Brandwave

Capital One vs MBNA:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Capital One had more branded searches than MBNA among credit cards in the United Kingdom. Capital One had about 201,000 branded searches, while MBNA had 110,000. Capital One made up 23.5% of all credit card searches we track, and MBNA accounted for 12.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about credit cards, neither Capital One nor MBNA appeared in any of the five answers.

Among credit cards in the United Kingdom in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Capital One, about 83% more searches than MBNA

Capital One 201K searchesMBNA 110K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 0 of 5 answers.

Capital One in 0 of 5MBNA in 0 of 5

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Top credit cards in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, neither Capital One nor MBNA showed up in any of the five answers.

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Barclaycard3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • American Express1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Virgin Money1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Capital One0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • MBNA0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Tesco Bank0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Aqua0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Vanquis0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Zopa0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about credit cards

5 answers

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “Which credit card should I use in the UK?”

    1. 1American Express
    2. 2Barclaycard

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What are the best credit cards in the UK?”

    1. 1Barclaycard

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best credit card in the UK for everyday spending?”

    1. 1Barclaycard

  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “credit cards uk”

    1. Searched Google, AI Overview

      “business credit cards”

      1. 1Virgin Money

    Not named in any answer:

    Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 19, 2026.

    Is Capital One or MBNA more popular in search?

    This chart shows how often people search Google for Capital One and MBNA by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine credit card brands we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.

    Capital One and MBNA among credit cards in the United Kingdom, by month

    Share of searches by month for Capital One, MBNA. The figures are in the table below the chart.

    View monthly share of searches table
    MonthAmerican ExpressBarclaycardCapital OneMBNATesco BankAquaVanquisVirgin MoneyZopa
    Oct 202523.6%23.6%23.6%13%7.1%3.9%3.2%0.95%0.95%
    Nov 202520.3%24.9%24.9%13.6%7.5%4.1%2.7%1%1%
    Dec 202522.4%27.4%22.4%12.3%6.7%3.7%3%1.1%0.9%
    Jan 202623.5%23.5%23.5%12.9%7.1%3.9%3.2%1.2%1.2%
    Feb 202622.2%27.2%22.2%12.1%6.7%4.5%3%1.1%1.1%
    Mar 202620.2%24.7%24.7%13.6%7.4%4.1%3.3%0.99%0.99%
    Apr 202621%25.8%25.8%11.5%6.3%4.2%3.5%0.85%1%
    May 202621%25.7%25.7%11.5%6.3%5.2%2.8%0.85%0.85%
    Jun 202622.3%27.3%22.3%12.2%6.7%4.5%3%0.9%0.9%
    Jul 202622.3%27.3%22.3%12.2%6.7%4.5%3%0.9%0.9%
    Aug 202622.2%27.2%22.2%12.2%6.7%4.5%3%1.1%0.9%
    Sep 202623.5%23.5%23.5%12.9%7.1%4.7%2.6%1.2%0.95%

    How has the Capital One and MBNA comparison changed over the last 12 months?

    3 findings
    • Capital One was ahead of MBNA in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
    • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Capital One’s share of searches among credit cards in the United Kingdom moved from 23.6% to 23.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 246K to 201K.
    • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, MBNA’s share of searches among credit cards in the United Kingdom moved from 13% to 12.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 135K to 110K.

    How did search popularity change for United Kingdom credit cards in September 2026?

    2 changes

    1. In September 2026, Capital One gained share of searches among credit cards in the United Kingdom, from 22.2% to 23.5%.

    2. In September 2026, MBNA gained share of searches among credit cards in the United Kingdom, from 12.2% to 12.9%.

    How are branded searches counted?

    2 search terms

    Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Capital One’s and MBNA’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

    Capital One

    1 branded search term

    • capital one

    MBNA

    1 branded search term

    • mbna

    How the Brand Demand Index is measured

    Other head-to-heads among credit cards

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