For the first time, all UK and Ireland credit card customers have a choice of channels when activating new, replacement or re-issued MBNA credit cards.

Customers have had the ability to activate credit cards online since 2008; however, this was limited to re-issued cards only.

Ian Craig, customer service and channel fulfilment executive for Bank of America Europe Card Services, which operates under the MBNA brand in the UK and Ireland, said: "Our customers tell us they want more online options to service their accounts so it makes sense to open up online activation to everyone. The majority of our new accounts are applied for online; so, for many, it is the right channel to offer more.

"We've expanded the scope to activate our cards as it's quite right that we offer them the freedom to service their account via their channel of choice."

Hundreds of thousands of MBNA credit cards have already been activated online this year - and more than half a million since online activation was launched in 2008.

The move adds to MBNA's transition to paperless statements for new Internet accounts launched earlier this year.

Mr Craig added: "We are committed to offering choice and convenience and we will continue to invest in better technology, that will deliver the online, mobile and voice recognition services our customers expect and deserve."