A Diners Club card is like a regular charge card or credit card, with an emphasis on travel — not dining, oddly. The main difference is that, currently, an individual can’t become a new Diners Club cardholder in the United States. However, Diners Club continues to service current customers.
How to get a Diners Club card
Although Diners Club corporate cards are still issued, you can’t apply for a Diners Club card as an individual in the United States. Consumer cards have been closed to new U.S. applicants for years, and as of March 2021, the professional (aka small-business) cards also offered no way to apply.
However, you can get other worthwhile travel credit cards that offer similar rewards and travel benefits to Diners Club cards.
Diners Club was the original charge card dating back to 1950, although it’s far less popular now in the U.S. And while its consumer cards for personal or small-business use are closed to new applications, corporate cards are still available.
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The main difference between corporate cards and small-business credit cards is that with corporate cards, generally, the business itself is liable for charges rather than the business owner.
At that corporate level, the company works on a franchise model. Discover, based in Illinois, owns the parent company, Diners Club International. BMO Financial Group — with corporate headquarters in Toronto — is a franchisee. It owns the right to issue cards in the United States and Canada.
As far as opening applications in the U.S. for Diners Club cards? A BMO spokeswoman said only that the issuer continues to invest in services that support existing cardholders in the U.S.
When applications were last open in the U.S. for Diners Club cards, it offered two consumer cards with the Mastercard logo:
Diners Club Card Premier. Annual fee: $95. Rewards were 1 Club Rewards point per $1 spent.
Diners Club Card Elite. Annual fee: $300. Rewards were 3 points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and at drugstores, and 1 point per $1 spent everywhere else.
Diners Club cards offered rewards that could be redeemed for airline frequent flyer miles, travel and merchandise. But the cards were also well known for their airport lounge access and travel-related benefits.
Similar cards were available for business owners (what Diners Club calls "professional cards") in two general flavors: a charge card and a credit card. As of March 2021, there was no way to apply online for the professional cards. Diners Club also offers six different types of corporate cards.
Existing BMO Diners Club cards are accepted anywhere Mastercard is accepted worldwide.
What to apply for instead
While U.S. residents can’t apply for a personal Diners Club card currently, they can apply for other good travel credit cards that can serve the same purposes and offer travel perks.
For example, NerdWallet has rounded up the best cards in these categories:
Diners Club cardholders (also known as Clubmembers) have access to exclusive benefits at restaurants, golf clubs and other service-industry merchants. The Diners Club partnership with over 1,300 airport lounges makes a Diners Club card useful for frequent travelers.
Buy what you need, earn points toward what you want. It's that easy! Diners Club invented the first card-based rewards program, and even after 20 years, it's easy to see why Club Rewards is so highly acclaimed. Earn one Club Rewards point for every eligible dollar charged.
Diners Club was the original charge card dating back to 1950, although it's far less popular now in the U.S. And while its consumer cards for personal or small-business use are closed to new applications, corporate cards are still available.
It has one of the highest base reward rates of 3.33% making it a great fit for high-spenders. The card also holds great value for frequent travellers as it offers unlimited complimentary lounge visits along with a low forex mark-up fee of 2%.
Formed in 1950 by Frank X. McNamara, Ralph Schneider (1909–1964), Matty Simmons, and Alfred S. Bloomingdale, it was the first independent payment card company in the world, successfully establishing the financial card service of issuing travel and entertainment (T&E) credit cards as a viable business.
You are responsible for the use of each card issued on your account according to the terms of this Agreement. The annual membership fee is $95 for the primary card and $35 for each additional card.
American Express and Diners Club are the most expensive card systems, with average merchant fees of around 1.4% and 1.8% of the transaction value, respectively.
Your Diners Club Card is accepted at more than 50M merchant locations – wherever Mastercard is accepted. Enjoy your journey and remain confident that with your Diners Club Card, you belong. An easy way to earn points every time you use your Card.
Now, Diners Club International Ltd. is a direct banking and payment services company owned by Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS), one of the most recognized brands in US financial services. As a member of Discover® Global Network, we have the capabilities to suit your needs.
Your account will automatically close on 30 July 2024, unless closed earlier at your request. Below, you will find a list of Frequently Asked Questions that will address how this will impact your Diners Club membership.
You will be advised of the fee when you perform the ATM Cash withdrawal. Earn 1 Club Rewards Point for every dollar withdrawn from ATM. You can withdraw cash in local currency with your Diners Club Card at more than 1.2M DCI Global ATMs.
Following Credit and Debit cards can be used for making Payment: Credit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, and RuPay. Debit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, and Maestro.
Diners Club in North America is a key franchise within the Diners Club International® network and is owned by BMO® Financial Group, whose corporate headquarters is in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Over 70 years of history, the Diners Club Card sets the standard for premier benefits. Your Diners Club Card is accepted at more than 50M merchant locations – wherever Mastercard is accepted. Enjoy your journey and remain confident that with your Diners Club Card, you belong.
Through an alliance between Diners Club and Mastercard®, the Diners Club Card is accepted at more than 50 million merchant locations – anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
Diners Club's service establishment coverage and acceptance is warmly accepted in airlines/travel hotels, restaurants, food and beverage outlets, departmental stores and retail outlets.
Absolutely!You can make use of the cash withdrawal facility at more than 1.2 million global ATMs in more than 140 countries and territories. Look for Standard Bank, Pulse, Discover and Diners Club International logos at ATM's. Convenience at your service.
Introduction: My name is Annamae Dooley, I am a witty, quaint, lovely, clever, rich, sparkling, powerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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