Quick overview of the Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard®
The Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard® lets fans of Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Party City, Mark’s, Atmosphere, Sports Experts and other brands save big at their favourite stores with up to 4% cash back on eligible purchases. The card also provides savings on fuel at Petro-Canada and Gas+ and cash back on groceries, with no annual fee.
Who can benefit from the Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard®?
Unsurprisingly, Canadian Tire fans will most likely get the most value out of the Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard®. That’s because the card is designed to work seamlessly with the Canadian Tire Triangle® and Canadian Tire Money® (CT Money) reward structures, including up to 4% back in-store and 5 cents per litre back at Petro-Canada and Gas+ pumps. All of these stores — Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Party City, Mark’s, Atmosphere, Sports Experts — let you earn CT Money®, so it’s not just Canadian Tire you have to stick to.
Pros and cons
Pros
-
No annual fee
-
Up to 4% cash back on purchases
-
5¢ back per litre of fuel at select gas partners
Cons
-
Rewards are geared towards Canadian Tire brands
-
Existing customers note lackluster customer service support
-
Limited insurance coverage
Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard® welcome bonus
This credit card does not currently offer a welcome bonus for new accounts.
How to earn CT Money with this Canadian Tire Mastercard
The Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard® earns an impressive up to 4% cash back on purchases:
- Earn 4% cash back in Canadian Tire Money (CT Money) at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Party City, Pro Hockey Life and more
- Earn 1.5% cash back at grocery stores (up to $12,000 per year)
- Earn 0.5% back everywhere else you shop
- Save 5¢ per litre backevery time you fill up at Gas+ and Petro-Canada locations
As mentioned, the rewards with the card are generous if you stay within the Canadian Tire ecosystem. You’ll earn 4% back on purchases with nearly a dozen retailers under the Canadian Tire umbrella, which offer outdoor, hockey and clothing options.
The grocery category is equally rewarding, but there’s a limit to the fun. You’ll only earn 1.5% back at grocery stores (up to $12,000 per year), which totals $1,000 per month. That cap will suit single cardholders, but families may quickly exceed that limit, so consider your average supermarket spending before applying.
Not every grocery store qualifies, either. Larger box stores such as Costco and Walmart don’t qualify for the 1.5% cash back on groceries. But if you shop at Loblaws, you’re fine.
The straightforward savings on fuel purchases are a great feature. While reducing rewards to litres (instead of dollars spent) is frustrating, having the chance to save around $6.50 per month, based on an average of 125 litres of fuel per month.
How to redeem rewards
The Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard® earns cash-back rewards through Canadian Tire Money®, the currency of Canadian Tire Triangle Rewards. The language may be confusing, but the math works out just fine: 1% back in Canadian Tire Money equals 1 cent redeemable at Canadian Tire. When your Canadian Tire Money account reaches $1 in rewards, you’ll have $1 to spend in-store. And redeeming Canadian Tire Money is simple. You can use your balance at the checkout counter of any Canadian Tire brand location.
Key benefits of the Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard®
- $0 annual fee: One significant advantage of this card is that there’s no annual fee. While no annual fee credit cards are not uncommon in Canada, they are less common than in the United States.
- Cash back rewards: Easily the most enjoyable benefit of the Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard® is the ability to earn cash back rewards without an annual fee. You’ll earn up to 4% back with Canadian Tire brands and 5 cents back at Gas+ and Petro-Canada, two very brand-loyal categories. Fortunately, the rewards extend beyond the Canadian Tire network, with 1.5% back at grocery stores (up to $12,000 per year). And while the grocery category doesn’t include Walmart or Costco, it does include many of the biggest names like Metro, Safeway, IGA, Sobeys, Loblaws and more.
- Streamlined redemptions: The card also makes redeeming cash back a breeze. There are no confusing award options but rather a straightforward currency you can use at the counter to pay for purchases with any of the Canadian Tire brands.
Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard® insurance coverage
One of the biggest drawbacks of Canadian Tire Bank credit cards is the lack of insurance coverage. The cards provide minimal protection beyond the absolute essentials:
- Extended warranty: 1 year
- Purchase protection: 90 days
If you travel frequently or plan on renting a car while on vacation using your Canadian Tire Bank credit card, look elsewhere. But you'll barely notice if you want a no annual fee credit card that gives you accelerated cash back – and can do without the travel accident or mobile phone coverage.
