Best MBNA Credit Cards in Canada
Sara Skodak
AuthorThere are many MBNA credit cards just waiting to optimize your spending.
Whether you’re looking for competitive and flexible reward programs, travel benefits, low-interest perks or no annual fees, MBNA is stocked with a few solid options.
In this blog post, we’ll go through all the best credit cards issued by this institution, dividing them into insightful categories that highlight each card’s strong points.
Stick around to learn more.
Best Overall MBNA Credit Card
Our choice for: Highest rewards on groceries & dining
MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
go to MBNA's website
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 30,000 points ($245 in cash back value or $300 when redeemed for MBNA Travel)††
Annual Fee*
$120
Interest Rates
19.99% / 24.99%
The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is one of the best reward credit cards in Canada, offering high rewards on frequently spent categories such as groceries and restaurant purchases. The annual birthday bonus, unique to this card, also provides a significant boost to your yearly earnings. Additionally, the card features a comprehensive list of benefits, including price protection—a rare and valuable perk not found with many other cards in Canada. These factors make this card one of the best to have in Canada.
Pros
- Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn the most rewards.
- Great annual birthday bonus with up to $150 in value.
- A solid list of travel insurance and benefits.
- Price protection, a rare feature not offered by many other cards.
- Good value for many of the card's redemption options.
Cons
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, two great benefits are missing from this card.
- Not the best card for gas purchases.
Rewards*
- Earn 5 points‡ for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until $50,000 is spent annually in the applicable category.
- 1 point‡ for every $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- Each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points‡ equal to 10% of the total number of Points the Account earned in the 12 months before the month of the primary cardholder's birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 15,000 Points.
Insurance*
Coverage*
Mobile Device Insurance
$1000
Purchase Protection
Up to 90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to a year.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
31 days
Flight Delay
$500/person after 4 hours
Travel Accident
$1,000,000
Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M for 21 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1000/personBaggage Delay
$1000/person
Benefits*
Details*
Annual Birthday Bonus
10% of the Points earned the 12 months prior to the primary cardholder's birthday month (up to a max 15,000 bonus points per year)
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationally
Trip and legal Assistance
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Concierge Services
Price Protection
$500/item, $1000/account per year
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Our highest-rated MBNA credit card is the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard.
Why? Because, out of all the cards featured on this list, it truly is the elite choice.
Let’s explain why:
Firstly, with the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, cardholders earn competitive points on popular spend categories like restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases. To complement your spending even further, this card rewards you with tons of extra points for meeting a specific spending requirement in the first few months of account opening.
This impressive rewards program is paired with one of the best spreads of insurance policies you’ll see provided by an MBNA credit card. Complete with useful coverages like mobile device insurance, car rental damage and theft insurance, and travel accident insurance.
The perks don’t end there, there are plenty of boast-worthy benefits to choose from. Enjoy valuable add-ons like car rental discounts at Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car, trip and legal assistance, price protection, and most importantly, an annual birthday bonus that earns you a percentage of the points you earned 12 months prior to your birthday month.
To compensate for the card that’s considered to be one of the best reward credit cards in Canada, you will need to pay an annual fee, plus you'll need to meet certain income requirements to qualify.
As far as MBNA credit cards go, the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard is the most well-balanced card you’ll find – combining high-point potential on day-to-day expenses, respectable insurance, and some rare and sought-after benefits.
Best MBNA Credit Cards for No Annual Fee
If you can’t commit to an annual fee, luckily, MBNA has multiple no-fee credit cards in its catalogue.
Let’s check those out now:
MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard®
MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard®
3.4
go to MBNA's website
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 10,000 bonus points†† + 4x points on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases††
Annual Fee*
$0
Interest Rates
19.99% / 24.99%
The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus MasterCard is a solid no-annual-fee card choice with high returns on restaurant and grocery purchases, which are the most common spending categories for most people. Additionally, it offers one of the highest signup bonuses for a no-annual-fee card. However, there are two main considerations before choosing this card. If you are open to a card with an annual fee, many other cards offer better rewards. Furthermore, the points earned need to be used for travel to fully benefit from this card; otherwise, if you are not planning to use the points for travel, you are better off with a cashback or another type of card.
