MBNA Credit Card

The Many Faces of the MBNA Credit Card

The primary strategy of rewarding customers with what appeals to them is an attractive feature of the MBNA credit card. The company has set up a great many alliances to make this possible.

Rewards Cards

There are a number of MBNA credit cards associated with award programs. Shopping incentives through select merchants; point redemption for catalog merchandise; extended travel opportunities and more. Depending on the incentive structure, some cards have annual fees and higher interest rates.

Cash Back and Investment Cards

From points earned to invest through The Motley Fool to cash back earnings on net purchases; cardholders wanting to maximize their financial potential can use credit to do it.

Travel Cards

The questions with travel cards are: where do you want to go, and how do you want to get there? Accrued points can be applied to cruise packages, train travel, certain resorts and adventure excursions, or follow a miles-per-dollar program.

Business and Professional Affiliation Cards

MBNA offers a selection of professional association cards that include features such as travel and merchandise awards and even cash. Business owners can take advantage of special money management systems such as setting employee credit limits, expense linking to Quickbooks, higher-than-average credit lines and more.

College and University Affinity Cards

Whether you’re a student, an alum or saving for a child’s college tuition, MBNA probably has a card you can use. There are college- and university-specific cards with various incentive structures, as well as program with the BabyMint College Savings fund, for which cardholders earn a particular percentage for every net dollar spent with merchant partners. Consumers also receive rebates through this program.

Sports Cards

Sports fans can show team pride and earn rewards in their favorite sport with this MBNA plan. NASCAR fans can accumulate points to redeem for the widely popular Richard Petty Driving Experience or become a race team member for a day for their favorite driver. Baseball fans will enjoy opportunities for field passes and signed memorabilia. A great number of sports niches are represented.

Entertainment, Recreation and Special Interest Cards

Elvis fans, opera aficionados, bass fishermen, Trekkies, wildlife supporters and poker players are just a few of the many special interests groups MBNA caters to in this division. These extra perk cards offer collectible incentives, discounts and deals relating to the interest or donate a percentage per dollars spent to a foundation or non-profit organization.

Rates and Applications

Many of these cards have a special introductory promotion of no interest on cash advances and balance transfers within a 12-month billing cycle, but also a possible 3 percent transaction fee. There’s a disclaimer that stresses “All terms, including the APRs and fees, are subject to change at any time, for any reason, in accordance with the credit card agreement and applicable law.” The current card guidelines state that the general APR begins as low as 4.9 percent for certain accounts but jumps to 19.99 percent if payments are late, so read the agreement carefully.

For more in-depth details about potential MBNA credit card options, visit the MBNA site for a complete directory. Each card has an online application available.