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Who is the Biggest Credit Card Provider in Europe?

Posted by sandrawaldorf on Feb 15th, 2012

MBNA Europe, headquartered in Chester, UK and sister company to MBNA America Bank, which is a major US issuer of credit cards in the US, is the biggest credit card provider in Europe. Through a successful affinity marketing strategy based on the one in use in the US, MBNA Europe amassed a customer base of 7 million in Europe and is also the largest credit card issuer in the UK.

By affiliating with various popular organizations, MBNA gained endorsement of over 800 organizations in Europe. Purchased by Bank of America in 2006, MBNA merged its portfolio with Bank of America’s credit card portfolio, significantly boosting its affiliate power in Europe and the UK.

Now a holding company with three main banks: MBNA America Bank, MBNA Europe Bank, and MBNA Canada Bank, this card issuer is actually the largest independent credit card lender in the world, marketing alongside over 5,000 universities, sports leagues, financial institutions, and retailers.

MBNA Europe also receives high marks for its charitable affiliations. By mid-May 2010, MBNA customers donated more than ?820,000 to the relief effort after the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. MBNA Europe itself donated 3% of the total in order to cover processing costs of the transactions charged by payment networks so that the total amount donated by customers went directly to the people in Haiti. In addition, Bank of America Corporation, parent company of MBNA Europe also gave $1 million to a worldwide fundraising campaign for Haiti in 2010.

The company also gained visibility by refunding any foreign currency exchange fees and charges for cash advances for customers who were left stranded abroad after the Iceland volcano eruption in April 2010, which grounded flights for several days. They also established a free phone line for customers who needed to increase their credit limits while stranded by the volcanic ash. Thousands of stranded passengers faced unexpected costs for hotel stays and living expenses during the travel crisis.

MBNA Europe issues some of the most popular charity credit cards in the UK, including:

? Breakthrough Breast Cancer Visa Card

? World Wildlife Fund Visa Card

? National Trust MasterCard

? Dogs Trust MasterCard

? RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Visa Card

The MBNA Platinum Visa and MasterCard, the MBNA Rate for Life Visa Card, and the MBNA Platinum Rewards Visa Card are three of the most popular credit cards in the UK. They also offer several popular football club credit cards and travel credit cards.