Best MBNA Credit Cards In Canada For October 2025
The best MBNA credit card in Canada is the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard. Its birthday bonus, widespread insurance coverage, and high rewards earn rates, make it an incredibly appealing choice.
Even so, it’s not your only option. MBNA offers a range of Mastercard credit cards tailored to meet the needs of all types of cardholders.
We’ll show you the best MBNA cards for balance transfers, student life, and more, so you get the credit card that’s ideally suited to your spending habits and financial needs.
Key Takeaways
- The best MBNA credit card is the premium MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, followed by the no fee Platinum Plus version.
- MBNA credit cards are better suited to modest spenders than premium and luxury shoppers.
- The best MBNA credit card for you has an affordable annual fee and the highest rewards for your existing spending habits.
The best MBNA credit cards in Canada
MBNA is the leading Mastercard issuer in the country. It offers the three most popular types of credit cards in Canada – cash back, rewards, and flex rewards – whose earning power we’ve simplified to a return rate.
Rewards earned in $CAD / money spent in $CAD x 100 = return rate in %
If you can find a credit card with a 5% return rate (which gives you $5 in cash or rewards for every $100 you spend), you’re getting above-average rewards. The return rates of the four best MBNA credit cards in Canada range from about 1 – 3%:
| Category | Credit card | Annual fee | Rewards | Current welcome offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best in Canada | MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard | $120 | 2.86% |  $150 GC Boost + 30,000 bonus points (terms) |
| Best for no annual fee | MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard | $0 | 1.54% | 10,000 bonus points (terms) |
| Best for cash back | MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Mastercard | $0 | 0.88% | 5% cash back on gas and groceries for the first 6 months, up to $500 spent per month (terms) |
| Best for low interest | MBNA True Line Mastercard | $0 | N/A | $135 GeniusCash + 0% interest on balance transfers for 12 months (terms) |
Please note: MBNA has different offers for residents of Quebec. To view your offers, you'll need to change your region to Quebec at the bottom of the page, then click on the card details.
1. Best MBNA credit card in Canada
×4 Award winner 
GC: $125 + $25
4x Award winner Rewards:
- 5 points for every $1 spent on restaurants, groceries, and select recurring bills (up to $50,000 spent annually per category)
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Average return rate: 2.86%
As a premium credit card, the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard gives you plenty of ways to enjoy spending money. You can redeem MBNA Rewards points on gift cards from 60+ brands – including retail giants like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart – and you can even price match!
Spending your points on travel or gift cards yields a value of 0.9 – 1 cent per point (CPP).
Cost of reward in $CAD / cost of reward in points = value in cents per point (CPP)
You can also use your World Elite Mastercard benefits to attend exclusive dining events, get 20% off Cirque du Soleil tickets, or access 1,300+ DragonPass airport lounges for just $32 USD. Its only caveat is its high annual income requirements.
Pros:
- 12 types of insurance included
- 10% bonus points on your birthday
- 10% off AVIS and Budget car rentals in Canada and the US
- World Elite Mastercard benefits
- Worldwide acceptance for Mastercard
Cons:
- $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income required
"I love that you can get the best value with not just travel, but also with e-gift cards. The birthday bonus is also a nice touch that somewhat erases the annual fee." —Jonathon MacLeod, Sr. Financial Product Specialist
2. Best MBNA no fee credit card
Rewards:
- 2 points for every $1 spent on restaurants, groceries, and select recurring bills (up to $10,000 spent annually per category)
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Average return rate: 1.54%
If you don’t want to pay an annual fee, we like the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard. You’ll enjoy up to 10,000 after spending $500 in the first 90 days and signing up for paperless e-statements. You’ll get a solid earn rate for using the card and a few basic types of insurance (mobile device insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty coverage). Not bad for a card that doesn’t cost you anything to carry!