Pros
- One of the best no-annual-fee credit cards in Canada, both in terms of rewards and signup bonus.
- Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn decent rewards.
- Great annual birthday bonus with up to $100 in value.
Cons
- Points must be used for travel otherwise the points won't have much value
- There are better alternative cards both for cashback and paid cards that have higher reward rates
Rewards*
- Earn 4 points†† for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases during the first 90 days (these earn rates apply until $10,000 is spent annually in the applicable category)
- 2 points‡ for every $1 spent on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases (these earn rates apply until $10,000 is spent annually in the applicable category)
- 1 point‡ for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
- Each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points‡ equal to 10% of the total number of Points earned in the 12 months before the month of your birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 10,000 Points
Insurance*
Coverage*
Mobile Device Insurance
$1000Purchase Protection
Up to 90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to a year
Benefits*
Details*
Annual Birthday Bonus
10% of the Points earned the 12 months prior to the primary cardholder's birthday month (up to a max 10,000 bonus points per year)Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationally
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A
If you’re looking for something annual-fee-free that’s slightly similar to the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, opt for the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard.
Like the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard earns you points per dollar spent on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases – although expect the point rate to be significantly lower than those offered by the “best overall” counterpart. You can also pocket extra points when you meet certain spend requirements in the first few months of membership.
Unlike the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, the insurance inclusions are limited, offering only mobile device insurance, purchase protection insurance, and extended warranty coverage.
There also aren’t as many benefits on this no-fee alternative – but you’ll still get that annual birthday bonus and car rental discounts at Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car.
With the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard, you also don’t have to worry about any income requirements – making the card even more accessible!
Overall, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard is a great beginner-version of the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, featuring similar reward categories at lower rates, a little bit of insurance, and a couple of similar benefits.
Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®
Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard®
3.1
go to MBNA's website
I currently have or may soon have an Amazon Prime account
Welcome Bonus
Up to $150
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
19.99% / 22.99%
If you are a Prime member and want to maximize your cashback on your Amazon purchases, then this card is the best option for that specific purchase category. However, for other purchases, many other cards offer better benefits and rewards.
Pros
- If you are a Prime member, the 2.5% cashback offered on Amazon purchases is unbeatable in terms of rewards compared to other credit cards.
- The 2.5% cashback on all foreign currency transactions helps to offset the extra 2.5% fee.
Cons
- It offers very little on non-Amazon and non-Whole Foods purchases, with many other well-rounded credit cards out there that offer much more.
- Very limited benefits.
Rewards
- 2.5% cashback on Amazon.ca, Whole Foods and foreign currency transactions IF a prime member
- Only 1.5% on Amazon.ca and Whole foods and 1% on foreign currency transactions IF not a prime member
- 1% cashback on everything else
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to a year
Benefits
Details
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A CarTrip and legal Assistance
Yes
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A
Let’s move on from no-fee point contenders and step into cashback territory.
The Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard is particularly beneficial for Amazon Prime members. As a member, you can receive solid cashback on Amazon.ca, Whole Foods, and foreign currency transactions. If you’re not a Prime member, you’ll still earn cashback rates on these spend categories, but they’ll be less impressive. For the first half of your first year as a cardholder, you’ll also earn extra cashback rates on Amazon.ca, Whole Foods Market Stores in Canada, grocery, and restaurant purchases– so start spending right away!
The coverage on this card is standard – offering purchase protection and extended warranty insurance.
For benefits, you’ll get a car rental discount off the base rate of rentals at Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car. You’ll also have trip and legal assistance – a way to receive emergency cash transfers, lost documents and ticket replacements, and legal help while abroad.
