Earn rates
The card earns at two rates. Eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases earn 5 points per dollar until $50,000 has been spent in that category in the year; everything else earns 1 point. Each year MBNA adds a birthday bonus of 10% of the points earned in the previous 12 months, up to 15,000.
| Spending category | Earn rate | Points per $100 spent |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 5x MBNA Rewards | 500 pts |
| Groceries | 5x MBNA Rewards | 500 pts |
| Digital media | 5x MBNA Rewards | 500 pts |
| Memberships and household utilities | 5x MBNA Rewards | 500 pts |
| Everything else | 1x MBNA Rewards | 100 pts |
MBNA publishes the redemption schedule: 100 points per $1 toward travel booked through MBNA Rewards, 120 points per $1 as cash back or a charitable donation. That is 1¢ per point on travel and 0.83¢ as cash. Points do not expire while the account is open.
Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Welcome offer | 20,000 points on $2,000 in purchases in the first 90 days, plus 10,000 points for enrolling in paperless e-statements in the first 90 days. Not available to residents of Quebec. |
| Birthday bonus | Each year, 10% of the points earned in the 12 months before your birthday month, to a maximum of 15,000 points. |
| Redemption | Travel at 100 points per $1 through MBNA Rewards; cash back or charity at 120 points per $1; gift cards and merchandise also offered. |
| Travel insurance | MBNA lists travel medical of up to $2 million for the first 21 days, plus mobile device insurance (up to $1,000) and price protection ($500 per item, $1,000 a year). Certificate figures not yet in our comparison. |
| Rental car discounts | A minimum of 10% off base rates at participating agencies in Canada and the U.S. |
| Points expiry | None while the account is open and in good standing. |
Insurance limits, age bands and conditions are set by the certificate of insurance, which we have not yet read into our credit card travel insurance comparison; until then this page names the coverages MBNA lists and quotes no figures.
What the earn math looks like
A cardholder spending $2,500 per month, split across typical categories:
| Category | Monthly spend | Rate | Monthly points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $600 | 5x | 3,000 pts |
| Restaurants | $400 | 5x | 2,000 pts |
| Streaming, memberships and utilities | $300 | 5x | 1,500 pts |
| All other spending | $1,200 | 1x | 1,200 pts |
| Total | $2,500 | 7,700 pts / mo |
92,400 MBNA Rewards points per year from everyday spending at this mix, worth about $924 in travel at 1¢ per point, before the birthday bonus (about 9,000 more points at this pace). Against a $120 fee that is one of the strongest earn-to-fee ratios of any mid-tier card, which is why the card is recommended so often. The ceiling is the trade: the point is worth 1¢ and never more.
Good fit if
- You spend heavily on groceries, restaurants and monthly bills and want the highest earn rate on them without juggling categories
- You want a fixed cent per point on any travel, no airline account and no award chart
- You meet the $80,000 income bar and will use the birthday bonus
Not sure this is the card for how you travel? Book a free conversation, or see membership plans for ongoing help.
Less useful if
- You want points that transfer to an airline for premium-cabin value; MBNA Rewards cap out at 1¢
- You live in Quebec, where the welcome offer does not apply
- You want lounge access or a travel credit; the card has neither