Home Trust has three Visa cards: the no-fee Preferred Visa, which charges no foreign transaction fee and pays 1% cash back in Canada, the Secured Visa for building or rebuilding credit with a deposit, and the Equityline Visa, which borrows against your home. Here’s what each card costs, who it’s for, and what to watch out for. The Preferred Visa is on our no foreign transaction fee shortlist.
Home Trust Preferred Visa calculatorSee what the card is worth in a year: 1% cash back in Canada plus the foreign transaction fees you avoid.
Your yearly spending
Total yearly value
cash back plus fees avoided
Cash back
paid in January
FX fees avoided
vs a typical 2.5% fee
The Home Trust cards at a glance
| Preferred Visa | Secured Visa | Equityline Visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0, or $59 for the low-rate version | $0 |
| Purchase interest | 21.99% | 19.99% ($0 version) or about 14.9% (low-rate version) | 6.99% to 13.99% |
| Cash back | 1% in Canada, no cap | None | None listed |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | 2% | None |
| Credit limit | Set at approval | Equal to your deposit ($500 to $10,000) | $20,000 to $1,000,000 |
| Income or security | $15,000 income | A deposit; no minimum income | Equity in your home |
| Purchase protection | 90 days | No | 90 days |
Home Trust has been part of the Fairstone Bank group since January 2025, with Smith Financial Corporation as the majority voting owner. Home Trust remains a separate member of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC).
Home Trust Preferred Visa
The Preferred Visa is the reason most people look at Home Trust. Most Canadian credit cards add a 2.5% fee to purchases in other currencies. This one converts at Visa’s exchange rate with no extra fee, and it has no annual fee.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Cash back | 1% on eligible purchases, no yearly cap |
| When cash back is paid | Once a year, as a statement credit in January |
| What doesn’t earn | Foreign-currency purchases (including foreign online shopping), cash advances, balance transfers, fees and interest |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
| Interest | 21.99% on purchases and cash advances |
| Cash advances | Limited to 20% of your credit limit |
| Inactivity fee | $12 if the card isn’t used for 12 months |
| Insurance | Purchase Security for 90 days |
| Mobile wallets | Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay |
| Who can apply | Permanent Canadian residents outside Quebec, age of majority, $15,000+ income; bankruptcies must be discharged for at least 2 years |
The trade-off: foreign purchases earn no cash back. That’s still a better deal than a 1% card with a 2.5% fee, which leaves you 1.5% behind on every foreign dollar. Use the calculator above with your own numbers.
Home Trust Secured Visa
The Secured Visa is for building credit or rebuilding it after problems. You put down a deposit, and your credit limit equals the deposit. Home Trust says almost everyone who applies and pays the deposit is approved.
| No-fee version | Low-rate version | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $59 (or $5 a month) |
| Purchase interest | 19.99% | About 14.9% |
| Cash advance interest | 19.99% | 19.80% |
| Deposit and credit limit | $500 to $10,000 | $500 to $10,000 |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2% | 2% |
| Authorized users | $19 a year | $19 a year |
- Reports to the credit bureau every month, which is what builds your credit history. Home Trust doesn’t say which bureau on its card page.
- Your deposit stays in place for as long as you hold the card. Home Trust says it’s protected by CDIC.
- No income minimum, but you need a source of income, must be a permanent resident outside Quebec, and can’t be currently bankrupt.
- No cash back and no purchase insurance.
Which version? The $59 low-rate card only saves money if you carry a balance of roughly $1,200 or more for a whole year (5% less interest on $1,200 is about $60). If you pay in full each month, take the $0 version. Home Trust’s pages show the low rate as 14.90% in one place and 14.99% in another, so check the rate on your application.
Carrying a balance? See what it really costs
Try the interest calculator →Home Trust Equityline Visa
The Equityline Visa works like a home equity line of credit on a credit card. Your credit limit, from $20,000 up to $1,000,000, is secured by equity in your home, and the interest rate is 6.99% to 13.99% depending on your credit and property. It has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, and cash advances can use your full limit.
Because your home secures the card, it’s only for people who are disciplined about repayment. For everyday spending, the Preferred Visa is the safer choice.
Who should get which Home Trust card
| You are… | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Travelling or shopping in U.S. dollars | Preferred Visa | No foreign transaction fee and no annual fee |
| New to credit or rebuilding it | Secured Visa ($0 version) | Approval with a deposit and monthly credit reporting |
| Carrying a balance on a secured card | Secured Visa (low-rate) | Lower rate can outweigh the $59 fee on bigger balances |
| A homeowner wanting a low rate | Equityline Visa | 6.99% to 13.99%, but secured by your home |
| Living in Quebec | None | Home Trust cards aren’t offered in Quebec |
For other no-fee options, see our best no-fee credit cards. Want to know more about how foreign fees add up? Try our foreign transaction fee calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Home Trust Preferred Visa have foreign transaction fees?
No. It converts foreign purchases at Visa’s exchange rate with no extra fee. It also has no annual fee, but foreign purchases don’t earn cash back.
How much cash back does the Home Trust Preferred Visa give?
1% on eligible purchases in Canada, with no yearly cap. Cash back is paid once a year as a statement credit in January.
What is the income requirement for the Home Trust Preferred Visa?
At least $15,000 a year. You also need to be a permanent Canadian resident outside Quebec and have reached the age of majority.
How does the Home Trust Secured Visa work?
You put down a deposit of $500 to $10,000, and your credit limit equals the deposit. Home Trust reports your account to the credit bureau every month, which helps build credit.
Does the Home Trust Secured Visa have an annual fee?
There are two versions: a $0 card at 19.99% interest, and a low-rate card at about 14.9% that costs $59 a year.
Is Home Trust available in Quebec?
No. Home Trust’s credit cards aren’t available to Quebec residents.
Who owns Home Trust?
Home Trust combined with Fairstone Bank in January 2025. The group’s parent is Fairstone Bank, and Smith Financial Corporation holds a majority voting interest.
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How we checked: Fees, rates, eligibility and cash back rules come from Home Trust’s card pages, its compare-cards page and the cost-of-borrowing disclosures shown in its online applications. Ownership details come from Home Trust’s January 2025 announcement. Home Trust’s PDF agreements and benefit guides couldn’t be read by our tools, and its pages show two slightly different rates for the low-rate Secured Visa, so we’ve said “about 14.9%”. The calculator compares against a typical 2.5% foreign transaction fee. This review is general information, not financial advice. Sources: Home Trust credit cards; Compare Home Trust cards; Preferred Visa; Secured Visa; Equityline Visa; Preferred Visa application and disclosure; Secured Visa application and disclosure; Home Trust and Fairstone Bank. Last checked October 2026.