Ultimately, this card is best for applicants who are already Amazon Prime members – that way they can take advantage of top cashback rates on Amazon purchases and everyday spending. Additionally, if you time your membership right, you can use this card to earn significant cashback in the first few months of account activation (which is a great way to optimize big purchases through participating categories).
MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus® Mastercard®
MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus® Mastercard®
3.2
go to MBNA's website
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 5% cash back††
Annual Fee*
$0
Interest Rates
19.99% / 24.99%
The MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Mastercard is a solid no-fee card for those looking to earn rewards on everyday essentials like gas and groceries. However, with a cap on rewards and a low base earn rate on other purchases, it may not be the best fit for high spenders outside of these categories.
Pros
- 5% cash back on gas and groceries: Earn 5% cash back on gas and groceries for the first 6 months (up to $500 spent per month).
- 2% ongoing cash back on gas and groceries: After the introductory period, continue earning 2% cash back on gas and groceries, up to $500 in combined monthly spend.
- Comprehensive insurance: Includes 7 types of insurance, including rental car insurance.
- No annual fee: Enjoy rewards without paying a fee.
Cons
- Low cash back on other purchases: Only 0.5% cash back on non-gas and grocery purchases.
- Cap on gas and grocery rewards: The 2% cash back on gas and groceries is limited to $500 in monthly spend.
Rewards*
- Get 2% Cash Back‡ on eligible gas and grocery purchases (until the total gas and grocery purchases in the applicable month reaches $500)
- Get 0.5% Cash Back‡ for all other eligible purchases
Insurance*
Coverage*
Purchase Protection
Up to 90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to a yearCar Rental Damage & Theft
Up to 31 days
Car Rental Accident
$300,000.svg)
Car Rental Personal Effects
$1,000Travel Accident
$1,000,000Car Rental Personal Effects
$1,000/person, $2,000 occurrence
Benefits*
Details*
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationallyTrip and legal Assistance
Support for emergency cash transfer, lost document and ticket replacement, lost baggage assistance, pre-trip information and legal assistance while traveling
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A
If you’re not an Amazon Prime member and don’t plan to be, you can always earn decent cashback on everyday categories with the MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Card.
With this card, collect decent cashback on eligible gas and grocery purchases. The only downside is that once you meet your monthly spend cap on these categories, your reward rate will drop to the base rate – which is below average. It's also important to note that when users opt for a statement credit from the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard, they can earn better "cash back" from their points than they would from the cashback rates of the MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Card, which is something to consider if you're looking at reward programs alone.
For a no-fee card, the MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Card comes with good insurance coverage – with notable inclusions like trip interruption insurance, car rental personal effects insurance, and car rental accident insurance.
You’ll also receive two solid benefits – car rental discounts at Avis and Budget locations, plus trip and legal assistance.
All in all, opting for the MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Card is a decent way to earn cashback on popular everyday categories, but even its points competitor, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard can give you better "cash back" through its statement credit redemption category. With this piece of information in mind, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard is best for overall rewards, but if you want better coverage alongside some cashback (particularly insurance categories that pertain to travel) then the MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Card is the way to go.
Best MBNA Credit Card for Travel
Travellers will be pleased to know that there’s one card in particular that can complement their trips – one that might be slightly familiar.
Our choice for: Highest rewards on groceries & dining
MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
go to MBNA's website
Welcome Bonus*
Up to 30,000 points ($245 in cash back value or $300 when redeemed for MBNA Travel)††
Annual Fee*
$120
Interest Rates
19.99% / 24.99%
The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is one of the best reward credit cards in Canada, offering high rewards on frequently spent categories such as groceries and restaurant purchases. The annual birthday bonus, unique to this card, also provides a significant boost to your yearly earnings. Additionally, the card features a comprehensive list of benefits, including price protection—a rare and valuable perk not found with many other cards in Canada. These factors make this card one of the best to have in Canada.
Pros
- Both restaurants and groceries, two of the most commonly spent categories, earn the most rewards.
