Overall rating
First year value
$0
Get this card if you:
- want a low-interest rate on purchases and balance transfers
- want to lower existing credit card debt
- value purchase protection and extended warranty coverage
Scores by category
Low Interest 3.2
Balance Transfer 3.0
At a glance
The MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® is a low-interest credit card designed for individuals seeking to manage their credit card debt more effectively. It offers essential benefits such as purchase assurance, extended warranty coverage, and fraud protection.
Highlights
$39
Annual fee
$39
Interest Rates
10.99%
Purchase APR
13.99%
Balance transfer APR
24.99%
Cash advance APR
Eligibility
Good
Recommended credit score
Quick overview of the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard®
MBNA has retired its popular Platinum Plus Mastercard but introduced two excellent balance transfer credit cards to replace it. Of the two, the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® credit card offers favourable interest rates over other cards on the market, even though it does have a low $39 annual fee. Despite the fee, however, the Gold card is an expert favorite thanks to that low rate, making it one of the best low rate credit cards available today.
Who is the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® for?
The MBNA True Line Gold is ideal for anyone looking for an everyday low rate. While those who are trying hard to reduce their credit card debt will naturally be averse to the idea of paying a $39 annual fee, the lower interest rates of the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® credit card will end up saving them far more than $39 in the long run.
Those still bristling over the annual fee should consider the MBNA True Line® Mastercard® credit card, which features no annual fee, a slightly higher 12.99% APR.
Pros and cons
Pros
-
Low interest rate on purchases and balance transfers
-
Proactive fraud protection
Cons
-
$39 annual fee
-
Penalty interest rate if minimum payments are missed
MBNA True Line® Gold credit card welcome bonus
The True Line Gold credit card from MBNA stands out from other cards in that it does not offer a welcome bonus or any other perks like a 0% APR or bonus points. However, it does provide an exceptionally low everyday APR that is significantly lower than most other options available in the Canadian market today.
Key benefits of this MBNA Mastercard
The True Line Gold Mastercard's biggest benefit from MBNA is its hugely impressive everyday interest rate on purchases and balance transfers. The card's 10.99% APR is more than half the rate found with almost all other credit cards from MBNA - and any other issuer for that matter.
While 10.99% is not 0%, that transfer interest rate can help you save significant money on interest charges over the course of your card membership. According to the bank, you could save around $500 annually by transferring a $5,000 balance from a regular rewards credit card charging a 19.99% interest rate.
Beyond the low APR, the gold version of the MBNA True Line® Mastercard also features comprehensive fraud protection courtesy of the Mastercard payment network.
MBNA provides access to customer service via phone and online chat, so any issues a cardholder encounters during transfers or daily use can be addressed. They also offer all cardholders around-the-clock protection from fraud, a service similar to those that scan statement entries in real time and warn cardholders of suspicious activity.
MBNA True Line® Gold credit card insurance coverage
The MBNA True Line Gold Mastercard offers a range of essential insurance coverage, consistent with the standards expected from a Mastercard product. This includes:
- Purchase assurance: Coverage for items purchased with your MBNA credit card within the first 90 days from the date of purchase.
- Extended warranty coverage: Cardholders can have an extended warranty of up to 1 year after the original manufacturer's Canadian warranty and the purchased service contract or extended warranty coverage period ends.
- Mastercard Zero Liability: Cardholders are not held responsible for fraudulent transactions on their MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard®.
Extra benefits of the MBNA True Line® Gold
The MBNA True Line Gold Mastercard offers an array of additional benefits aimed at providing you with peace of mind both domestically and internationally:
- Additional rental car savings: Using the MBNA credit card to book rental cars through Avis or Budget, you can enjoy up to a 10% discount off the base rate (10% off in Canada and 5% off in the US). Quote your discount code (#C078405 for Avis or #A331704 for Budget) at the time of reservation and charge the full rental to your MBNA card.
- Trip assistance: Enjoy comprehensive support for lost luggage, lost documents and ticket replacement, pre-trip information, and legal assistance.
- Emergency card replacement: Gain access to emergency card replacement and emergency support.
- Mastercard contactless payments: Experience the convenience of making contactless payments with your Mastercard.
- Card Verification Codes (CVC) and chip & pin technology: Benefit from an extra layer of security provided by CVC and chip & PIN technology.
How the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® compares
Two Canadian credit cards that are worthy competitors of the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® are the CIBC Select Visa* Card and the Scotiabank Value® Visa* Card.
MBNA True Line® Gold vs. CIBC Select Visa*
0% interest
Welcome Bonus
$0
First Year Value
$0
Annual Value
Welcome Bonus: Transfer your credit card balance and get 0% interest for up to 10 months with a 1% transfer fee† and a first year annual fee rebate.‡
Get this card if you...
-
want a low-interest rate on purchases and balance transfers
-
want a modest annual fee
-
don't need comprehensive insurance benefits
Annual Fee & Annual Interest Rates
$29
Annual Fee
13.99%†
Purchase
13.99%†
Cash Advance
13.99%†
Balance Transfer
Our Take
The CIBC Select Visa* Card is a low-interest credit card offering a promotional interest rate on balance transfers for a specified period, subject to a transfer fee. It features a low annual fee and provides basic insurance coverage, making it suitable for individuals seeking to manage existing credit card debt or minimize interest charges on new purchases.
