Discover why Home Trust Preferred Visa is winning over Canadians who know how to save.

Home Trust Preferred Visa has been gaining prominence in the Canadian market as one of the most advantageous credit card options for those seeking convenience, savings, and financial freedom.

In a landscape where most cards impose steep annual fees and charge foreign transaction fees for international transactions, this alternative presents itself as a real relief for the consumer’s wallet.

With a simple cashback system, zero annual fee, and total exemption from fees on purchases abroad, Home Trust Preferred Visa promises to transform the credit card experience — whether it’s for everyday purchases, international travel, or those well‑known online purchases from foreign sites.

Throughout this article, you will discover why this card has been gaining more and more ground among Canadians, understand its main differentiators, learn its benefits in depth, and evaluate whether it is the right choice for your financial profile.

What is Home Trust Preferred Visa?

Home Trust Preferred Visa is a credit card aimed at those who seek control, savings, and flexibility in their everyday finances.

Unlike most cards available on the market, it does not charge an annual fee and waives foreign transaction fees for international purchases — something particularly relevant for those who travel often, shop on foreign websites, or subscribe to international services.

But the attractions don’t stop there. The card also offers a simple and effective rewards system, with 1% cashback on all qualified purchases, with no cap on accumulation. That means you get back a portion of what you spend, month after month, in an automatic and transparent way.

More than a payment tool, Home Trust Preferred Visa is a smart option for anyone who wants to optimize spending without sacrificing convenience or security.

Key Benefits of Home Trust Preferred Visa

1. Total Annual Fee Waiver

One of the greatest attractions of Home Trust Preferred Visa is the complete absence of an annual fee. You can apply for the card, use it regularly, and never be charged simply for having it in your wallet.

In a market where annual fees can range from $50 to over $150 per year, this represents considerable savings, especially over the long term.

This benefit makes the card accessible to a broader audience, including those who are building their financial life in Canada or want a backup card without straining the budget.

2. No Foreign Transaction Fees

Another powerful differentiator is the elimination of currency conversion fees, known as foreign transaction fees. Normally, these fees hover around 2.5% to 3% of the purchase amount and are automatically applied when you make transactions in currencies different from the Canadian dollar.

Home Trust Preferred Visa completely waives that charge. In other words, you pay exactly the amount converted at Visa’s official rate, with no hidden markups.

This can lead to significant savings over the year, especially for those who frequently make online purchases from foreign sites, such as Amazon.com, or travel internationally often.

3. Simple and Unlimited Cashback

For every qualified purchase, you receive 1% of the amount spent back — and best of all: there’s no cap on how much you can accumulate. There are no special categories, nor a need to activate certain spending types to get the rewards. That makes the cashback program extremely accessible and functional.

Although purchases in foreign currency do not accumulate cashback, all other expenses made in Canada — such as groceries, pharmacies, transportation, fuel, and entertainment — contribute to increasing the amount returned to the cardholder.

This simple, straightforward rewards model is ideal for those who want financial returns without dealing with complex point programs or rotating categories.

4. Purchase Security and Protection

Beyond financial benefits, the Home Trust Preferred Visa also offers important consumer protection features. Among them is the zero liability policy, which ensures the cardholder is not held responsible for fraudulent transactions or unauthorized purchases made with the card number.

The card also includes purchase protection insurance, covering eligible items against theft or accidental damage for up to 90 days after purchase. This benefit is especially useful for those who frequently buy electronics, higher‑value goods, or shop from online retailers, as it adds extra peace of mind.

5. International Acceptance and Convenience

As a Visa‑branded card, Home Trust Preferred Visa is accepted in over 200 countries and territories around the world. This makes it ideal for travel, whether for leisure or business, with the assurance that you will have a secure and reliable means of payment almost anywhere.

The card is also enabled for use with digital wallets, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, allowing fast and contactless payments.

Contactless technology is already widely available in stores, restaurants, pharmacies, and even public transportation across Canada, and Home Trust Visa keeps up with that evolution.

6. Guaranteed Hotel Reservation

Another noteworthy feature is the possibility to place guaranteed hotel reservations, even if check‑in is delayed. That means that by using the card to guarantee your stay, your room will be held for you even if you arrive later than expected. That extra security is a big plus for frequent travelers.

7. Full Online Management

Card management can be done entirely online through Home Trust’s portal. You can check your balance, monitor transactions, download statements, make payments, and update personal information — all with just a few clicks.

This functionality offers control and convenience, especially for those who prefer to handle everything digitally.

Who is Home Trust Preferred Visa Best Suited For?

