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What Every Student Needs to Know About the SPC Card

What Every Student Needs to Know About the SPC Card

Many of us have experienced life as a ‘starving student’ at one point or another. But while we’re fortunate to live in a country with an abundance of resources, life can be difficult for a young person trying to get by on a limited income.

College and university students often find themselves caught in a balancing act, juggling the cost of tuition and books, with day-to-day living expenses. Student Price Card (SPC) makes life a little more affordable for Canadian students by offering discounts at hundreds of stores and restaurants.

In this Student Price Card guide, I’ll show you how you can sign up, which stores accept SPC, and how students who bank with CIBC can get even more rewards from SPC.

What is an SPC Card?

An SPC, or Student Price Card, is a Canadian loyalty program designed to save post-secondary students money by offering discounts at hundreds of restaurants and retail stores.

While you used to be able to get an actual physical card to keep in your wallet (hence the name SPC “card”), it’s been discontinued in favour of a mobile app. The app can be used to get discounts at both brick and mortar retail locations and online stores.

How Can I Get an SPC Card?

It’s never been easier to sign up for SPC. An SPC digital membership is $10 per year, and you can sign up in minutes right on the SPC website. CIBC customers can get a free SPC membership, but more on that in a bit.

SPC Membership Rules

To become an SPC member and earn student discounts, you must meet the following criteria:

  1. Have a valid Canadian address
  2. A valid email address
  3. Minimum 13 years of age
  4. User ID and password required
  5. Agree to receive SPC communications

You can cancel your SPC membership at any time. If you don’t cancel, it will automatically renew at a cost of $10 each year.

The SPC Card Mobile Apps

Once you’ve become a Student Price Cardmember, you’ll be able to download the SPC App for your iPhone or Android device, register your card number, and you’re ready to shop. You can store a valid student ID in the app so that you don’t have to carry the card around with you. When you’re shopping in-store, the cashier will be able to scan the app on your phone to apply the discount.

With the app, you’ll also receive notifications with limited-time offers and special discounts directly to your phone, allowing you to take advantage of additional savings.

Where Can I Get SPC Student Deals

As with many loyalty programs, it’s important to do your research, to make sure the places you love to shop are included. While there are hundreds of national brands that participate in the SPC program, some store locations are excluded from the program. As such, it’s a good idea to check the SPC website before you shop. Their FAQ section is also very helpful.

A List of SPC Card Stores

There is no shortage of restaurants and retail stores offering student discounts through SPC. In fact, their website boasts over 450 locations, both in-store and online combined. Students can receive discounts on dining, shopping, and many other services such as cell phone plans, auto repair, even healthcare.

I’ve included some featured discounts (at the time of writing) as well as a list of the major retail partners below. Feel free to check out the SPC website for the full list.

SPC Discount Examples

Weekly Features:

  • Samsung: Samsung Galaxy S22 for as low as $5/month with zero percent financing on approved credit up to 36 months when you trade in your Galaxy S, Galaxy Note, or Galaxy Z Series smartphone. (online or instore)
  • The Body Shop: Skincare & Fragrance Mix ‘n’ Match for 20% off + an additional 10% off for SPC members

Most Redeemed:

  • H&M: Always get 10% regular and sale merchandise (online only)
  • Apple: Save on a new Mac or iPad with Apple Education pricing
  • American Eagle: 10% off regular and sale prices (online and in-store)
  • Booking.com: Up to 50% off (online)
  • DoorDash: 25% off your first order
  • Pizza Pizza: Cheese or Pepperoni slice + dip for $3.99
  • Burger King: 10% off any combo meal
  • Bath & Body Works: 10% off your purchase

Food

  • Booster Juice
  • Boston Pizza
  • Burger King
  • Jack Astor’s
  • KFC
  • Manchu Wok
  • Montana’s
  • New York Fries
  • Orange Julius
  • Pizza Hut
  • Pizza Pizza
  • Subway
  • Taco Bell
  • Yogen Fruz

Shopping

  • Aldo
  • American Eagle
  • Ardene
  • Banana Republic
  • Bluenotes
  • Calvin Klein
  • Foot Locker
  • Gap
  • Joe Fresh
  • La Senza
  • Old Navy
  • RW & Co.
  • Roots
  • Pink
  • West 49

How Can I Get a Free SPC Membership?

If you are a CIBC student or youth client, you are eligible for an exclusive, and free membership called SPC+. SPC+ offers bigger discounts than the regular membership, as well as entry into exclusive contests. Here’s how it works:

How to Register for an SPC+ Membership

If you’re a student and bank with CIBC, you can register for SPC+ right from the CIBC website. To qualify, you must be registered for CIBC Online or Mobile banking, and you must have one of the following Youth or Student products:

Bank Accounts:

  • CIBC Advantage for Youth (for high school students 14 to 19)
  • CIBC Smart™ for Students
  • CIBC Advantage® for Students (No longer available for new clients)

Credit cards:

  • CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Card for Students
  • CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card for Students
  • CIBC Classic Visa* Card for Students
  • CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card for Students

Lines of Credit:

  • CIBC Education Line of Credit
  • CIBC Professional Edge® Student Program

SPC+ Discounts (Examples)

Below are a sample of SPC+ discounts I found while researching this article. Only eligible CIBC clients get this exclusive access:

Adidas: 30% off regularly priced items, 15% off Outlet pricing (online only)

Shein: 20% off

Apple Music: Access to 90 million songs, Half-Price subscription for SPC+ members

HP: Up to 20% off, plus 10% off on orders of $400 or more.