- Great annual birthday bonus with up to $150 in value.
- A solid list of travel insurance and benefits.
- Price protection, a rare feature not offered by many other cards.
- Good value for many of the card's redemption options.
Cons
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, two great benefits are missing from this card.
- Not the best card for gas purchases.
Rewards*
- Earn 5 points‡ for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until $50,000 is spent annually in the applicable category.
- 1 point‡ for every $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- Each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points‡ equal to 10% of the total number of Points the Account earned in the 12 months before the month of the primary cardholder's birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 15,000 Points.
Insurance*
Coverage*
Mobile Device Insurance
$1000Purchase Protection
Up to 90 daysExtended Warranty
Up to a yearCar Rental Damage & Theft
31 daysFlight Delay
$500/person after 4 hoursTravel Accident
$1,000,000Emergency Out of province Medical
$2M for 21 daysLost or Stolen Baggage
$1000/personBaggage Delay
$1000/person
Benefits*
Details*
Annual Birthday Bonus
10% of the Points earned the 12 months prior to the primary cardholder's birthday month (up to a max 15,000 bonus points per year)Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationallyTrip and legal Assistance
Concierge Services
Price Protection
$500/item, $1000/account per year
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$80,000 personal or $150,000 household
The MBNA Reward World Elite Mastercard isn't just elite, it’s also your optimized MBNA ticket to see the world.
Once you earn points on your everyday spend categories like restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases, you can go ahead and use those points towards your next eligible trip. As it turns out, these points are actually the most valuable when spent towards travel.
To keep you safe and secure on every adventure, the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard also comes with travel insurance categories like flight and baggage delay, travel accident, lost or stolen baggage, and emergency out of province medical insurance.
The card also has a few benefits that are travel-oriented as well – like car rental discounts for road trips, trip and legal assistance for mishaps, and concierge services for vacation planning and booking.
At the end of the day, the best MBNA credit credit card for getting away is the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard because of its travel-applicable points, travel-oriented coverage, and travel-supporting benefits.
Best MBNA Credit Card for Low Interest
Before we wrap things up, let’s bring back a no-fee credit card with another important perk – low-interest rates.
Our choice for: Balance transfer and interest savings
MBNA True Line® Mastercard®
MBNA True Line® Mastercard®
go to MBNA's website
Welcome Bonus*
0% rate on balance transfers for 12 months (3% fee and not available in Quebec)†
Rewards Rate*
0%
Annual Fee*
$0
Interest Rates
12.99%* / 24.99%*
Even though this card offers no benefits or rewards, the amount you can save on interest is substantial, making it an excellent option for reducing your monthly payments.
Pros
- Great to reduce monthly interest payments during the promotional period.
- Low purchase interest rate for people planning to put some balance on their credit card.
Cons
- A flat fee has to be paid on the balance to make the transfer happen.
- Not a good card other for purposes other than balance transfer.
Rewards*
- No rewards earned on purchases.
- Standard Annual Interest Rates of 12.99% on eligible purchases, 17.99% on balance transfers✪, and 24.99% on cash advances.
- You could get a 0% promotional annual interest rate (“AIR”)† for 12 months on balance transfers✪ completed within 90 days of account opening, with a 3% transfer fee. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.
- Use available credit on your credit card to transfer funds right to your chequing account.
- Around-the-clock fraud protection.
Benefits*
Details*
Car Rental Discount
10% off base rate of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car in Canada and US and 5% internationally
Eligibility*
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
N/A
Sure, the MBNA True Line Mastercard won’t earn you any fancy rewards, comprehensive coverage or added benefits – but it will support you best when you carry a balance.
Notably, this MBNA option has all-time-low interest rates on purchases. Balance transfer rates are decent most of the time, but they’re their lowest in the first year of membership, and by low we mean non-existent.
So, if you want low-interest rates on your purchases all the time, and no balance transfer rates for a full year – you’ll find that the best MBNA credit card for you has to be the MBNA True Line Mastercard.
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