Eligibility
Good (620 - 670)
Recommended Credit Score
$15,000
Required Annual Household Income
Pros
-
0% Balance Transfer rate for a generous 10 months with a low (1%) Balance Transfer fee†
-
13.99%† Purchase Annual Interest Rate
-
A first year annual fee rebate†
-
No annual fee for additional cards (up to 3)
Cons
-
There are other low interest cards available with no annual fee whatsoever
-
Few distinguishing benefits beyond its interest rates
Annual Interest Rates
13.99%†
Purchase
13.99%†
Cash Advance
13.99%†
Balance Transfer
0.00%†
Balance Transfer (Introductory)
25.99%†
Penalty
Fees
$29
Annual Fee
2.50%†
Foreign Transaction
5.00%†
Balance Transfer
$29
Over The Limit Penalty
$42.5
Return Penalty
Rewards
10 cents
up to 10 cents off per litre♢ when you link your Journie Rewards card (terms apply)
Insurance Benefits
$100,000
Travel accident insurance amount
Transfer your credit card balance and get 0% interest for up to 10 months with a 1% transfer fee†
Transfer up to 50% of your assigned credit limit†.
If you choose to carry a balance and you make your minimum payments on time, a balance transfer could save you money on interest.
Take advantage of this 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for your first 10 months. You’ll only have to pay a 1% fee† when you transfer your balance from another card to the CIBC Select Visa Card.
This balance transfer offer is only available at the time of your online application†. Simply tick the checkbox to select the balance transfer option when you’re filling out your application.
Once you take advantage of this offer, you'll have a promotional rate balance on your account. As a result, you will lose your interest-free grace period on new purchases unless you pay your amount due, including any promotional rate balances, in full each month. While you will enjoy the promotional rate on the balances you transfer by using this offer, new purchases will be subject to the purchase interest rate.
Our Take
The CIBC Select Visa* Card is a low-interest credit card offering a promotional interest rate on balance transfers for a specified period, subject to a transfer fee. It features a low annual fee and provides basic insurance coverage, making it suitable for individuals seeking to manage existing credit card debt or minimize interest charges on new purchases.
Eligibility
Good (620 - 670)
Recommended Credit Score
$15,000
Required Annual Household Income
Pros
-
0% Balance Transfer rate for a generous 10 months with a low (1%) Balance Transfer fee†
-
13.99%† Purchase Annual Interest Rate
-
A first year annual fee rebate†
-
No annual fee for additional cards (up to 3)
Cons
-
There are other low interest cards available with no annual fee whatsoever
-
Few distinguishing benefits beyond its interest rates
Annual Interest Rates
13.99%†
Purchase
13.99%†
Cash Advance
13.99%†
Balance Transfer
0.00%†
Balance Transfer (Introductory)
25.99%†
Penalty
Fees
$29
Annual Fee
2.50%†
Foreign Transaction
5.00%†
Balance Transfer
$29
Over The Limit Penalty
$42.5
Return Penalty
Rewards
10 cents
up to 10 cents off per litre♢ when you link your Journie Rewards card (terms apply)
Insurance Benefits
$100,000
Travel accident insurance amount
Transfer your credit card balance and get 0% interest for up to 10 months with a 1% transfer fee†
Transfer up to 50% of your assigned credit limit†.
If you choose to carry a balance and you make your minimum payments on time, a balance transfer could save you money on interest.
Take advantage of this 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for your first 10 months. You’ll only have to pay a 1% fee† when you transfer your balance from another card to the CIBC Select Visa Card.
This balance transfer offer is only available at the time of your online application†. Simply tick the checkbox to select the balance transfer option when you’re filling out your application.
Once you take advantage of this offer, you'll have a promotional rate balance on your account. As a result, you will lose your interest-free grace period on new purchases unless you pay your amount due, including any promotional rate balances, in full each month. While you will enjoy the promotional rate on the balances you transfer by using this offer, new purchases will be subject to the purchase interest rate.
The CIBC Select Visa* Card features a low Purchase Annual Interest Rate of 13.99%†, a solid 5 points percentage higher than the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard®. However, unlike the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard®, the CIBC Select Visa* Card offers this low 13.99%† Cash Advance Annual Interest Rate as well, compared to MBNA’s sky-high rate of 24.99%.
The CIBC Select Visa* Card also features a balance transfer promotion: Transfer your credit card balance and get 0% interest for up to 10 months with a 1% transfer fee† and a first year annual fee rebate.‡.
The MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® allows you to transfer up to your full authorized credit limit whereas the CIBC Select Visa* Card only lets you transfer up to 50% of your credit limit.
While the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® charges a $39 annual fee, the CIBC Select Visa* Card's annual fee is $29 and CIBC offers a first year annual fee rebate.†
CIBC Select Visa* Card Welcome Bonus breakdown:
Transfer your credit card balance and get 0% interest for up to 10 months with a 1% transfer fee†
Transfer up to 50% of your assigned credit limit†.
