Credit cards
A credit card can be a flexible way to help you manage your borrowing. Check which credit cards you could apply for and see your estimated credit limit in minutes. Our eligibility check won’t affect your credit score and you’re under no obligation to apply. Credit is available subject to status.
Ready to compare 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.
It takes about 5 minutes to complete and it won’t affect your credit score.
Let's break it down
Who it's for
You could apply for a credit card if you:
- are a UK resident aged 18 or over
- have a regular income
- don't have a history of bad credit, such as bankruptcy
- don't have an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) or County Court Judgments (CCJs)
- haven't been declined for an MBNA credit card in the last 30 days.
Let's take a closer look
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Instead of listing every credit card we offer, we’ll only show you cards you could apply for. This means you can make an informed choice about which cards will suit your needs. You'll also see what interest rate and credit limit you’re likely to get, before you apply. This can help your credit score by preventing you applying for cards you may get declined for.
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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.
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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.
Learn more about whether you should choose a loan or a credit card.
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It only does what’s called a soft credit search. These can’t be seen by other lenders, which means they can’t be used when making lending decisions.
Helping you understand credit cards
Choosing the right credit card
When you’re looking for a credit card, it’s important you know what you want it for, whether it's purchases, transfers, or a card that’ll come in handy for emergencies.
To help you understand credit cards, watch our short video.
Run time 2 minutes 14 seconds.
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Helping you understand credit cards.
A credit card can help you pay for things your way.
Unlike your debit card, a credit card pays with borrowed money, which then needs to be paid back later.
You’ll be charged for borrowing in two ways:
Interest ... which will be a percentage of the money you borrow on your credit card.
And fees ... such as an annual fee or transfer fees ... or a charge for things like late payments.
A credit card comes with a credit limit – the maximum amount you can borrow with the card based on your circumstances … and your credit history.
You’ll have a minimum monthly repayment you’ll need to make – although you can vary how much you pay back each month above that amount.
Every month, you’ll get a credit card statement showing your balance, the minimum you need to pay and when to pay it by.
If you can pay off your entire balance before the due date, that’s great – you won’t pay any interest at all.
If you pay it back over a longer period, that’s fine too, but you’ll pay some interest … unless you have an interest-free offer.
Generally, the more you pay, the less the interest you’ll pay overall.
So it’s a good idea to pay off as much as possible, whenever you can.
If you already have borrowing, a balance transfer lets you move your balance from one credit card to another with a different provider.
This could mean moving to a card with a lower interest rate, which might reduce your monthly outgoings.
Credit cards also offer protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
This means you could get your money back if you run into a problem with most purchases over £100 up to £30,000.
The key points to remember when choosing a credit card are:
Be aware of interest charges and fees … and the more of your balance you pay off each month, the less interest you’ll pay.
So, think about what you want to use your credit card for and take your time to find the one that’s right for you.
MBNA – choices made simple.