Extra benefits of the Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard®
0% promotional financing
Another interesting feature is 0% promotional financing. Cardholders can opt for no fee, no interest financing for 24 months on purchases of $150 or more at participating Canadian Tire partner brands. This benefit allows you to make a significant purchase at any of the 10+ brands that make up the Canadian Tire family and then pay that charge down in 24 equal monthly payments with no additional financing charges.
Here's an example of potential equal 24 monthly payments:
- $150 purchase: Monthly payment of $6.25
- $250 purchase: Monthly payment of $10.42
- $350 purchase: Monthly payment of $14.59
- $450 purchase: Monthly payment of $18.75
Other benefits
- Weekly personalized offers: Up to 25x every week on the things you need and love across your favourite stores*
- No receipt returns: Easily make returns without a receipt at participating stores
- Triangle App access (available in the Apple App Store and Google Play stores)
- Lock your card with Card Hold should your card get stolen or misplaced
How does the Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard® compare?
Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard vs Canadian Tire Triangle World Elite
Canadian Tire Triangle® World Elite® Mastercard®
3.5
Good
Suggested credit scoreto receive the latest news, tips and offers by email
Pros
-
Flexible rewards program
-
Comes with concierge services
Cons
-
High income requirements
-
Low earn rate for non-Triangle store purchases
-
$12k earning cap on grocery category
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$80,000
Required Annual Personal Income
$150,000
Required Annual Household Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$80,000
Required Annual Household Income
$150,000
4%
back in CT Money on almost everything at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark's and more
3%
back in CT Money at grocery stores (on the first $12,000 per year; excludes Costco and Walmart)
1%
CT Money everywhere else you shop
back in CT Money on almost everything at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark's and more
4%
back in CT Money at grocery stores (on the first $12,000 per year; excludes Costco and Walmart)
3%
CT Money everywhere else you shop
1%
21.99%
Purchase APR non-Quebec residents
22.99%
Balance Transfer Rate non-Quebec residents
22.99%
Cash Advance APR non-Quebec residents
$0
Annual Fee no annual fee
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee
Purchase APR
21.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
Pros
-
Flexible rewards program
-
Comes with concierge services
Cons
-
High income requirements
-
Low earn rate for non-Triangle store purchases
-
$12k earning cap on grocery category
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$80,000
Required Annual Personal Income
$150,000
Required Annual Household Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$80,000
Required Annual Household Income
$150,000
4%
back in CT Money on almost everything at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark's and more
3%
back in CT Money at grocery stores (on the first $12,000 per year; excludes Costco and Walmart)
1%
CT Money everywhere else you shop
back in CT Money on almost everything at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark's and more
4%
back in CT Money at grocery stores (on the first $12,000 per year; excludes Costco and Walmart)
3%
CT Money everywhere else you shop
1%
21.99%
Purchase APR non-Quebec residents
22.99%
Balance Transfer Rate non-Quebec residents
22.99%
Cash Advance APR non-Quebec residents
$0
Annual Fee no annual fee
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee
Purchase APR
21.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
The most obvious comparison for the Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard® is its bigger sibling, the Canadian Tire Triangle® World Elite® Mastercard®. That card also charges no annual fee but provides much more lucrative rewards on the lower-end bonus categories, but the same rewards at Canadian Tire brands. Additionally, World Elite® cardholders can earn even more back per litre of fuel in Canadian Tire Money®.
So how do the two cards differ? The Triangle® Mastercard® targets applicants with good credit scores and a lower income. In contrast, the Canadian Tire Triangle® World Elite® Mastercard® is geared towards applicants with higher income levels and an excellent credit score.
Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard vs MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus
MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus® Mastercard®
2.6
5% cash back
Welcome offerGood
Suggested credit scoreCash Back†† on eligible gas and grocery purchases for the first 6 months (until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500)
Pros
-
Generous Welcome Bonus to earn accelerated rewards during the initial six months of account opening
-
No annual fee
-
Ongoing cash back rewards after the welcome bonus - up to 2% cash back on eligible purchases
-
Car rental discounts
-
MBNA Payment Plan: Flexible payment options for purchases over $100, which is a nice perk for budget management.
