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Compare MBNA Credit Cards for May 2021

Part of Lloyds Bank Group, MBNA is frequently to be found battling it out for the longest 0% balance transfer and 0% purchase offers on the market.

MBNA Limited
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Chris Lilly
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Customers say
★★★★★
Customer satisfaction
Good online account management and customer service
Doesn't offer any rewards programs

MBNA’s range of cards is designed fit a range of needs. As well as the headline-grabbing transfer and purchase offers, many of its cards boast competitive default rates that the cards revert to when offer periods expire. So whether or not you’re a card user who jumps from offer to offer, MBNA could have an option for you.

Compare MBNA credit cards

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
Data updated daily
Name Product Balance transfers Money transfers Purchases Annual/monthly fees Rep. APR Link Incentive Representative example
MBNA Long Term Low Interest Credit Card
MBNA Long Term Low Interest Credit Card
4.9% for 48 months
(0.5% fee)
4.9% for 48 months
(0.5% fee)
4.9% for 48 months reverting to 8.9%
£0
8.9% (variable)
Read review
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 8.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 8.9% APR (variable).
MBNA Long 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card
MBNA Long 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card
0% for 29 months
(2.79% fee)
0% for 12 months
(2.99% fee)
20.93%
£0
20.9% (variable)
Read review
Earn up to 15% cashback on purchases through Smart Rewards at popular retailers.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 20.93% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 20.9% APR (variable).
MBNA Low Fee 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card
MBNA Low Fee 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card
0% for 26 months
(1% fee)
0% for 12 months
(4% fee)
20.93%
£0
20.9% (variable)
Read review
Earn up to 15% cashback on purchases through Smart Rewards at popular retailers.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 20.93% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 20.9% APR (variable).
MBNA 0% Transfer and Purchase Credit Card
MBNA 0% Transfer and Purchase Credit Card
0% for 20 months
(2.99% fee)
0% for 12 months
(4% fee)
0% for 20 months reverting to 20.93%
£0
20.9% (variable)
Read review
Earn up to 15% cashback on purchases through Smart Rewards at popular retailers.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 20.93% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 20.9% APR (variable).
MBNA Long 0% Money Transfer Credit Card
MBNA Long 0% Money Transfer Credit Card
0% for 12 months
(4% fee)
0% for 18 months
(2.99% fee)
22.93%
£0
22.9% (variable)
Read review
Earn up to 15% cashback on purchases through Smart Rewards at popular retailers.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 22.93% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 22.9% APR (variable).
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Approval for any credit card will depend on your status. The APR shown represents the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.

MBNA cards are issued on the MasterCard network, so they can be used at tens of millions of merchants and ATMs around the world.

The online account management is easy and secure, and the statements have always been accurate.”

– MBNA customer in Finder's 2020 survey

What types of credit cards are available from MBNA?

MBNA range of cards is comprised of five main types:

  • 0% Balance transfer deals

    Balance transfer cards allow you to move existing debt onto a new card and pay no interest on it for a set introductory period. You’ll normally be expected to pay a transfer fee – typically 2-3%, but in the UK’s competitive card market, some banks now offer cards with no transfer fee.

    Learn more about 0% balance transfer cards

  • 0% Money transfer deals

    Want to transfer money from your credit card to your current account? MBNA offers three cards that allow you to send money from your credit card into your current account at 0% interest for a set introductory period.

    Learn more about 0% money transfer cards

  • 0% Purchase deals

    If you’re planning on making a big purchase but want to spread the cost, MBNA offer a card that will charge 0% interest on purchases for a set introductory period.

    Learn more about 0% purchase cards

  • Low interest deals

    MBNA offers credit cards with no introductory periods, just a low rate on purchases and transfers for at least five years.
    Learn more about low interest cards

  • All-rounder deals

    If you’re looking for a card to fulfil multiple requirements – perhaps you have an outstanding balance but also anticipate making purchases on card, you might want to check out “all-rounders”. Weigh up the rates that the card will revert to after any introductory period ends, plus any fees, versus the potential savings the card will offer you.

    Learn more about low interest cards

Additional benefits of banking with MBNA

MBNA offer additional benefits to its credit card holders. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Security and protection. MBNA do their best to protect your finances and ensure you’re not a victim of fraud. As well as monitoring your account 24/7 for fraudulent behaviour, they have also put in place added features to protect you online and won’t charge you for fraud liability.
  • Global acceptance. With all of MBNA’s cards provided through either Visa or MasterCard you can rest assured your card will be accepted throughout the the UK and in many, many places across the world. MasterCard is the world’s fastest payment processing network and operates in more than 210 countries, while Visa is accepted in over 38 million locations.
  • Mobile App. MBNA has created a snazzy app, so you can get straight to all of your credit card stuff, without any faff, while you’re on the move.
  • Easy payments to your card. MBNA offers a range of options which should make keeping up with your monthly payments that bit easier – including online debit card payments, regular Direct Debit payments and (when you’re against the clock) Faster Payments.

Using an MBNA card overseas

What is Clever Check?

This is MBNA’s “soft search” facility. It lets you check whether or not you’d get approved for a card before you hit “Apply” and without affecting your credit score. Frustratingly, MBNA’s eligibility-checking facility is more long-winded than most.

