Lena Hayes
The MBNA Smart Cash World Mastercard® is a focused cash-back card designed for households that spend heavily on gas and groceries. With a low $39 annual fee and a strong 5% cash-back offer for the first six months, it’s engineered to reward everyday essentials — making it a smart choice for budget-conscious consumers who still want a meaningful reward rate.
Quick highlights
- 🎁 Earn 5% cash-back on eligible gas and grocery purchases for the first 6 months (up to $500 of those purchases per month).
- 🛒 After the intro, earn 2% cash-back on gas and groceries (up to $500 per month combined) and 1% cash-back on all other eligible purchases.
- 💳 Low annual fee of $39.
- 👥 Add up to 9 authorized users at no additional annual fee.
- 📋 Benefits include Purchase Assurance, Extended Warranty and Price Protection — features often reserved for higher-fee cards.
Why we like it
For households where a large portion of spending is on gas and groceries, this card offers one of the standout cash-back rates among Canadian cards. The introductory 5% rate for the first six months is especially compelling for anyone who can quickly hit the spending threshold. After that, the 2% ongoing rate on essentials is solid given the low $39 annual fee. What really clinches it is the extra protections — things like price protection and extended warranty — that you rarely see at this fee level.
Stand-out features
- ✅ 5% on gas/groceries in the first six months.
- ✅ 2% ongoing on gas/groceries (up to monthly cap), plus 1% on everything else.
- ✅ Low annual fee and no additional cost for up to 9 authorized users.
- ✅ Built-in protections like Purchase Assurance, Extended Warranty and Price Protection for typical purchases.
Good to know
- ⚠️ The high earn rate applies only to gas and groceries and is capped monthly.
- ⚠️ The ongoing 2% rate also stops paying premium once you exceed the monthly cap for those categories.
- ⚠️ FX (foreign currency) transactions still carry the standard fee — this isn’t a travel-card substitute for overseas spending.
Pros
- Top earn rate on everyday staples for first six months.
- 2% ongoing cash-back for essentials — above average for a $39-fee card.
- Very low fee, and includes up to 9 authorized users at no charge.
- Valuable extra benefits (price protection, extended warranty) that many cards at this fee skip.
Cons
- High earn categories are limited (gas/groceries) and monthly capped (≈ $500 combined spend for premium rate).
- 1% on other purchases is modest — you’ll want another card for diversified spend categories.
- Annual fee $39, while low, means you still need some value to justify it.
- Not the ideal choice for heavy international spend because of foreign-transaction fee and lack of premium travel perks.
Rewards program
- 5% cash-back on eligible gas and grocery purchases for your first 6 months (on up to ~$500 monthly in those categories).
- After the intro period, earn 2% cash-back on eligible gas and grocery purchases (up to ~$500 monthly), and 1% cash-back on all other eligible purchases.
How to maximize rewards
- Use this card primarily for all gas and grocery purchases — that’s where the value lands.
- During the first six months aim to reach the ~$500/month combined cap for gas + groceries to hit the 5% earn in full.
- After the introductory period, continue to funnel as much of your essential spend into gas/grocery categories to retain the 2% rate — and consider rotating other spend to a higher-rate card where possible.
- Add authorized users (free) if you have family members with spending in those categories — it helps aggregate value without extra fees.
- For foreign travel or online international purchases, pair this card with a no-FX-fee card to avoid bogging down your rewards with high fees.
Insurance & benefits
Included
- 🛍️ Purchase Assurance on eligible items for typically 90 days from purchase.
- 🕒 Extended Warranty protection that doubles the manufacturer’s warranty by up to one year.
- 💡 Price Protection — if you find a lower advertised price within 60 days on a purchase you made, you may be eligible for a refund of the difference (within policy limits).
- 🚗 Rental Vehicle Collision / Loss Damage Waiver benefits when you charge the full cost of the rental with the card.
Not included / limited
- ❌ No premium travel medical insurance or extensive lounge benefits.
- ❌ The focus is cash-back, not luxury travel perks — so if you travel frequently abroad, you might need a companion travel-centric card.
