Comparison: MBNA World Elite Rewards Mastercard vs. National Bank World Elite Mastercard

Updated Feb 11, 2025
Fact checked by
Marie-Ève Leclerc
Marie-Ève Leclerc Marie-Ève Leclerc
Marie-Ève, Web Director at Milesopedia, is an expert in budget travel and a slow travel enthusiast. Specializing in Aeroplan, Scene+, and Marriott Bonvoy programs, she spends nearly six months a year abroad, making travel her way of life. Constantly seeking the best waves to surf, excellent coffee, and strategies to extend her travels, she is often found in coworking spaces with fellow digital nomads or by the sea, watching the sunset.
All posts by Marie-Ève Leclerc
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MBNA World Elite Rewards Mastercard vs. National Bank World Elite Mastercard
To the point Here's our detailed comparison of the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® and the National Bank World Elite Mastercard.

MBNA and National Bank each offer a credit card that earns 5 points per dollar spent at grocery stores and restaurants:

Welcome Bonus

The welcome bonus offered by each of these credit cards varies depending on the promotions. However, there are differences to be aware of between the two credit cards.

carte world elite mastercard banque nationale

Take advantage of this exclusive Milesopedia welcome offer: a discount on the annual fee for the first year (a $150 value) and up to 40,000 bonus points, distributed as follows:

  • 5,000 points if you sign up for payment insurance when you apply for your card
  • 5,000 points if you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
  • 10,000 points for purchases of at least $10,000 in the first 6 months
  • 10,000 points if you make at least $15,000 in purchases in the first 12 months
mbna rewards world elite new

When applying for the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®, you can earn these 20,000 points, within 90 days of account opening:

  • 15,000 points after first purchase;
  • 5,000 points after registering for electronic statements.

What’s more, the card offers a points bonus to celebrate the anniversary of the account opening. This bonus is equal to 10% of the total number of points accumulated in the account over the previous 12 months, up to a maximum of 15,000 points.

This offer is only available to residents of the province of Quebec.

Advantage: Tie

If you want an easy welcome bonus, the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is the best.

But in general, you’ll get better value with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard welcome offer.

Minimum Income

carte world elite mastercard banque nationale

The National Bank World Elite® Mastercard® requires:

  • minimum individual income of $80,000;
  • or $150,000 minimum family income;
  • or assets under management of $400,000 or more.
mbna rewards world elite new

The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® requires:

  • minimum individual income of $80,000;
  • or $150,000 minimum family income.
Advantage: Tie

Both credit cards require the same level of annual income. However, if you have assets at National Bank, you may be able to qualify even if you don’t have/no longer have these income levels.

Annual Fees

carte world elite mastercard banque nationale

The National Bank World Elite® Mastercard® has an annual fee of $150.

mbna rewards world elite new

The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® has an annual fee of $120.

Advantage: National Bank World Elite<sup>®</sup> Mastercard<sup>®</sup>

And yes, the annual fee for the National Bank World Elite® Mastercard® is higher than its competitor.

However, the National Bank World Elite® Mastercard® has a special advantage: it offers an annual reimbursement of up to $150 in eligible travel expenses!

So, using this $150 reimbursment to its full potential, your credit card costs virtually $0 every year.

Earning Points

The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® and the National Bank World Elite® Mastercard® each offer similar levels of point accumulation.

carte world elite mastercard banque nationale

With the National Bank World Elite® Mastercard®, you can also earn up to 5 points per dollar:

Category Points
Grocery and Restaurant 5*
Gasoline, Electric recharge, Recurring bill, À la carte Travel 2
Other purchase 1

For the Grocery and Restaurant category, you can earn 5 points for every dollar spent in the first $2,500 of monthly purchases (all categories combined) charged to the card. Starting at $2,501, points are accumulated at a rate of 2 points per dollar for the 5 X points category.

mbna rewards world elite new

With the MBNA World Elite® Rewards Mastercard®, you can earn up to 5 points per dollar:

Category Points
Grocery, Restaurant, Digital Media, Subscriptions and Utilities 5*
Other purchase 1
+ 10% Anniversary Bonus
(up to 15,000 points)

For the 5 X points category, you can earn 5 points per dollar in this category, charged to the card up to $50,000 in annual purchases (or an average of $4,166 per month). Starting at $50,001, accumulation is 1 point per dollar for the 5 X points category.

Advantage: Tie

This one’s tough!

Depending on your needs and the majority of your expenses, you may choose one or the other. The National Bank World Elite® Mastercard® has an advantage with its gas spending category. This can be an important part of your expenses too.

Since groceries are a major budget item, getting 5 points per dollar on one of these 2 credit cards for this expense is excellent.

But if you do a lot of spending in its 5-point category, the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is the best! Best of all, you have a higher purchase limit ($50,000 per year) with this card.

Plus, MBNA pays 10% on all points accumulated. This means that 5 points per dollar is more like 5.5 points! So think about your lifestyle and calculate what’s worthwhile for you.