-
Purchase assurance and extended warranty
Cons
-
Monthly spend cap on the welcome bonus rewards earn rate
-
Limited reward categories
-
Potential fees for payment plan
-
No travel rewards or premium perks
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
Recommended Credit Score
Good
2%
Cash Back‡ on eligible gas and grocery purchases thereafter (until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500)
0.5%
Get 0.5% Cash Back‡ for all other eligible purchases
Cash Back‡ on eligible gas and grocery purchases thereafter (until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500)
2%
Get 0.5% Cash Back‡ for all other eligible purchases
0.5%
19.99%
Purchase APR
22.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
24.99%
Cash Advance APR
$0
Annual Fee Up to 9 additional card with no annual fee
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee 2.5% of the transaction in CDN
Purchase APR
19.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.99%
Cash Advance APR
24.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
Pros
-
Generous Welcome Bonus to earn accelerated rewards during the initial six months of account opening
-
No annual fee
-
Ongoing cash back rewards after the welcome bonus - up to 2% cash back on eligible purchases
-
Car rental discounts
-
MBNA Payment Plan: Flexible payment options for purchases over $100, which is a nice perk for budget management.
-
Purchase assurance and extended warranty
Cons
-
Monthly spend cap on the welcome bonus rewards earn rate
-
Limited reward categories
-
Potential fees for payment plan
-
No travel rewards or premium perks
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
Recommended Credit Score
Good
2%
Cash Back‡ on eligible gas and grocery purchases thereafter (until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500)
0.5%
Get 0.5% Cash Back‡ for all other eligible purchases
Cash Back‡ on eligible gas and grocery purchases thereafter (until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500)
2%
Get 0.5% Cash Back‡ for all other eligible purchases
0.5%
19.99%
Purchase APR
22.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
24.99%
Cash Advance APR
$0
Annual Fee Up to 9 additional card with no annual fee
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee 2.5% of the transaction in CDN
Purchase APR
19.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
22.99%
Cash Advance APR
24.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
The MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Mastercard is another popular $0 annual fee card option. The card earns 2% cash back on gas and groceries (with a $500 per month spend cap) and 0.5% back on all other purchases. Additionally, the MBNA credit card offers promotional financing of up to 18 months (vs. 24 months with the Canadian Tire card) on purchases of $100 or more.
Disclosures:
- ‡, ††, ✪, Terms and Conditions apply.
- This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For residents of Quebec, please click here.
- Sponsored advertising. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) and TD is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information on this MBNA credit card, please click on the “Apply Now” button.
- The Toronto-Dominion Bank is the issuer of this credit card. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ®MBNA and other-trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.
Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard vs Tangerine Money Back
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
4.0
Good
Suggested credit scoreto receive the latest news, tips and offers by email
Pros
-
No annual fee
-
Choose the spending categories where you want to earn the most cash back
-
Unlimited cash back—no maximum spending limit for any purchase category
-
Cash back is paid out monthly rather than annually
-
Periodically includes a special welcome offer where you can get extra cash back
-
1.95% interest on balance transfers for the first 6 months (1% transfer fee applies)*
Cons
-
Regular cash back rates are still lower than what you can get from a card with an annual fee
-
Limited extra perks or benefits beyond the cash back and balance transfer promotion
-
Generally not a good fit for shopping at warehouse clubs or wholesale grocers like Costco or Walmart
-
Tangerine does not have any physical bank branches
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$12,000
Required Annual Personal Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$12,000
2%
Earn 2% cash back on 2 categories of your choice (e.g. groceries, recurring bills, gas, drug stores, etc.)
3
Get a Tangerine Savings account and add a 3rd 2% cash back category.
0.5%
Earn 0.50% on all your other everyday purchases.
Earn 2% cash back on 2 categories of your choice (e.g. groceries, recurring bills, gas, drug stores, etc.)
2%
Get a Tangerine Savings account and add a 3rd 2% cash back category.
3
Earn 0.50% on all your other everyday purchases.
