BMO Launches Escape Credit Card With Generous Bonus Categories and Decent Benefits

BMO has launched the BMO Escape Credit Card with Mastercard, a new option for travelers looking to earn more points on everyday spending. With benefits like hotel credits, lounge access, and bonus points on popular travel and dining categories, the card could be an intriguing option for those who already hold several cards from the major issuers.

Here’s what you need to know about this new offering.

BMO Escape Credit Card Welcome Bonus

With the BMO Escape card, you can earn 45,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Through the BMO FlexRewards catalogue, these 45,000 points are generally worth about $450 toward travel, though redemptions can also be made for gift cards, shopping, or statement credits at a similar value. That effectively gives you a 9% return on your first $5,000 in spending — just from the welcome bonus alone.

Because the points can be used for both travel and everyday expenses, the bonus offers flexibility — whether you want to put it toward a hotel stay, a short-haul flight, or simply offset some upcoming purchases.

BMO Escape Card Earning Rates and Benefits

The BMO Escape card is built for travelers who want to earn points fast in popular everyday spending categories. Here’s the breakdown:

• 4x points on U.S. dining and airfare (up to $3,000 per quarter)
• 3x points on hotels, cruises, tours, and travel agencies (up to $3,000 per quarter)
• 2x points on car rentals, taxis, and rideshares (up to $3,000 per quarter)
• 1x points on everything else, with no limit to annual earnings

On top of that, the card comes with a suite of travel perks designed to make your trips smoother:

• Up to $240 in hotel statement credits annually
• Priority Pass membership
• Rebates for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fees
• No foreign transaction fees

All points flow into BMO FlexRewards, letting you redeem for travel, gift cards, shopping, or statement credits.

One thing to note: As of the time of writing, you can only apply for the BMO Escape card in person at a BMO branch, so plan accordingly if you’re interested.

While the 2x, 3x, and 4x bonus categories are capped at $3,000 per calendar quarter, that’s more than enough for most travelers. For those frequently on the road, this card could be highly rewarding, letting you rack up points quickly on flights, hotels, dining, and other travel expenses.

The card has a $150 annual fee, but with the welcome bonus, accelerated points earnings, and travel perks, the first year alone delivers significant value. Using the annual hotel credit and lounge membership in years 2 and beyond should justify the ongoing annual fee.

Final Thoughts

The new BMO Escape card is a solid option for travelers who rack up points on flights, hotels, travel expenses, and dining. With a generous welcome bonus, flexible redemptions through FlexRewards, and travel perks like lounge access and hotel credits, it’s an impressive offering worth considering for those frequently on the road.