Pros:
- 10% bonus points on your birthday
- 5 – 10% off AVIS and Budget car rentals
- No income requirements
- Worldwide acceptance for Mastercard
Cons:
- Only 3 types of insurance included
3. Best MBNA cash back credit card
Rewards:
- 2% cash back on gas and groceries, up to $500 in combined spend monthly
- 0.5% cash back on all other purchases
Average return rate: 0.88%
When it comes to simple and flexible rewards, cash is king – and the MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Mastercard is the king of cash back. Get bonus cash back on gas and groceries, with three ways to redeem it: as a statement credit, deposit to your chequing account, or charitable donation.
For a no-fee card, it’s also got an impressive insurance package – including all three types of rental car insurance – that adds an estimated value of $286.
Pros:
- Up to 10% off Avis and Budget car rentals
- 7 types of insurance included
- 5% cash back on gas and groceries for the first 6 months, up to $500 spent per month
- Cash back on demand (minimum $50)
- No income requirements
- Worldwide acceptance for Mastercard
Cons:
- $500 combined monthly cap on eligible gas and grocery purchases, after which rewards drop to 0.5%
- Only 0.5% cash back on general spending
4. Best MBNA low interest credit card
×2 Award winner GC: $135
2x Award winner Rewards:
Average return rate: N/A
The MBNA True Line Mastercard is a niche product that excels in one thing: balance transfers. Instead of rewards, you can consolidate your debt with a promotional rate of 0% for the first 12 months (for a 3% fee).
Pro Tip: See how much you could save by paying off your balance on one credit card versus another using our credit card interest calculator.
Pros:
- 17.99% interest on balance transfers
- 12.99% interest on purchases
- Up to 10% off Avis and Budget car rentals
- 0% interest on balance transfers for the first 12 months
- No income requirements
Cons:
- 24.99% interest on cash advances
- No insurance included
- No rewards
Compare all MBNA credit cards
×4 Award winner GC: $125 + $25 4x Award winner GC: $125 + $25
This table displays our default Genius Rating, which applies our standard weight to all seven of our scoring categories (rewards, fees, insurance, interest, perks, approval, and acceptance). The data of the other cards in the article is weighted based on what each card does best.
Learn more about the Genius Rating methodology
Pros and cons of MBNA credit cards
You may not be as familiar with MBNA credit cards or financial products, so here’s a quick rundown of what the cards get right and what MBNA needs to work on:
Pros:
- Broad acceptance worldwide: Unlike Amex, almost all merchants accept Mastercard.
- Easy to qualify for: Many Mastercards have no income requirements, making them easier to be approved for.
- Low or no annual fee options: Most MBNA cards are no fee, offering excellent value to cardholders.
- Generous perks and rewards: MBNA cards include above-average added insurance, high rates of return on spending, and flexible redemption options.
- Low interest rates: MBNA offers competitive purchase interest rates and balance transfer terms.
Cons:
- Limited premium credit card selection: People looking to splurge on a premium card with more luxurious perks and benefits may be disappointed by MBNA’s simple credit card lineup.
- No physical MBNA locations: Although TD Bank owns MBNA, there are no MBNA branches in Canada, so customer service is somewhat limited.
- Standard foreign transaction fees: MBNA doesn’t have a dedicated travel credit card, so you’ll be charged a standard 2.5% foreign transaction fee when making purchases abroad.
How to choose the right MBNA credit card for you
The limited selection of MBNA credit cards makes it easier to pick a product, but if you need help, ask yourself the following three questions:
- How high an annual fee can I afford? Premium credit cards include more perks and rewards than no fee or student credit cards, but they cost at least $120 per year.
- What kind of rewards do I want? Choose between cash back and MBNA Rewards to narrow the list of candidates even further. Just know that low interest credit cards don’t collect much in the way of rewards.
- What are my biggest spending categories? The key to maximizing your rewards is to pick a card where the highest-rewarded spending categories match your existing spending habits.
Your answers should help you identify a few products of interest before you move on to other concerns, such as your credit score, annual income, and desired travel perk. The creditcardGenius quiz is an easy-to-use, comprehensive questionnaire that automatically discovers the best credit card for your circumstances using the power of math.
