A clever way to find a credit card

To see which purchase credit cards you’re eligible to apply for and your estimated credit limit up front, try our eligibility checker, Clever Check.

It takes about 5 mins to complete and it won’t affect your credit score.

Check your eligibility

Not sure how purchase credit cards work?

A purchase credit card usually comes with a low interest rate on purchases to help you manage your essential expenses or regular bills and stay in control of your finances.

Why use a purchase credit card?

  • Keep track of your spending by putting it all in one place
  • You could earn cashback with MBNA Smart Rewards
  • Add it to your smartphone or digital wallets
  • Section 75 protection on purchases of over £100 but not more than £30,000

Read our using your credit card guide if you’d like things explained in more detail.

Start Clever Check now

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What other cards are available?

Balance transfer credit cards

Transferring existing credit card and store card balances you hold elsewhere could simplify your outgoings and make things easier to manage.

A balance transfer card could give you time to repay what you owe, helping you take control of your finances.*

Balance transfer credit cards

Money transfer credit cards

A money transfer is where you move funds from your credit card to your bank account to give you a bit more flexibility. This could come in handy for sorting any unexpected bills, or where credit cards aren’t accepted.

Money can only be transferred to a UK current account in your name from your credit card. Once it’s there, you can use your debit card or cash in the usual way.*

Money transfer credit cards

Transfer and purchase credit cards

With introductory rates on transfers and purchases, these cards could give you the best of both worlds.

One card could have everything you need if you’re planning on making transfers*, putting your everyday spends in one place, or spreading the cost of a larger purchase.

Transfer and purchase credit cards

*Transfer fees may apply

To be eligible, you must:

  • Be a UK resident, aged 18 or over, with a regular annual income.
  • Provide at least 3 years’ UK address history, an email address and phone number.
  • Provide your main bank account number and sort code.
  • Be free of County Court Judgements (CCJs), Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVAs) or bankruptcies.
  • Not be unemployed or a student.
  • Not have been declined for an MBNA credit card within the last 30 days.


We also consider things like:

  • Your credit history, including previous full credit searches.
  • Whether you can afford a new credit card based on your income.

After your Clever Check

To request a balance or money transfer as part of your application, you’ll need your non-MBNA credit and store card details (Visa, Mastercard or American Express), or UK current account details, to hand. You can do this later if you prefer.

Ready to see which purchase credit cards you’re eligible for?

To see which cards you’re eligible to apply for and your estimated credit limit up front, try our eligibility checker, Clever Check.

It takes about 5 mins to complete and it won’t affect your credit score.

Check your eligibility

Features you’d expect - as standard

  • Online card management - check your balance, review transactions, make payments, request transfers and lots more on your computer, phone or tablet.
  • Full fraud protection - you won’t be charged for transactions you didn’t authorise, as long as you tell us if you spot anything odd, or if you lose your card.
  • Choose how you pay - make repayments through your bank, using your debit card, or set up a regular Direct Debit.
  • UK call centres - call us 24/7 (in most cases) if you need to talk to us about something on your account.
  • Contactless cards - make secure payments wherever you see the contactless symbol. Add your card to your phone too, to make paying even quicker.
  • Paperless monthly statements - get your monthly statements delivered to your inbox instead of your letter box.

 

 

 

 

Useful credit card information

To find out more about MBNA credit cards, and borrowing in general, read our understanding credit section.

You’ll find helpful guides on managing your credit card, transfers made easy, and in-depth information about how credit scoring works.

  • Why can’t I see a list of credit cards?

    Instead of listing every credit card we offer, we’ll only show you cards you’re eligible to apply for, so you can make an informed choice about which cards will suit your needs.

    Which type of credit card should I choose?

    The right credit card for you depends on what you want to use it for, and on your personal circumstances. For example, if you want to combine existing card balances, then a balance transfer credit card might be useful.

    We’d suggest reading through everything on this page and on our website, so you understand exactly which credit card is right for you. We also have a handy guide on choosing the right credit card.

    Is a credit card the right option for me?

    A credit card can help you manage your finances, but it needs to be the right choice for your needs. Other borrowing options might be more suitable depending on what you need it for.

    For example, if you’re looking to build an extension on your home, a credit card might not be the right way to fund it. A loan might be more suitable as you can spread the repayments over an affordable term. However, if you need more flexibility with your monthly repayments, a credit card could suit your needs.

    Learn more about whether you should choose a loan or a credit card.

    Am I eligible to apply for a credit card?

    To be eligible to apply for a credit card, you must:

    • Be a UK resident, aged 18 or over, with a regular annual income.
    • Provide at least 3 years’ UK address history, an email address, and phone number.
    • Provide your main bank account number and sort code.
    • Be free of County Court Judgements (CCJs), Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVAs) or bankruptcies.
    • Not be unemployed or a student.
    • Not have been declined for an MBNA credit card within the last 30 days.

    We also consider things like your credit history, including previous full credit searches, and affordability based on your income.

    Will I be credit checked when applying?

    If you use Clever Check, our credit card eligibility checker , to see which cards you’re eligible to apply for then you won’t be credit checked. However, if you go ahead and complete a full application for a credit card, then we will do a credit check. This is so we can assess whether you’re likely to be able to make your repayments.