Is Barclaycard MBNA?

Is Barclaycard MBNA? 

We see a lot of UK credit card customers looking for answers to questions like the one above. Very often customers look to answer this question, when they are looking to make a balance transfer to a new card.

Why are so many credit card customers asking questions about the Barclaycard MBNA topic?

The reason is that as many of these customers will know, that you are not allowed make a balance transfer between two credit cards which are issued by the same company. So, for example, a balance transfer form one Barclaycard to another is not permitted.

Is MBNA Part of Barclays?

So are Barclaycard and MBNA credit cards issued by the same company?

If you are looking for a personal credit card, as most UK balance transfer credit card customers are, then the current answer is no. Barclaycard and MBNA are at the time of writing, separate credit card issuers.

All  of the following popular featured 0% balance transfer credit cards, will as a result currently accept a balance transfer from both a Barclaycard and from any MBNA credit card:-

Card Offers

M&S Transfer Plus*

Balance Transfers:

0% for 29 months

Balance Transfer Fee:

2.75%

Purchases:

0% for 3 months

Representative APR:

21.9% APR (variable)

Card Details

M&S Transfer Plus*

• 0% for 29 months on balance transfers made within 90 days of account opening
• 2.75% balance transfer fee, minimum £5
• 0% on purchases for 3 months from account opening
• Collect M&S points every time you shop anywhere in the world with your card
• One point for every £1 you spend in M&S and one point for every £5 you spend elsewhere
• Manage account online
• Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

M&S Transfer Plus*

• You are a UK resident
• You have an annual income or pension of at least £6,800
• You are aged 18 or over
• You have not held a credit card with M&S Bank within the previous 12 months

Card Offers

HSBC Balance Transfer*

Balance Transfers:

0% for 29 months

Balance Transfer Fee:

2.75%

Purchases:

0% for 3 months

Representative APR:

21.9% APR (variable)

Card Details

HSBC Balance Transfer*

• 0% interest for 29 months on balance transfers made within first 60 days of account opening
• 2.75% balance transfer fee applies (minimum £5)
• 0% interest on purchases for 3 months from account opening
• At end of promotional period, balance transfers and purchases will revert to standard variable rate
• Worldwide offers and discounts with HSBC home&Away
• Manage your card online
• Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

HSBC Balance Transfer*

• You have an annual income or pension before tax of £6,800 or more
• You are a UK resident
• You are aged 18 or over
• You do not hold an HSBC Basic bank account

Card Offers

Co-operative Bank Balance Transfer

Balance Transfers:

0% for 24 months

Balance Transfer Fee:

3%

Purchases:

0% for 4 months

Representative APR:

20.6% APR (variable)

Card Details

Co-operative Bank Balance Transfer

• 0% interest for 24 months for balance transfers made within 60 days
• 3% balance transfer fee, minimum £5
• 0% interest on purchases for 4 months from account opening
• All successful applicants will receive this exact rate and offer
• Online account management
• Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

Co-operative Bank Balance Transfer

• Only available to customers who have held a Co-operative Bank or smile current account for 1 month or more
• You are a UK resident
• You have annual income of £10,000 or more
• You are aged 18 or over

Card Offers

M&S Shopping Plus*

Balance Transfers:

0% for 20 months

Balance Transfer Fee:

2.9%

Purchases:

0% for 20 months

Representative APR:

21.9% APR (variable)

Card Details

M&S Shopping Plus*

• 0% for 20 months on balance transfers made within 90 days of account opening
• 2.9% balance transfer fee, minimum £5
• 0% on purchases for 20 months from account opening
• Collect M&S points every time you shop anywhere in the world with your card
• One point for every £1 you spend in M&S and one point for every £5 you spend elsewhere
• Manage account online
• Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

M&S Shopping Plus*

• You are a UK resident
• You have an annual income or pension of at least £6,800
• You are aged 18 or over
• You have not held a credit card with M&S Bank within the previous 12 months

Card Offers

HSBC Purchase Plus*

Balance Transfers:

0% for 18 months

Balance Transfer Fee:

2.9%

Purchases:

0% for 18 months

Representative APR:

22.9% APR (variable)

Card Details

HSBC Purchase Plus*

• 0% interest for 18 months on balance transfers made within first 60 days of account opening
• 2.9% balance transfer fee applies (minimum £5)
• 0% interest on purchases for 18 months from account opening
• At end of promotional period, balance transfers and purchases will revert to standard variable rate
• Worldwide offers and discounts with HSBC home&Away
• Manage your card online
• Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

HSBC Purchase Plus*

• You have an annual income or pension before tax of £6,800 or more
• You are a UK resident
• You are aged 18 or over
• You do not hold an HSBC Basic bank account

The answer to the question is MBNA part of Barclays, is however different when it applies to small business credit cards in the UK.

In April 2011 Barclaycard bought MBNA’s small business credit card portfolio in the UK. This resulted in around 60,000 small business credit card accounts being transferred from MBNA Europe to Barclaycard.

So in summary, is Barclaycard MBNA? The answer is currently no for personal credit cards, but yes for small business credit cards.

Is Barclaycard Part of Barclays Bank?

Barclaycard was the first company in the UK to provide credit cards back in 1996. Barclaycard is a trading name of British bank Barclays PLC. So yes, Barclaycard is part of Barclays bank. Millions of customers within the UK have a Barclaycard credit card.

MBNA Europe Limited had been owned by Bank of America since 2006. MBNA first began offering credit cards in the UK back in 1993. 

Lloyds Banking Group has now purchased MBNA Europe from previous owners Bank of America. This deal was completed in June 2017. As a result, the number of MBNA issued credit cards has been greatly reduced. There are now no charity, football or rugby club co-branded MBNA credit cards available in the UK market.

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