lower reward rate on those purchases.

Additional information

 CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business users can also take advantage of customized financial reporting tools and features designed to organize and simplify expenses. Additionally, cardholders can integrate with popular accounting software like QuickBooks and Intuit for seamless expense tracking.

In conclusion, the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business is a solid choice for business owners looking for competitive rewards, robust travel insurance coverage, and added travel perks. However, the annual fee and limitations on the bonus earn rate for travel purchases may dissuade some potential users from choosing this card.

Not the right fit? You could consider the RBC Visa Business Platinum Avion. Or, if you’re looking for other options check out the Visa Desjardins Business Card, and the BMO Cashback Business MasterCard.

FAQ

With the CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business, cardholders can redeem their accumulated Aventura Points for a variety of rewards, including:

  • Flights: You can redeem your points for flights with numerous airlines through the Aventura Travel Assistant, giving you the flexibility to choose your preferred airline and route.
  • Travel Packages: Redeem your points for all-inclusive travel packages, offering accommodation and transportation for a seamless travel experience.
  • Hotel Stays: Use your points to book hotel stays at various properties around the world, ensuring a comfortable place to rest during your travels.
  • Car Rentals: Redeem points for car rentals, enabling you to secure transportation during your trips with ease.
  • Merchandise: Use your Aventura Points for a wide range of merchandise, including electronics, appliances, home goods, and more.
  • Gift Cards: Redeem points for gift cards from popular retailers and restaurants, giving you more options for shopping and dining.
  • Experiences: Utilize your points for unique experiences, such as concerts, spa treatments, and other leisure activities.
  • Financial Products: Use your points to contribute to select CIBC financial products, like mortgages, or to pay down your credit card balance.
  • Donations: You can also choose to donate your Aventura Points to select charitable organizations.

The CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business charges a foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency. This fee is typically 2.5% of the converted transaction amount, which is added on top of the exchange rate.

Keep in mind that this fee applies not only to purchases made overseas, but also to online transactions billed in a non-Canadian currency.

The CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business does not have a specified minimum income requirement to be eligible for the card.

Key benefits

  • Dual-tier rewards system tailored for travel, gas, dining, and hotel purchases
  • Attractive signup bonus with 35,000 Aventura Points grant and $120 travel stipend
  • Visa SavingsEdge access for exclusive merchant partnerships and savings opportunities
  • Complimentary employee card issuance for seamless expense management
  • Zero authorized user charges, promotes additional card distribution
  • Extensive insurance suite covering diverse travel-related incidents and emergencies
  • Standard annual fee of $180 may deter budget-conscious establishments
  • Rewards program concentration on travel spending lacks versatility for non-travel-leaning businesses
  • Niche rewards categories restricts lucrative points accumulation for some users
  • Diminished earning power in non-travel expense categories necessitates careful card usage consideration

About The Author