MBNA True Line Mastercard Review: Fees, Perks & Who It’s For

The MBNA True Line Mastercard is best known for its strong balance transfer promotion, making it a popular choice for cardholders who want to move existing balances and reduce interest costs. This review breaks down the card’s features, fees and benefits so you can decide if it belongs in your wallet.

MBNA True Line Mastercard: The basics

The MBNA True Line Mastercard’s standout feature is its balance transfer promotion, but it also offers a low purchase rate and a handful of practical features. Below is a concise summary of what the card includes.

Earn rates	N/A — no rewards program
Insurance included	90-day purchase protection 1-year extended warranty
Special perks and features	No annual fee 0% promotional balance transfer for 12 months (when completed within 90 days) Low interest rate on purchases Up to nine authorized users at no additional cost MBNA Payment Plan for installment payments Rental car discounts with Avis and Budget
Fees	Foreign transaction fee: 2.5% of each foreign currency transaction
Minimum credit limit	Not specified
Supplementary card cost	$0

Pros and cons of the MBNA True Line Mastercard

Compare the advantages and trade-offs before deciding. The True Line card is targeted at people focused on reducing interest charges through balance transfers rather than earning rewards.

Pros:

• Lengthy 0% transfer period: The card offers 12 months of 0% interest on qualifying balance transfers, giving cardholders time to pay down debt without accruing interest.
• Low purchase APR: At 12.99%, the purchase interest rate is lower than many comparable cards.
• No stated income requirement: While MBNA may consider your overall financial profile, no specific income threshold is listed.
• No annual fee: You won’t pay a yearly fee, which helps keep costs down while you focus on reducing balances.

Cons:

• Balance transfer fee: Although transfers carry 0% interest during the promotional period, a fee of 3% of the transferred amount applies.
• No rewards: The card does not earn cash back, points or other rewards on purchases.
• Limited insurance coverage: Coverage is limited to purchase protection and extended warranty; it does not include travel or mobile device insurance.

Perks and features

The MBNA True Line Mastercard focuses on practical, debt-management features rather than premium rewards. The most notable perks are the MBNA Payment Plan and rental car savings.

MBNA Payment Plan

The MBNA Payment Plan lets you convert larger purchases into fixed installments so you can manage payments more predictably. Options include:

• 6 months with a 4% plan fee and 0% interest
• 12 months with a 6% plan fee and 0% interest
• 18 months with an 8% plan fee and 0% interest

Rental car discounts

When you pay for an Avis or Budget rental in Canada or the U.S. with this MBNA Mastercard, you receive at least a 10% discount off the base rate. International rentals through these providers offer at least a 5% discount.

Cardholder experiences and issuer reputation

Real cardholder feedback and third-party reviews provide useful context. Online forums and review platforms show mixed experiences, largely focused on customer service and account handling. Keep in mind the importance of maintaining minimum payments during the promotional period — missing a payment can end your 0% interest offer.

Also note that the balance transfer fee is 3% of the transferred amount, a cost to factor into your decision when evaluating potential savings from the promotional APR.

• Customer satisfaction: User ratings vary by platform, with some reviewers reporting issues related to payment processing and customer service.

In summary: the MBNA True Line Mastercard is a practical choice if your primary goal is to transfer a balance and reduce interest charges. If rewards or extensive insurance coverages are important to you, consider alternatives that focus on those features.

FAQs

Read more about credit cards:

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• Fee-based credit cards come with perks—but they aren’t for everyone
• Applying for a credit card: What you need to know