When you come to actually apply for an MBNA credit card, it will involve a “hard search” of your credit file, which has a small (and usually short-lived) negative impact on your credit score. For that reason, you shouldn’t just submit applications left, right and centre – and only apply for a card when you’re confident your application will be approved.

Many card issuers also tailor interest rates, credit limits and offers to the individual applicant. Some soft search facilities (including MBNA’s) can also give you a better idea of the specific rate and credit limit you’d be offered and whether or not you’d receive the exact advertised offer.

What is APR?

It’s a figure designed to provide an annual summary of the cost of borrowing, taking into account both interest and any mandatory charges to be paid (for example an annual/monthly account fee).

However, because many card issuers tailor the APR the offer to each applicant, you’ll frequently see them promoting their representative APR. This is the APR they’ll give to at least 51% of successful applicants.

How long does it take to get an MBNA credit card?

The eligibility-checker takes about five minutes, and will give you an instant indication as to whether or not it’s worth applying for a card. If you’re happy to proceed, the actual application takes perhaps a further five to ten minutes. Your new card will then arrive within one week, and you’ll then need to call MBNA to activate it.

Don’t forget that the first time you use your card, you’ll have to enter your PIN – from then on you can make contactless payments to your heart’s content.

They have been very good with balance transfer offers, and make it easy with their app.”

– MBNA customer in Finder's 2021 survey

How do MBNA’s cards hold up against the rest of the market?

Table: sorted by length of 0% balance transfer offer, promoted deals first
Data updated daily
Name Product Balance transfers Money transfers Purchases Annual/monthly fees Rep. APR Link Incentive Representative example
Santander Everyday Credit Card
Santander Everyday Credit Card
0% for 18 months
(0% fee)
N/A
0% for 3 months reverting to 20.9%
£0
20.9% (variable)
Check eligibility
Read review
Earn up to 15% cashback with your selected Retailer Offers at selected major retailers.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 20.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 20.9% APR (variable).
The NatWest Balance Transfer Credit Card (eligibility criteria apply)
The NatWest Balance Transfer Credit Card (eligibility criteria apply)
0% for 18 months
(0%, transfers must be made within the first 3 months of account opening fee)
26.9%
(3% fee)
0% for 3 months reverting to 21.9% p.a. (variable)
£0
21.9% (variable)
Check eligibility
Read review
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable), your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
M&S Bank Transfer Plus Mastercard
M&S Bank Transfer Plus Mastercard
0% for 29 months
(2.75% fee)
N/A
0% for 3 months reverting to 21.9%
£0
21.9% (variable)
Check eligibility
Read review
Earn 1 point for every £1 spent at Marks and Spencer's and 1 point for every £5 spent elsewhere. 100 points = £1 reward voucher. Points will be converted into reward vouchers 4 times a year.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
The Royal Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card (eligibility criteria apply)
The Royal Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card (eligibility criteria apply)
0% for 18 months
(0%, transfers must be made within the first 3 months of account opening fee)
26.9%
(3% fee)
0% for 3 months reverting to 21.9% p.a. (variable)
£0
21.9% (variable)
Check eligibility
Read review
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable), your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
HSBC Balance Transfer Credit Card
HSBC Balance Transfer Credit Card
0% for 29 months
(2.85% fee)
N/A
0% for 3 months reverting to 21.9%
£0
21.9% (variable)
Check eligibility
Read review
Discounts and exclusive offers for dining experiences, leisure activities and shopping available through HSBC Home and Away.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
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Table: sorted by length of 0% purchases offer, promoted deals first
Data updated daily
Name Product Balance transfers Money transfers Purchases Annual/monthly fees Rep. APR Link Incentive Representative example
Santander All in One Credit Card
Santander All in One Credit Card
0% for 26 months
(0% fee)
N/A
0% for 20 months reverting to 17.9%
£3 per month
23.7% (variable)
Check eligibility
Read review
0.5% cashback after £1 of monthly spend. Cashback paid monthly into card account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 17.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 23.7% APR (variable).
M&S Bank Shopping Plus Credit Card
M&S Bank Shopping Plus Credit Card
0% for 20 months
(2.9% fee)
N/A
0% for 20 months reverting to 21.9%
£0
21.9% (variable)
Check eligibility
Read review
Earn 1 point for every £1 spent at Marks and Spencer's and 1 point for every £5 spent elsewhere. 100 points = £1 reward voucher. Points will be converted into reward vouchers 4 times a year.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
HSBC Purchase Plus Credit Card Visa
HSBC Purchase Plus Credit Card Visa
0% for 18 months
(2.9% fee)
N/A
0% for 18 months reverting to 22.9%
£0
22.9% (variable)
Check eligibility
Read review
Discounts and exclusive offers for dining experiences, leisure activities and shopping available through HSBC Home and Away.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 22.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 22.9% APR (variable).
M&S Bank Reward Plus Mastercard
M&S Bank Reward Plus Mastercard
0% for 6 months
(2.9% fee)
N/A
0% for 6 months reverting to 19.9%
£0
19.9% (variable)
Check eligibility
Read review
Double points on spend in M&S for first 12 months (2 points per £1). Then earn 1 point for every £1 spent at Marks and Spencer's and 1 point for every £5 spent elsewhere. 100 points = £1 reward voucher. Points will be converted into reward vouchers 4 times a year.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 19.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 19.9% APR (variable).
Tesco Bank Clubcard Plus Credit Card Mastercard
Tesco Bank Clubcard Plus Credit Card Mastercard
21.814%
(3.99% fee)
21.814%
(3.99% fee)
0% for 24 months reverting to 19.944%
£7.99 per month
37.7% (variable)
Read review
1 point per £4 spent (£4 minimum) in Tesco and 1 point per £8 spent (£8 minimum) outside Tesco, must have available credit to earn points. Card can also be used as a Clubcard to collect standard points at 1 point per £1 spent on shopping and 1 point per £2 spent on fuel. Points are converted to Tesco vouchers which can be used towards shopping or exchanged for Partner Rewards.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 19.944% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £7.99 per month, your representative rate is 37.7% APR (variable).
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Table: sorted by length of 0% money transfers offer, promoted deals first
Data updated daily
Name Product Balance transfers Money transfers Purchases Annual/monthly fees Rep. APR Link Incentive Representative example
MBNA Long 0% Money Transfer Credit Card
MBNA Long 0% Money Transfer Credit Card
0% for 12 months
(4% fee)
0% for 18 months
(2.99% fee)
22.93%
£0
22.9% (variable)
Read review
Earn up to 15% cashback on purchases through Smart Rewards at popular retailers.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 22.93% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 22.9% APR (variable).
Tesco Bank All Round Card
Tesco Bank All Round Card
0% for 15 months
(1.99% fee)
0% for 15 months
(3.99% fee)
0% for 15 months reverting to 20.94%
£0
20.9% (variable)
Read review
1 point per £4 spent (£4 minimum) in Tesco and 1 point per £8 spent (£8 minimum) outside Tesco. Must have available credit to earn points. Points are converted to Tesco vouchers or can be exchanged for Partner rewards to receive money off a variety of restaurants, entertainment or Avios points.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 20.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 20.9% APR (variable).
Virgin Money 29 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard
Virgin Money 29 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard
0% for 29 months
(3% fee)
0% for 12 months
(4% fee)
0% for 3 months reverting to 21.9%
£0
21.9% (variable)
Read review
Enjoy exclusive offers and rewards on the Virgin Red app.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
Virgin Money 26 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard
Virgin Money 26 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard
0% for 26 months
(1.25% fee)
0% for 12 months
(4% fee)
0% for 3 months reverting to 21.9%
£0
21.9% (variable)
Read review
Enjoy exclusive offers and rewards on the Virgin Red app.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
Virgin Money 19 Month All Round Credit Card Mastercard
Virgin Money 19 Month All Round Credit Card Mastercard
0% for 19 months
(2.9% fee)
0% for 12 months
(4% fee)
0% for 19 months reverting to 21.9%
£0
21.9% (variable)
Read review
Enjoy exclusive offers and rewards on the Virgin Red app.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
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How to apply for an MBNA credit card