How to get the most out of your MBNA credit card
An MBNA credit card is only as useful as you make it. Fortunately, there are several strategies for maximizing your card’s value:
- Focus your spending on bonus categories: Pay attention to categories that offer bonus points or cash back, and use your MBNA card for these purchases.
- Earn the welcome bonus: Learn about how much you need to spend (usually within a few months of opening the account) so you earn the welcome bonus. You might be rewarded with statement credits, travel discounts, or merchandise.
- Learn about your card’s interest rates and fees: Don’t be caught off guard if your card’s interest rate jumps or you’re charged an annual fee. Read the terms and conditions so you know exactly what you’ll pay to use the card.
- Redeem MBNA points for travel: You can use your points for flights, hotels, rental cars, vacation packages, cruises, and more. Rest assured, these redemption options give you great value for your points.
- Use your card’s insurance: Most MBNA credit cards come with some forms of travel and purchase protection. Again, read up on what’s covered (and coverage limits) so you can make claims for lost luggage, trip cancellations, and rental cars, as needed.
One last point: if you already have credit card debt, you might take advantage of MBNA’s promotional balance transfer rates. Just open an MBNA card with the promo rate and transfer your existing balances to the card. Then, you can prioritize paying down the debt while the interest rate is incredibly low.
What MBNA cardholders say
We wanted to see what real cardholders said about the World Elite Mastercard, so we turned to Reddit. Most Redditors had overwhelmingly positive things to say about the bank’s credit card options, from earning rewards…
…to redeeming them.
How to apply for an MBNA credit card
There are four broad steps to applying for an MBNA credit card:
- Check the eligibility requirements to avoid rejection and unnecessary hard credit score checks.
- Gather your required documents, including your contact information and proof of your identity, income, and residence.
- Submit your application online by finding the credit card you want and clicking "Apply Now."
- Wait up to several weeks for approval for your new credit card.
MBNA doesn’t offer specialty credit cards requiring unusual documents (such as proof of enrollment or business articles), so the application process is fairly straightforward. Good luck!
What credit score is needed for an MBNA credit card?
While premium MBNA credit cards like the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard have higher credit score requirements, getting approved for an MBNA credit card relies on a lot of factors – not just credit score. That said, we estimate that a credit score in the range of 660–724 will give you the best chance of approval.
FAQ
Which MBNA credit card is best?
The best MBNA card is the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, thanks to its excellent earn rate, multiple points redemption options, extensive insurance package, birthday bonus points, and premium World Elite Mastercard perks – including DragonPass airport lounge access.
Is MBNA a good credit card?
Yes, they're good cards. MBNA Mastercards have many benefits, including reasonable annual fees, no income requirements (for most cards), impressive insurance value, flexible rewards, and wide acceptance. Their return rates aren't particularly high, but not terrible either.
Which credit cards are owned by MBNA?
MBNA doesn’t necessarily "own" credit cards, but it does issue them. MBNA issues seven types of Mastercards, which is the operating network. If you get an MBNA Mastercard, you are essentially the owner of that card.
What credit score is needed for MBNA?
The MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Mastercard and both True Line Mastercards require a score of at least 660, but the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard and MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard cards require a score of at least 725.
Which bank owns MBNA?
MBNA is owned by TD Bank – and has been since TD bought it in 2011. This explains why some TD cardholders may not be eligible for certain MBNA bonus offers, such as balance transfer offers.
What is the best credit card in Canada right now?
The American Express Cobalt Card has been the best credit card in Canada for eight consecutive years. It offers a valuable welcome bonus, extensive insurance coverage, and flexible points redemption via the American Express Membership Rewards program.
Is MBNA a Canadian bank?
MBNA has a long and international history, but yes, this company is based in Canada. Because it was acquired by TD Bank in 2011, it's technically a Canadian bank with an American and European background.
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone. No bank, credit card issuer, rewards program, or other entity has reviewed, approved, or endorsed this content. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website. Our credit card scores and rankings are based on our Rating Methodology that takes into account 126+ features for each of 229 Canadian credit cards.
