Overview
The BMO eclipse Rise Visa is BMO's no-annual-fee entry point into the eclipse card family — and it's surprisingly generous for a free card. It earns 5x BMO Rewards points per $2 spent on the categories most Canadians spend the most on: recurring bill payments, groceries, dining, and takeout. On everything else, you earn 1 point per $2.
At $0/year with no income requirement, this card is built for everyday spenders who want to rack up points without paying for the privilege. The up to 25,000-point welcome bonus (20,000 after spending $1,500 in the first 3 months, plus up to 5,000 annual bonus points) gives you a solid head start, and BMO Rewards points can be redeemed for travel bookings, statement credits via Pay with Points, or contributions to a BMO savings or investment account.
The eclipse Rise Visa also comes with a few lifestyle perks: free Instacart+ for 3 months with a $5 monthly credit, a free BMO PaySmart plan every 2 years to break a large purchase into monthly payments, and Credit Coach for 24/7 credit score monitoring. It's not a premium card — there's no travel insurance or lounge access — but as a $0/year earning card, it punches above its weight in the bonus categories.
Welcome Offer
BMO is offering a strong welcome bonus for a no-fee card:
- 20,000 BMO Rewards points after spending $1,500 in the first 3 months
- 0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 9 months (2% transfer fee applies)
On top of the welcome bonus, you can earn up to 5,000 bonus points every year:
- 2,500 points for paying your full credit card balance on time for 12 consecutive months
- 2,500 points for redeeming at least 12,000 points annually towards your statement balance with Pay with Points (just 1,000 points per month)
How to Earn
The BMO eclipse Rise Visa uses a tiered earning structure based on spending category:
| Category | Earn Rate |
|---|---|
| Recurring bill payments | 5 points per $2 spent |
| Groceries | 5 points per $2 spent |
| Dining | 5 points per $2 spent |
| Takeout & food delivery | 5 points per $2 spent |
| All other purchases | 1 point per $2 spent |
The 5x rate on bonus categories is effectively 2.5 points per $1 — which translates to roughly 1.67% back in travel value at BMO's standard redemption rate of 150 points = $1 for travel. On the base 1-point-per-$2 categories, the return drops to about 0.33%.
How to Redeem
BMO Rewards points are flexible and can be redeemed for:
- Travel — flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages with any travel provider
- Pay with Points — apply points directly to statement purchases (gas, groceries, dining, etc.)
- Savings & investments — redeem points as a contribution to a BMO savings or investment account
- Merchandise — browse the BMO Rewards online catalogue
Additional Perks
- Instacart+ — 3 months free plus a $5 monthly Instacart credit
- BMO PaySmart — one free plan for a purchase up to $1,000 every 2 years
- Credit Coach — free 24/7 credit score monitoring with no impact to your score
- Lock/unlock card — instantly lock your card from the BMO app if misplaced
Who Is This Card For?
The BMO eclipse Rise Visa is ideal for:
- Canadians who want a no-annual-fee card that earns bonus points on everyday spending
- Anyone who spends heavily on groceries, dining, takeout, or recurring bills
- Those new to credit or looking for a starter rewards card with no income requirement
- People interested in the BMO Rewards ecosystem who want to start earning before upgrading to the eclipse Visa Infinite
Bottom Line
The BMO eclipse Rise Visa is one of the better no-fee rewards cards in Canada if your spending leans heavily into groceries, dining, and bills. The 5x earning rate on those categories (per $2) is competitive, the 25,000-point welcome bonus is generous for a free card, and the annual bonus incentive for on-time payments adds a nice loyalty kicker. Just keep in mind that the base earn rate on non-bonus categories is thin, and BMO Rewards points aren't as valuable per point as airline loyalty currencies. If you want more earning power across the board or need travel insurance, consider stepping up to the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite or BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard.
