Who this card is for
A good fit if you…
- People who will transfer a balance within 90 days of opening, can live with whatever transfer fee the live page names, and will repay that transfer before the 12-month 0% window ends.
- Applicants who want a Mastercard they can take to Costco while they de-lever, without a Gold membership.
- Anyone who compared BMO Preferred Rate’s 13.99%-class ongoing rate and would rather start at MBNA’s $0 12.99%-class floor after the teaser.
- People who pay attention to provincial offer variation — the welcome offer currently flags that the 0% window may vary by province.
Skip it if you…
- Anyone who pays in full every month. A 12.99%-class rate does nothing if you never pay interest; Smart Cash Platinum Plus currently lists $0 grocery/gas cash back for that habit.
- People who will revolve for years after the teaser. True Line Gold currently lists 10.99% at $39 — do that math.
- Rewards collectors. There is no rewards program.
- Anyone chasing a cash signup bonus. No value estimate or detailed welcome terms are listed; 0% is not a dollar wrap.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No annual fee, so the 12.99%-class ongoing rate does not have to beat a membership first.
- The current welcome line is a long 0% transfer window (12 months) if you complete the transfer within 90 days — longer than several Big Five teasers.
- Mastercard acceptance includes Costco Canada, unlike TD and CIBC low-rate Visas.
- Additional cards currently show $0.
- You can step to True Line Gold later if the ongoing rate gap would clear $39. This $0 card is the on-ramp.
Cons
- There is no rewards program. Features currently say balance-transfer focused; no rewards.
- No detailed welcome terms, value, eligibility terms, or insurance are currently listed. Confirm transfer fees, caps, and provincial rules on MBNA’s page.
- Cash-advance interest is a 24.99%-class figure — much higher than purchases. Do not take cash and call it True Line.
- A 0% window that “may vary by province” is a real compliance footnote, not boilerplate you can ignore in Quebec or elsewhere.
- Check the issuer’s site for current insurance coverage. This is a low-rate Mastercard, not travel medical.
Fees and value: is the annual fee worth it?
First-year snapshot (estimate)
- Annual fee
- $0
- Estimated welcome bonus value
- Not listed
- Bonus minus fee (estimate)
- —
This is a simple comparison of the estimated welcome-bonus value against the annual fee. It ignores rewards on spending, credits you have to remember to use, and interest if you carry a balance. Offers change — verify with the issuer.
The fee table shows $0; extra cards currently show $0. There is no welcome-bonus value, so the first-year snapshot will not look like a cash gift — 0% is not a deposit.
Year one is $0 plus 0% on a qualifying transfer minus any transfer fee. Year two is 12.99% with no teaser.
If you will still revolve then, Gold’s 10.99% minus $39 can win on a large leftover balance; run the numbers. If you pay in full, Smart Cash Platinum Plus at $0 is the better MBNA card.
If you needed a Big Five transfer teaser with a printed fee rebate, BMO Preferred Rate currently lists that shape. Offers change.
Pay the promo down before it ends.
Rewards and earn rates explained
Rewards program: N/A
This card does not pay Smart Cash or MBNA Rewards. Rewards currently say N/A.
Put a transfer or a revolving balance here. Put grocery you pay in full on MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Mastercard or Tangerine Money-Back.
Put Amazon.ca spend on the Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard. Costco will take this Mastercard; warehouse spend still accrues at the purchase rate with no earn mix.
Welcome bonus: how to unlock it
0% promotional AIR for 12 months on balance transfers completed within 90 days of account opening (conditions apply; may vary by province).
The current welcome line is 0% promotional AIR for 12 months on balance transfers completed within 90 days of account opening, with conditions, and it may vary by province. No detailed terms, value estimate, or eligibility terms are listed. Confirm the transfer fee, minimum, and cap on MBNA’s page. Do not treat 0% as a reason to move a balance you cannot repay. Do not expect a cash bonus.
FAQ
Is the MBNA True Line Mastercard worth it in 2026?
It is worth it when you will complete a qualifying transfer, the 0% window and 12.99%-class ongoing rate beat the card you have now after fees, and you have a payoff date. It is not worth it as a cash-back card or as a card you pay in full.
True Line vs True Line Gold?
True Line Gold currently lists a 10.99%-class purchase rate at a $39-class fee with no teaser. This card currently lists 12.99% at $0 plus a 0% transfer window. Choose Gold if you will revolve past year one on a large balance. Choose this $0 card if the teaser is the point or the leftover will be small.
True Line vs BMO Preferred Rate vs TD Low Rate?
This Mastercard currently lists $0, 12.99%, and 0% on transfers for 12 months if you move the balance in 90 days. BMO Preferred Rate charges $29 a year and 13.99% on purchases, with 0% on balance transfers for 18 months and a 3% transfer fee. TD Low Rate currently lists 0% on purchases, not transfers. Match the teaser type to the debt you have.
Should I use this if I pay in full?
No. A low purchase rate only saves money when you pay interest. If you pay in full, MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus currently lists $0 grocery/gas cash back, which this card does not.
Does this card work at Costco?
Yes on network: it is a Mastercard. Warehouse spend still sits at the purchase rate with no rewards. Confirm any transfer-promo exclusions on Costco-related cash-like transactions in MBNA’s terms.
Compare related cards and guides
More Canadian credit card lists that match this product, plus a few cards people usually compare it with.
- MBNA True Line Gold Mastercard review · MBNA · $39 annual fee
- BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard review · BMO · $29 annual fee
- MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Mastercard review · MBNA · $0 annual fee