The quickest way to apply for a MBNA card is online. What’s more, the online eligibility checker allows you to tell if you’re likely to be able to take out an MBNA credit card, without affecting your credit rating.

Eligibility requirements

To have your application for a credit card considered you must meet the following criteria:

  • You’re a UK resident.
  • You’re aged 18 or over.
  • You’ve had a permanent UK address for 3 years or more.
  • You have a good credit rating/history.
  • You are employed, retired or a homemaker with an annual income of over £8,000.
  • You’re not unemployed or a student.

Meeting these requirements doesn’t guarantee you’ll be offered a credit card with MBNA. MBNA will also run credit and affordability checks.

Why might you not be approved?

Typically you won’t be approved for a credit card if you’ve got a history of bad debt or MBNA decide your income/expenditure is not suitable for a particular credit card. If you’ve got an outstanding CCJ or are on an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) it is also likely you will not be approved. Equally, if you do not have a credit record at all, you may be turned down. It is advisable to go to Experian, or another credit rating agency, and to ask for a credit report.

Help and support for MBNA customers affected by coronavirus

If you’re an MBNA credit card customer who has been affected by coronavirus, you may be able to get help. For example, you could apply for an increase to your credit limit, or take out a payment holiday if you’re struggling to meet your payments. Visit MBNA’s coronavirus support page for more information.

MBNA customer reviews

MBNA customers in Finder’s 2021 customer satisfaction survey were mostly positive, with many citing MBNA’s easy-to-use app and promotional offers as notable benefits. One customer said: “I’ve been a customer for twenty years and they have always been reasonable and helpful, even refunding charges when I challenged them.”

MBNA also scored 3.5 out of 5 in our 2021 customer satisfaction awards, with 71% of customers also happy to recommend the brand to a friend.

Frequently asked questions

Finder credit card ratings

★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor

Our customer satisfaction scores ("Customers say") are based on a survey of 1,861 customers carried out in December 2020.

To find out more, read our full methodology.

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.

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