The New CIBC Adapta Mastercard Offers Rewards Based on a Cardholder’s Spending Practices

The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), a multinational financial services company, announced the launch of the CIBC Adapta Mastercard® on May 1. The credit card introduces new features to the Canadian market and provides rewards opportunities to customers according to their purchase behaviors. 

The CIBC Adapta Mastercard presents a flexible rewards system. It’s the first credit card offered in Canada that can automatically ascertain a cardholder’s three most significant spending categories each month by tracking their purchasing practices, according to a press release from Mastercard and CIBC.

The card offers 1.5 points to cardholders for every dollar they spend on purchases made within their top three spending categories. Cardholders earn one point for each dollar spent on any other purchase they make each month.

The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has come up with a total of 12 spending categories in which cardholders can earn 50% more points on in a statement cycle.

Consumers can access boosted rewards when they make purchases on a variety of products and services, including items in the clothing, dining and drinks, electronics, entertainment, and home improvement categories. 

A flexible rewards program can position cardholders to earn more points each month.

Diane Ferri, Senior Vice President, Day-to-Day Banking, CIBC, said in the press release that the card does not carry an annual fee. 

“Our new CIBC Adapta Mastercard is a differentiator in the market as it delivers true flexibility to cardholders, putting control in their hands to help them realize their ambitions,” Ferri said.

The new card offering from CIBC is made with recycled plastic and includes extended warranty insurance and roadside assistance benefits.

Credit card rewards can entice cardholders to use their credit card for more purchases that they could also complete with cash or other payment vehicles. Rewards may prove to be a particularly sought-after feature in 2025 as consumers prepare for the possibility that the global economy could sink into a recession.

Offering additional rewards to cardholders for the purchasing behaviors they naturally exhibit — as opposed to forcing them to spend at certain locations to earn enhanced rewards — stands to be an attractive feature to cardholders.

That strategy can make cardholders feel valued and less like they’re jumping through hoops to earn a credit card’s bonuses.

The consumer payments market is highly competitive. But credit card issuers that offer cardholders benefits they can’t access elsewhere can gain an advantage over the competition when it comes to capturing a consumer’s attention.

The CIBC Adapta Mastercard brings another new element to Canada’s credit card arena. It’s the first card in the country to include Mastercard’s Touch Card design, which includes a tactile notch to help cardholders identify the card through touch.

Diane Miquelon, Senior Vice President, Financial Institutions, Mastercard, Canada, said in the press release that the CIBC Adapta Mastercard “empowers Canadians in every transaction.”

“We’re proud to partner with CIBC on the new CIBC Adapta Mastercard credit card, featuring Mastercard’s Touch Card design for enhanced accessibility to ensure all Canadians can navigate payments with ease and confidence,” Miquelon added.