Don’t forget the possibility of buying gift cards at the grocery store to maximize your points: you earn 5 points (or 5.5) per dollar, even for Walmart, Amazon, Sports Experts, Canadian Tire gift cards, etc.

Redeeming Points

Both cards are part of different loyalty programs:

Thus, the ways of using the points are different.

carte world elite mastercard banque nationale

With the National Bank World Elite Mastercard you cannot transfer your points to other programs. Here are a few ways to use your Reward Points:

Rewards Points for $100
Exchange on the NBC à la carte Rewards portal 10 000
Flexible travel discount
(from 55,000 points redeemed)
11 000
Flexible travel discount (on travel purchases you book yourself) 12 000
Extras à la carte
RRSP or TFSA contribution
Repayment of all-in-one mortgage or mortgage loan
12 000
Gift card 12 000 – 13 500
Statement credit 25 000

 

mbna rewards world elite new

MBNA points cannot be transferred to other rewards programs.

There are several options for using MBNA Rewards points:

Rewards Points for $100
Statement credit 12 000
Purchase of self-made trips 10 000
Physical and electronic gift cards Between 10,000 and 12,000 and more
Merchandise Approx. 12,000+ / $100 Variable

 

Advantage: National Bank Mastercard<sup>®</sup> World Elite<sup>®</sup> card but...

Thanks to the great flexibility of the National Bank World Elite Mastercard points can be used in a variety of ways. Even to pay off the mortgage!

But in terms of the number of points required, the MBNA Rewards World EliteMD Mastercard® requires the fewest on certain rewards.

Other Benefits

carte world elite mastercard banque nationale

Each calendar year, the holder of a National Bank World Elite Mastercard cardholder has a travel credit of $150 to reimburse certain travel expenses:

  • Airport parking
  • Baggage fees
  • Seat selection
  • Access to airport lounges
  • Airline ticket upgrades

It also offers:

mbna rewards world elite new

With the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®, you can also enjoy the benefits of World Elite cardholders:

  • A subscription to the DragonPass program, which gives you access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide ($32 USD per person).
  • Free Wi-Fi access on the move, anywhere in the world, thanks to Boingo
  • Priceless.com program and its inspiring experiences
  • An anniversary points bonus equal to 10% of the total number of points accumulated in the account during the 12 months preceding the primary cardholder’s card anniversary month, up to an annual anniversary bonus of 15,000 points.
Advantage: National Bank World Elite<sup>®</sup> Mastercard<sup>®</sup>

With its wide range of travel benefits, the National Bank World Elite Mastercard is unbeatable in this respect.

Insurance

Insurance <a rel=national bank world elite mastercard® card" width="200" height="126"> mbna rewards world elite new
Trip Cancellation Insurance Up to $2,500
Trip interruption insurance up to $5,000 up to $2,000
Out-of-Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance Up to $5,000,000 for up to 60 days Up to $2,000,000 for 21 days
Flight delay insurance Up to $500
after 4 hours
Up to $500
after 4 hours
Baggage Delay Insurance Up to $500
after 6 hours
Up to $1,000
after 4 hours
Baggage loss or theft insurance up to $1,000 up to $1,000
Hotel burglary insurance
Rental car theft and damage insurance up to $65,000 up to $65,000
Travel accident insurance 1 000 000 $
Purchase Protection 2 additional years 1 additional year
Purchase Guarantee Up to $1,000
180 days
Up to $1,000
60 days
Advantage: National Bank World Elite<sup>®</sup> Mastercard<sup>®</sup>

In general, the National Bank World Elite® Mastercard® offers more generous additional coverages than the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®.

What’s more, you only need to carry a portion of your travel purchases on the card to benefit from most of the insurance coverages.

Whereas, depending on coverage, the MBNA World EliteMD Rewards MastercardMD card requires that at least 75% or 100% of the cost of the trip or ticket be charged to it. You will then need to read carefully all the little details that could make a big difference.

Bottom Line

So? Which card is the winner?

In our opinion, for everyday purchases, it’s the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®. But if you travel a lot and insurance is essential, the National Bank Mastercard® World Elite® is the best choice.

The MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® is simple to understand and stands out on:

  • Easy-to-get welcome bonus;
  • 10% in bonus points paid annually;
  • Its reasonable annual fee;
  • The future possibility of transferring points to the Alaska Airlines loyalty program;

While National Bank’s World Elite® Mastercard® sets itself apart with

  • Annual reimbursement of up to $150 on eligible travel expenses;
  • Its welcome offer, which arrives a few times a year;
  • Its robust travel insurance package is one of the best of any credit card in Canada;
  • The opportunity to invest your points in an RRSP, TFSA or to pay off your mortgage;
  • Unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge before your trip to Montreal-Trudeau International Airport.
Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Caroline Tremblay
Caroline Tremblay
Caroline, a loyalty program specialist, helps families maximize their points to travel more frequently and affordably. With expertise in Disney, AIR MILES, and Costco, she travels the world with her partner and two children through rewards. Passionate about the latest in loyalty programs, Caroline shares tips to help you earn more points and turn your travel dreams into reality.
All posts by Caroline Tremblay
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