If you choose to carry a balance and you make your minimum payments on time, a balance transfer could save you money on interest.
Take advantage of this 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for your first 10 months. You’ll only have to pay a 1% fee† when you transfer your balance from another card to the CIBC Select Visa Card.
This balance transfer offer is only available at the time of your online application†. Simply tick the checkbox to select the balance transfer option when you’re filling out your application.
Once you take advantage of this offer, you'll have a promotional rate balance on your account. As a result, you will lose your interest-free grace period on new purchases unless you pay your amount due, including any promotional rate balances, in full each month. While you will enjoy the promotional rate on the balances you transfer by using this offer, new purchases will be subject to the purchase interest rate.
Disclosures:
- †Terms and Conditions Apply. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.
- The information for the CIBC Select Visa* Card has been collected independently by Money.ca. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
MBNA True Line Gold vs. Scotiabank Value® Visa* Card
0.99% intro rate
Welcome Bonus
$0
First Year Value
$0
Annual Value
Welcome Bonus: 0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months (2% fee per cash advance, 13.99% after that), plus no annual fee for the first year ($29 value). Expires Oct 31, 2025
Get this card if you...
-
want to pay down credit card debt
-
want both low interest and a low annual fee
-
appreciate a good welcome offer
Annual Fee & Annual Interest Rates
$29
Annual Fee
13.99%
Purchase
13.99%
Cash Advance
13.99%
Balance Transfer
Our Take
The Scotiabank Value® Visa* Card is a low-interest credit card designed for individuals who may carry a balance, offering a lower annual interest rate on purchases and cash advances compared to standard credit cards.
Eligibility
Fair (300 - 619)
Recommended Credit Score
$12,000
Required Annual Personal Income
Pros
-
Lengthy introductory APR on balance transfers
-
A great low rate everyday
-
Available to applicants with average credit
Cons
-
No rewards program
-
Insurance coverage is an optional extra
-
Carries an annual fee
Annual Interest Rates
13.99%
Purchase
13.99%
Cash Advance
13.99%
Balance Transfer
0.99%
Balance Transfer (Introductory)
Fees
$29
Annual Fee
2.50%
Foreign Transaction
$5
Cash Advance
$29
Over The Limit Penalty
0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months (2% fee per cash advance, 13.99% after that). Plus no annual fee for the first year (after that annual fee $29). |
Our Take
The Scotiabank Value® Visa* Card is a low-interest credit card designed for individuals who may carry a balance, offering a lower annual interest rate on purchases and cash advances compared to standard credit cards.
Eligibility
Fair (300 - 619)
Recommended Credit Score
$12,000
Required Annual Personal Income
Pros
-
Lengthy introductory APR on balance transfers
-
A great low rate everyday
-
Available to applicants with average credit
Cons
-
No rewards program
-
Insurance coverage is an optional extra
-
Carries an annual fee
Annual Interest Rates
13.99%
Purchase
13.99%
Cash Advance
13.99%
Balance Transfer
0.99%
Balance Transfer (Introductory)
Fees
$29
Annual Fee
2.50%
Foreign Transaction
$5
Cash Advance
$29
Over The Limit Penalty
0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months (2% fee per cash advance, 13.99% after that). Plus no annual fee for the first year (after that annual fee $29). |
The Scotiabank Value® Visa* Card charges a low interest rate of 13.99%. Where the Value Visa wins is the balance transfer bonus of 0.99% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 9 months (2% fee per cash advance, 13.99% after that), plus no annual fee for the first year ($29 value). So if you're looking to pay down debt fast, the Scotiabank Value® Visa* Card may be your best bet.
Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card to learn more. *See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information.
Is the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® worth it?
Those who are trying hard to reduce their credit card debt will naturally be averse to the idea of paying a $39 annual fee. In this case, they might instead be drawn to a no-fee balance transfer card, like the MBNA True Line® Mastercard® credit card. But before making that choice they should consider the likely possibility that the lower interest rates of the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® credit card will end up saving them far more than $39 in the long run.
MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard® eligibility requirements
To be eligible for the MBNA True Line® Gold Mastercard®, you must be a Canadian resident and have reached the age of majority in your resident province or territory. Additionally, you should have a credit score of at least "Good." There is no minimum income requirement. However, please note that the balance transfer promotion offer is not available for residents of Quebec.
MBNA True Line Gold Mastercard FAQs
✪, Terms and Conditions apply.
This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.
Sponsored advertising. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) and TD is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information on this MBNA credit card, please click on the “Apply Now” button
The Toronto-Dominion Bank is the issuer of this credit card. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ®MBNA and other-trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.
Cory Santos is a finance writer, editor and credit card expert with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance. Cory joined Wise Publishing from BestCards, with bylines in numerous print and digital publications across North America, including the Miami Herald, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Debt.ca, AOL, MSN and Medium as well as financial podcasts like KOFE Talk.
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†Terms and Conditions apply.