The MBNA CPA credit card is for the certified public accountants. Basically all cards have rewards to them, that is how we distinguish them from others on the market. The competitive industry demands that there is a card for everyone on the market that they will be satisfied with. The CPA visa credit card is no different. Here is how it works:
The card is exclusive for members of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants. That means you must be a CPA to qualify for the card. The card will have the CPA logo on the front that shows off your membership to the club. There are membership benefits such as discounts and other special savings that you earn by having the card. While the information is not specific you do get rewards for belonging to the group.
These next few benefits are universal on the MBNA cards. They may vary from other companies, but these are important to making your decision.
First the annual percentage rate is 14.9 percent on purchases and balance transfers. This rate is competitive, but also a little lower than other cards on the market from MBNA and other companies. Most cards tend to hover around the 16.9 percent. The 14.9 percent is offered to those with excellent credit history and the income to qualify. If you have a lower credit history in which you are seen as risky you may receive a higher interest rate on the card.
There is a balance transfer rate special. It is 1.9 percent APR for 6 months from the day the account is opened. This is a worthy rate considering the normal rate for balance transfers. It can help you pay off another card and gain a better interest rate. This interest rate doesn’t waive the balance transfer handling fee.
The card also offers 58 days of interest free on purchases when you pay the card balance in full and on time every month. This means you wouldn’t have to pay interest depending on how you treat the card.
There is automatic insurance for purchases over 63 Euros and under 1270 Euros. There is also fraud protection, and travel accident insurance offered for free. This card doesn’t have an annual fee; however like all cards in Ireland there is a government tax that will be paid yearly on the card.
MBNA offers online management and 24 hour help like most credit card companies. You will find that the card is pretty standard even down to the visa logo. The difference is the CPA benefits you receive with the card. No other card offers this and if you are a CPA it can be a good card to have at your disposal for business. It is not a card for everyone, at least that’s what our review found. So make sure that the purchase rate, balance transfer offer, and other benefits make the card worth having over the benefits of the CPA memberships, as that may not be enough to sell you the card.