Rates & fees
| Annual fee | $39 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 21.99% |
| Cash advance APR | 22.99% |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% |
| Grace period | 21 days (when balance paid in full) |
Best for
- 🛒 People who spend heavily on groceries and fuel each month and want meaningful cash-back on those categories.
- 👨👩👧 Families or households where multiple users can be added without increasing annual fee.
- 💡 Anyone who wants a simple, straightforward cash-back reward structure without rotating categories or complicated rules.
Where it falls short
- The high-earn categories are narrowly defined (gas & groceries) and capped monthly — so other spending earns only 1%.
- For users who spend a lot in other categories (dining, travel, etc.), this card may leave value on the table.
- Annual fee still applies — you’ll want to make sure you extract enough cash-back to justify it.
- Not ideal as your sole travel card because of foreign transaction fees and fewer travel-centric perks.
Customer reviews
Positive feedback
“The 5% cash back on gas helped me cover a lot of my budget in the first six months — great value.”
“Very few cards at this fee level give you extended warranty or price protection. That’s a nice bonus.”
Critiques
“I spend a lot on dining and travel, so the 1% catch-all rate is a bit underwhelming for me.”
“Wish the monthly cap on gas/groceries was higher — once you hit it the rate drops.”
Community insights
In budgeting forums many Canadians mention this card when discussing “best gas/grocery cash-back” options. It’s often pitched as a strong complement to a travel or dining focused card — funnel your essentials here, and larger non-category spend elsewhere.
AI review (straight talk)
If your monthly spending is heavy on things like groceries and filling up the car, the Smart Cash World Mastercard offers excellent value. The first six-month 5% rate is rare, and the ongoing 2% on essentials is very competitive. That said, if your spending is spread out (travel, dining, streaming, etc.), you might want one or two other cards with higher returns in those areas. In short: a highly practical card for everyday essentials, less so for diversified spenders.
Alternatives & comparison
| Card | Annual Fee | Top Categories | Other Purchases | Key Perks | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBNA Smart Cash World Mastercard® | $39 | 5% first 6 months; then 2% gas/groceries | 1% | Price protection, extended warranty | Gas/grocery spenders |
| MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus® Mastercard® | $0 | 5% first 6 months; then 2% gas/groceries | 0.5%-1% | No fee, strong intro | No-fee cash-back seekers |
| Scotiabank Momentum® Visa Infinite | $120 | 4% groceries/gas/recurring | 1% | No foreign transaction fee | Recurring & travel spenders |
| BMO CashBack® World Elite Mastercard® | $120 | 5% groceries; 4% dining; 1% other | 1% | Premium tier perks | High spenders |
FAQ
Is there an annual fee?
Yes, the annual fee is $39 for the primary cardholder.
What is the welcome offer?
You earn 5% cash-back on eligible gas and grocery purchases for the first six months (on up to ~$500 per month in those categories).
What are the ongoing earn rates?
After the introductory period you earn 2% cash-back on eligible gas and grocery purchases (up to ~$500 combined per month) and 1% cash-back on all other eligible purchases.
How is cash-back redeemed?
Cash back accumulates and can be redeemed as a statement credit, or other redemption options offered by the issuer when your cash-back balance meets eligibility thresholds.
Does this card include travel insurance?
This card focuses on cash-back; while it includes protections like purchase assurance and extended warranty, it does not offer premium travel medical insurance or lounge access benefits.
Final verdict & ratings
Our take If your spending is anchored in gas and groceries and you want a value-driven cash-back card with a low annual fee, the Smart Cash World Mastercard is a strong contender. The intro 5% rate is excellent, and the ongoing 2% is competitive for a sub-$50 fee card. If your spending is more varied or you travel internationally often, you may want to supplement with a travel-oriented or premium cash-back card.
| Overall | ★★★☆☆ 3.8 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Rewards value | 4.0 / 5 — excellent in its sweet-spot |
| Benefits & protections | 3.7 / 5 — strong for fee level |
| Fees & costs | 3.5 / 5 — still need to cover fee via spend |
| Ease of approval | 4.0 / 5 — moderate income requirement) |
