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Scotiabank is changing how rent and tax payments earn cash back across its Scotia Momentum credit cards. Beginning October 22, 2026, these transactions will no longer qualify for accelerated recurring bill payment rates and will instead earn each card’s regular purchase rate.
For cardholders using third-party payment platforms, this will change the math on several popular bill payment strategies. We’ve long recommended pairing the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + with Chexy because its 4% cash back more than offsets Chexy’s 1.75% fee, leaving a 2.25% net return even without referrals. However, Chexy is only one example, as the change will also affect services such as Casa and Neobanc when transactions code as rent or taxes.
Scotiabank Updates Its Recurring Payment Categories
Effective October 22, 2026, rental payments under Merchant Category Code 6513 and tax payments under Merchant Category Code 9311 will no longer qualify for Scotiabank’s accelerated recurring bill payment rates. Instead, they will earn each card’s regular purchase rate:
- Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + Card: 1%
- Scotia Momentum Visa Card: 1%
- Scotia Momentum Visa No-Fee Card: 0.5%
- Scotia Momentum for Business Visa Card: 1%
Although Scotiabank’s notice specifically refers to rental and tax payments, Chexy transactions made with these cards currently fall under MCC 6513. That means the change is expected to apply to all Chexy payments, regardless of payment type.
Chexy
In other words, the 4% Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + and Chexy pairing ends on October 22.
The card will continue to earn 4% on eligible groceries and eligible recurring bill payments, subject to its $25,000 annual spending cap.
The Impact Goes Beyond Chexy
The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+ and Chexy pairing has always come down to simple math. On a $2,000 payment, 4% cash back produces $80 against a $35 Chexy fee, leaving $45 in net cash back. After October 22, the card will earn only $20, leaving a net cost of $15.
At Chexy’s standard 1.75% fee, using this card solely to earn cash back will no longer make sense. A 1% referral fee only gets you to the break-even point, while users paying the lowest 0.5% fee can still earn a modest 0.5% net return.
However, this is not a Chexy-specific change. Scotiabank is excluding rental payments under MCC 6513 and tax payments under MCC 9311, regardless of which service processes the transaction. Card-funded rent and tax payments through platforms such as Casa and Neobanc will also lose the accelerated rate when they post under those codes.
For example, using the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite + through Casa carries the same standard 1.75% fee, producing the same 0.75% net loss. Casa’s separate fee-free ScotiaGold Passport Visa arrangement is unaffected.
With Neobanc, the 1.5% fee includes 1% Neobanc cash back, resulting in an effective cost of 0.5%. Earning 1% from Scotiabank would still yield a 0.5% net return, but that assumes we value Neobanc cash back at full face value.
Takeaway
Nothing changes until October 22, so the current accelerated earning rates remain available for now. After that date, rent and tax payments coded under MCC 6513 or 9311 will earn each card’s regular purchase rate, whether you use Chexy, Casa, Neobanc, or another payment service.
Going forward, compare the card’s regular earn rate with the platform’s processing fee after any discounts, its own cash back, and the value of any welcome bonus or spending threshold you’re working toward. If the total return does not outweigh the cost, use a different card or pay the bill directly.
