The Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard is a no-fee rewards card that pays cash back on restaurants, entertainment, alternative transportation, and pre-authorized payments. With no annual fee for the primary card or additional cardholders, it’s a straightforward entry point into Desjardins’ rewards lineup.
Cash back builds up automatically and can be redeemed once you’ve accumulated at least $25, making it easy to see a return without a long wait.
Because there’s no annual fee, this card works well as a simple, no-cost complement to a premium travel card, picking up cash back on categories the premium card might not reward as generously.
Who This Card Makes Sense For
This card is a good fit if you:
- Spend regularly on restaurants, entertainment, or transit, where the 2% rate applies
- Have several pre-authorized bill payments you’d like to earn cash back on
- Want a no-fee card without giving up meaningful cash back potential
- Are already a Desjardins member and want to add a rewards card at no extra cost
It’s a weaker fit if you:
- Spend more than $3,600 a year in the bonus categories, since the rate drops to 0.5% past that cap
- Spend mostly in categories outside restaurants, entertainment, transit, and pre-authorized payments
- Want built-in travel insurance for longer trips, since coverage here is limited
Eligibility and Documents Needed
Desjardins doesn’t publish a specific minimum income figure for this card. During the application, you’ll need to provide valid identification, employment details, gross income, and housing costs, along with general financial information.
Because there’s no annual fee at stake, approval criteria for this card tend to be more accessible than Desjardins’ premium travel cards. Existing Desjardins members may find the application faster since some financial details could already be on file.
How to Apply
You can apply online, by phone at 1-877-847-8472, or request a callback from Desjardins. A specific approval or delivery timeline isn’t published on the main product page.
Fees and Conditions
The numbers that matter most:
- Annual fee: $0
- Additional cardholder fee: $0
- Purchase interest rate: 20.9%
- Cash advance rate: 21.9%
Cash back rates depend on category, and two of them share the same annual cap:
- Up to 2% on restaurants, on the first $3,600 spent annually, then 0.5%
- 2% on entertainment
- 2% on alternative transportation
- Up to 2% on pre-authorized payments, on the first $3,600 spent annually, then 0.5%
- 0.5% on all other purchases
Because restaurants and pre-authorized payments share the same $3,600 cap structure, someone who maxes out both categories could earn up to $144 a year from those two alone, on top of whatever entertainment and transportation spending adds. Streaming subscriptions, gym memberships, and insurance premiums paid automatically all typically qualify as pre-authorized payments, which makes that category easier to max out than it might first appear.
The card includes:
- Travel insurance for trips up to 3 days, with emergency medical coverage up to $5 million per person
- Mobile device insurance up to $1,000
- Purchase protection for 90 days plus extended warranty that doubles the manufacturer’s warranty
- Car rental discounts of up to 15% at Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar
The built-in travel insurance only covers trips up to 3 days, which is short compared to premium travel cards — if you take longer trips, you’d need separate coverage or a card with a more comprehensive policy. Cash advances are capped at $2,500 daily, and the card gives you a 21-day grace period on purchases before interest applies.
Desjardins also offers optional Credit Balance Insurance on this card, which can cover your minimum payments or pay down your balance under certain circumstances. It’s an add-on rather than something included automatically, so weigh the extra cost against what similar protection would cost through another provider.
Since there’s no annual fee holding this card back, it’s worth comparing it against Desjardins’ fee-based cards if your spending regularly clears the $3,600 category caps — at that point, a card with higher uncapped rates or a broader bonus category list might earn more overall, even after accounting for its annual fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a minimum amount before I can redeem cash back?
Yes, you need at least $25 accumulated in cash back before you can redeem it.
What happens once I exceed the $3,600 category cap?
Spending in the restaurant and pre-authorized payment categories drops from 2% to 0.5% once you exceed $3,600 in a calendar year in that category.
Is there an annual fee for additional cardholders?
No. Additional cards on this account carry no annual fee.
How long does the included travel insurance last?
The built-in coverage applies to trips up to 3 days. Longer trips would need separate insurance.
What’s the daily limit on cash advances?
$2,500 per day. Cash advances start accruing interest immediately, unlike regular purchases, which benefit from the 21-day grace period.