0.5%
19.95% - 24.95%
Variable APR
1.95%
Balance Transfer Rate 19.95%
19.95%
Cash Advance APR $3.50 within Canada, $5.00 outside Canada
$0
Annual Fee $0 for additional cardholders
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee
Variable APR
19.95% - 24.95%
Balance Transfer Rate
1.95%
Cash Advance APR
19.95%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
Pros
-
No annual fee
-
Choose the spending categories where you want to earn the most cash back
-
Unlimited cash back—no maximum spending limit for any purchase category
-
Cash back is paid out monthly rather than annually
-
Periodically includes a special welcome offer where you can get extra cash back
-
1.95% interest on balance transfers for the first 6 months (1% transfer fee applies)*
Cons
-
Regular cash back rates are still lower than what you can get from a card with an annual fee
-
Limited extra perks or benefits beyond the cash back and balance transfer promotion
-
Generally not a good fit for shopping at warehouse clubs or wholesale grocers like Costco or Walmart
-
Tangerine does not have any physical bank branches
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$12,000
Required Annual Personal Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$12,000
2%
Earn 2% cash back on 2 categories of your choice (e.g. groceries, recurring bills, gas, drug stores, etc.)
3
Get a Tangerine Savings account and add a 3rd 2% cash back category.
0.5%
Earn 0.50% on all your other everyday purchases.
Earn 2% cash back on 2 categories of your choice (e.g. groceries, recurring bills, gas, drug stores, etc.)
2%
Get a Tangerine Savings account and add a 3rd 2% cash back category.
3
Earn 0.50% on all your other everyday purchases.
0.5%
19.95% - 24.95%
Variable APR
1.95%
Balance Transfer Rate 19.95%
19.95%
Cash Advance APR $3.50 within Canada, $5.00 outside Canada
$0
Annual Fee $0 for additional cardholders
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee
Variable APR
19.95% - 24.95%
Balance Transfer Rate
1.95%
Cash Advance APR
19.95%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
The Tangerine Money-Back Card is one of the most popular no annual fee credit cards in Canada. The Tangerine Card earns an unlimited 2% back on two spending categories of your choice, with eligible options including gas, groceries, recurring bills, drugstores, public transit and more. That unlimited cash back is in sharp contrast to the Canadian Tire Card, which caps grocery rewards.
What do users say about the Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard®?
The card receives mixed reactions from cardholders. The biggest positives were for the ease of applying and availability to applicants with average credit scores. Reddit user AirSubstantial2855 noted that “it’s a great card and easy to get.”
The biggest downside with the card is Canadian Tire customer service according to reviews. One reviewer, named Brooker, had the following to say about the customer support:
Waiting on hold for customer service for over an hour is one thing. But then they got horrible elevator music playing as loud as possible, won’t do callbacks, and had a lady saying “Our representatives are busy, continue to hold” an unnecessary once every 30 seconds. With over an hour of waiting I’m ready to blow my brains out. Super annoying to deal with overall.
Other criticisms of the card include low credit limits for some users and aggressive sales tactics from Canadian Tire Bank.
Is the Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard® worth it?
The Canadian Tire Triangle® Mastercard® offers a decent range of benefits that make it worth considering for a somewhat niche audience. With no annual fee, cardholders can earn Canadian Tire Money on their everyday purchases which can then be redeemed at more than 10 different Canadian Tire brands. Additionally, the card provides access to exclusive offers and discounts, making it a valuable tool for Canadian Tire shoppers. Of course, if that doesn’t sound like you there are plenty of other appealing no annual fee credit cards offers out there.
Eligibility requirements
Applying for the Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard is simple. Applicants must be a Canadian resident, have Good credit and be of the age of majority in your province. There are no income requirements when applying.
Triangle Mastercard FAQs
Cory Santos is a finance writer, editor and credit card expert with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance. Cory joined Wise Publishing from BestCards, with bylines in numerous print and digital publications across North America, including the Miami Herald, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Debt.ca, AOL, MSN and Medium as well as financial podcasts like KOFE Talk.
Compare other popular Canadian credit cards
Compare other popular Canadian credit cards
Best credit card guides
Latest Articles
Disclaimer
The content provided on Money.ca is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter. Advertisers are not responsible for the content of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any advertiser product, please visit their website.