This card is ideal for a consumer profile that values convenience, savings, and transparency. If you make frequent everyday purchases, use international services, or travel regularly, Home Trust Preferred Visa can be an excellent choice.

It also serves well for those looking for a secondary card for specific situations such as travel or international shopping, since there is no annual fee and active usage is not required to keep it alive.

On the other hand, if you’re seeking cards with robust mileage programs, full travel insurance, or airport lounge access, you might consider premium cards that are typically tied to higher annual fees.

What to Consider Before Applying

Although it is a highly competitive card, it’s important to assess some caveats before applying for Home Trust Preferred Visa:

• Purchases in foreign currency do not earn cashback, even though there is no foreign transaction fee. This limits financial returns to purchases made within Canada.
• Interest rates are high if you don’t pay the full statement balance by the due date. Thus, it’s ideal for those who tend to settle their balance in full every month.
• The card is not available to residents of the province of Québec, which restricts its access to part of the Canadian population.
• There may be limits on the number of daily transactions, a factor to consider if you use the card very frequently.

These points do not undermine the quality of the card, but they help define whether it truly suits your financial profile.

How to Apply for the Card

Applying for Home Trust Preferred Visa is a simple, fully online process and can be done in just a few minutes. However, to increase your chances of approval and ensure a smooth experience, it’s important to understand all the steps and prepare ahead. See the complete step‑by‑step guide below:

Check that you meet the basic eligibility requirements

Firstly, you must confirm that you satisfy the eligibility criteria set by Home Trust. The main ones are:

• Be a permanent resident of Canada;Have reached the legal age in your province (usually 18 or 19, depending on the region);Have a minimum annual income of CAD 15,000;Not be undergoing bankruptcy or have a recent insolvency history;Not reside in the province of Québec, since the card is not available there.

If you meet these criteria, you can proceed to the next step.

Gather personal and financial information

Before starting the application, it’s recommended to have the following on hand:

• Full name and date of birth;Social Insurance Number (optional but can help with credit assessment);Complete address and proof of residence;Valid phone number and email address;Information about your annual income, current employer (if applicable), and overall financial situation;Banking details (useful for future payments, though not mandatory at the time of application).

This information will be used to verify your identity, assess your payment capacity, and set your initial credit limit.

Access the online application form

With everything prepared, visit the official Home Trust website and go to the credit cards section, where you will find the page for Home Trust Preferred Visa.

Click on the “Apply Now” button to begin filling out the form.

During this process, you’ll complete various fields with the information described above. The system may request additional documents such as:

• Proof of income (bank statement, payslip, or tax return);
• A copy of your ID (passport, driver’s license, or other official document);
• Proof of address (recent utility bill or lease agreement).

These documents are required to confirm your identity and validate eligibility, especially if your credit history is limited or recent.

Agree to the terms and submit your application

At the end of the form, you will need to review the card’s terms and conditions, which include interest rates in case the balance is not paid in full, the cashback policy, and other standard contractual clauses.

Read everything carefully. If you agree, check the consent box and click “Submit”.

After submission, you will receive a confirmation email stating that your application has been received. From there, your request will go through a credit review.

Await review and the decision

The assessment of your application may take several business days. Timing can vary depending on the volume of applications and complexity of your financial situation. Usually, the decision arrives via email, but Home Trust may sometimes contact you by phone to clarify information or request additional documentation.

If approved, you will receive:

• A confirmation email with approval details;
• The physical card sent to your address, usually within 7 to 10 business days.

Activate your card and start using it

Once the card arrives, you will need to activate it before making any purchases. This can be done by phone or through the online platform of Home Trust, following the instructions provided with the card.

During this process, you may:

• Create your online account for card management;
• Link the card with your digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay);
• Monitor your initial transactions and cashback accumulation.

Conclusion: Is it Worth Applying for Home Trust Preferred Visa?

Home Trust Preferred Visa stands out by combining simplicity and real benefits in a single card. No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and direct cashback— it positions itself as a modern and accessible alternative for those who want to avoid excessive fees without giving up on security, convenience, and rewards.

Whether as your main card or as a complementary option for international purchases and travel bookings, it delivers a consistent experience with no unpleasant surprises on your statement. And the best part: no complications.

But if you’re still unsure or seeking a card with more robust benefits — like telecom bonuses or higher rewards accumulation — it’s worth checking out the next article on this blog.

We’ll take an in‑depth look at the Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®, another card capturing attention in Canada for its elevated cashback, travel perks, and exclusive advantages for Rogers customers.