DoorDash: 30% off your first order.

Hotwire: Save up to 60% off 4+ Star Hot Rate Hotels

Travelocity: Up to 50% off hotels

CIBC Student Credit Cards

SPC once had a partnership with BMO, but that changed in 2019 when it was moved to CIBC. With it, BMO discontinued their SPC branded credit cards for students. Nowadays, students who qualify can choose from up to 5 CIBC student credit cards. The credit cards are regular CIBC cards, but each one comes with a free SPC+ membership. The benefit for students is that they can stack rewards when they spend with their CIBC rewards credit card. Let’s take a closer look at a few CIBC student Visa cards:

CIBC Classic Visa Card for Students

The CIBC Classic Visa Card for Students is a no frills credit card for no annual fee. It comes with a complimentary SPC+ membership, and a standard purchase interest rate of 20.99%. While the card doesn’t earn reward points, there is an added bonus: Purchase Security Insurance and accident coverage with Common Carrier Accident Insurance.

Card Features:

  • Free SPC+ membership included
  • No annual fee
  • 20.99% purchase interest rate
  • No minimum income requirement
  • Minimum credit limit of $1000
  • Purchase Security Insurance (90-Day protection)
  • Common Carrier Accident Insurance

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students

Students love to travel. The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card makes it easier with a card that allows you to earn valuable Aeroplan points, and that is designed with students in mind. A welcome offer gives you 10,000 Aeroplan points, enough for a one-way short-haul ticket, ie. Toronto to New York). The best part is that you get all of this with no annual fee.

Card Features:

  • Free SPC+ membership included
  • No annual fee
  • 20.99% purchase interest rate
  • Welcome Offer of 10,000 Aeroplan points ($200 value)
  • 1 Aeroplan point for every dollar spent on gas, groceries, and with Air Canada
  • 1 point for every $1.50 spent on all other purchases
  • No minimum income requirement
  • Minimum credit limit of $1000
  • 3 months of Free Uber Pass

CIBC Dividend Cash Back Visa Card for Students

If travel isn’t your thing, you may be interested in CIBC’s Dividend Cash Back Credit card for Students. Like the other 2 cards featured here, there is no annual fee, or is there a minimum income requirement.

Post-secondary students will find the cashback rewards generous: 2% cashback on groceries and 1% on gas, transportation, dining and recurring payments, and .50% cashback on all remaining purchases. At any time, you can access your cash back through CIBC Online and Mobile Banking. Also, when you purchase an eligible product, Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance will double the manufacturer’s warranty for up to a full year.

  • Free SPC+ membership included
  • No annual fee
  • 20.99% purchase interest rate
  • 2% cashback on groceries
  • 1% cashback on gas, transportation, dining, and recurring payments
  • 0.5% cashback on all other purchases
  • No minimum income requirement
  • Minimum credit limit of $1000
  • Purchase Security & Extended Protection Insurance

How Can I Make the SPC Work for Me?

If you’re a post-secondary student looking for ways to save money on everyday purchases, an SPC card is well worth the investment. For $10/year, you’ll gain access to discounts of 10-25% at hundreds of restaurants and stores. For any student living on a limited budget, it’s an easy way to save money.

If you’re a CIBC customer, you can take advantage of the free SPC+ membership, along with the extra discounts – it’s a no-brainer. If you can, try to stack your rewards by making your purchases with a CIBC Student Credit Card that earns Aeroplan or Cash Back rewards. Not only will you get the SPC discount, but you can earn up to an additional 2% on many everyday purchases. Of course, make sure you pay off your credit card balance in full every month, to avoid paying the high credit card interest rates.

Comments

  1. Paul N

    Just for clarification and possibly a different perspective, is there a simple card you can swipe that gives you rewards, with no credit card component of it? Or.. is this always linked to a credit card with a 20% interest rate?
    Not the most healthy of food choices linked to it either. Maybe suggesting purchasing shares of MasterCard rather than spending money on a credit card at Taco Bell would be a better post for you to teach young people about money. You see where I’m going here?

    • Tom Drake

      Hi Paul, yes, the first half of the post is all about the regular SPC card that isn’t linked to a credit card. However, with a credit card, there isn’t a cost to the SPC component plus students gain the additional cashback or Air Miles on purchases they’re making anyway. Now I agree, none of these perks matter if students pay interest, so they need to be able to responsibly use a credit card as a tool and pay their balance in full each month.

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