What Is a Virtual Credit Card Number? - NerdWallet (2024)

A virtual credit card number is a limited-use code tied to a credit card you already have. You can request a one-time virtual credit card number from your card issuer, if it offers this feature, to use for an online purchase.

Why use a virtual credit card number? It can make online shopping more secure because you don’t enter your actual card number at checkout. If a merchant you shop at is the victim of a data breach, your credit card information wouldn’t be compromised. In a way, this process is similar to a digital wallet’s built-in security features. Such wallets also use a random code when you hover your smartphone over a payment terminal, keeping your card number hidden from the merchant.

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Some cards grant you a virtual number to use until your physical card arrives in the mail. This way, you can begin using a new card instantly once your application is approved. When you receive the physical card, you’ll begin using that number instead.

How to create a virtual credit card number

Through your card or card issuer

Capital One cardholders can request virtual card numbers through the issuer’s Eno browser extension. Select Citi cards offer virtual credit card numbers as a feature. Log in to your account to see whether you’re eligible to enroll. The Venmo Credit Card, issued by Synchrony, offers a virtual credit card number alongside the physical card. You can use the virtual card number to shop online and request a new one (which would render the old number unusable) if needed.

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Through 'Click to Pay'

If your card issuer doesn’t provide virtual numbers as a benefit, there’s a workaround. Click to Pay is a payment system that works with Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. It streamlines the online checkout process at participating merchants by allowing you to store the credit cards of your choice. When making a purchase, you can choose which card to use without having to reenter your information. Click to Pay uses tokenization, which allows you to make a purchase without sharing your personal information with the merchant.

Through Google Chrome

With Google Chrome, you were already able to save personal information to your Google account, like credit card numbers and addresses, and the browser would automatically fill in that information for you later on. Now, you can create virtual cards for Capital One card accounts, so when you shop online, a virtual card number is filled in during checkout.

Through an app

You can use an app like Privacy to generate virtual card numbers for online purchases. With this app, you can also create virtual cards for specific merchants and set spending limits on those cards.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a Chase virtual credit card number?

No, Chase doesn’t offer virtual credit card numbers for the cards it issues. However, you can use Click to Pay, which works with Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.

Can I get a Citi virtual credit card number?

Some Citi cards are eligible for virtual credit card numbers. Log in to your account to see if you’re eligible to enroll.

Can I get a Capital One virtual credit card number?

Yes, Capital One offers virtual credit card numbers through its browser extension, Eno. You can also create a virtual card for Capital One credit cards through Google Chrome, so the virtual number is automatically filled in during checkout when you shop online.

Can I get an American Express virtual credit card number?

No, American Express doesn’t offer virtual credit card numbers for its consumer cards. However, you can use Click to Pay, which works with Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.

Can I get a Discover virtual credit card number?

No, Discover doesn’t offer virtual credit card numbers. However, you can use Click to Pay, which works with Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.

What Is a Virtual Credit Card Number? - NerdWallet (2024)

FAQs

What Is a Virtual Credit Card Number? - NerdWallet? ›

The virtual card number can be used instantly for online shopping, and once you receive a physical card in the mail, the virtual card number can still be used for extra security in scenarios where you don't want to provide your physical card details to the vendor.

What is the point of a virtual credit card number? ›

A virtual credit card works with your card account, and account numbers are randomly generated so that your actual card information is kept private when you engage in online or phone transactions. Virtual cards can help protect against fraud and prevent tracking by advertisers.

How do I find my virtual credit card number? ›

To find the virtual card number, refer to the receipt from the merchant or go to your card issuer website. If neither of these have the last 4 digits you can contact your bank for support.

Are virtual card numbers a good idea? ›

Virtual credit cards can make online shopping more secure. It's considered a safe payment option that puts an additional barrier between your credit card number and identity thieves.

Does a virtual card have a CVV number? ›

A virtual card is a credit card number, CVV code, and expiry date issued by a bank or credit card issuer. It's provided digitally to be used for shopping online. While you can use a physical card for in-person retail shopping and cash withdrawals, virtual cards are more temporary and digital.

Why do people use virtual cards? ›

The benefits of virtual credit cards

Virtual credit cards offer an extra level of security against criminals attempting to steal information via insecure connections or data breaches. If the account holder needs to cancel their card for any reason, a virtual credit card can make the process much easier.

Is it legal to have a virtual credit card? ›

Major credit card companies like Mastercard, Visa, Capital One, and American Express issue virtual credit card numbers as a way to provide an additional layer of security for online purchases or to limit spend to an account. Virtual credit cards are completely legal and available for mainstream use.

Can you trace a virtual credit card? ›

When a card number is generated, the charges are linked to the original credit card number. Similar to a virtual debit card, a virtual credit card can't be traced back to the original card, and it will not work after the purchase.

How does a virtual card work? ›

Virtual credit cards are digital credit cards that function like physical credit cards—but without the plastic. Rather than providing the same card number to multiple vendors, companies can limit their exposure to potential fraud by generating different 16-digit card numbers and expiration dates for each transaction.

What is the difference between a ghost card and a virtual card? ›

They're similar to virtual cards in that they don't exist in a physical, plastic card form. However, whereas virtual cards tend to be created to make a single purchase to a specific vendor, ghost cards can be used repeatedly as a non-cash payment method for various business expenses.

What are the disadvantages of virtual cards? ›

What are the disadvantages of a virtual debit card? Limited use: The main disadvantage of having a virtual debit card is that it can only be used for online transactions. So, if you want to use it for making purchases in-store or withdrawing cash from an ATM, you are out of luck!

Can I use my virtual credit card in person? ›

How To Use a Virtual Visa Card in Stores. You can use virtual Visa cards only in stores that allow contactless payments, given the card is compatible with digital wallets like Apple Pay or Samsung Pay. Note that this feature may not be available with every virtual card provider.

Why use a virtual number? ›

A virtual number helps segregate your personal and working hours without causing any disruption to your business. Calls to the same business number can be forwarded to a different number based on the time.

How do I use my virtual credit card number? ›

To use a virtual credit card number for an Amex card, select the virtual card number from the payment options drop-down when you are on a merchant's payment screen in a Google Chrome browser (or Android app). Google Chrome will automatically populate your payment information, and then you'll check out as usual.

Can a virtual account be traced? ›

Understanding the intricacies of what is a virtual accounts

These virtual accounts cannot be traced to the primary bank account by people other than the account holders, which offers the company an extra security layer from online fraud or theft.

Can I tap with my virtual card? ›

A virtual card is a digital card that can be used for eCommerce transactions, in-app purchases, streaming services, subscription payments, QR payments via Scan to Pay on the FNB App and contactless 'Tap to Pay' transactions on supported digital wallets such as, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay™, Garmin ...

Is it better to use a virtual credit card? ›

Virtual credit cards offer enhanced security as they are not tied to the cardholder's physical card or account details, reducing the risk of fraud. They control online transactions by generating unique card details for each transaction, limiting potential unauthorized use.

What is the purpose of a virtual bank card? ›

Virtual credit cards are digital credit cards that function like physical credit cards—but without the plastic. Rather than providing the same card number to multiple vendors, companies can limit their exposure to potential fraud by generating different 16-digit card numbers and expiration dates for each transaction.

What is the use of one card virtual card? ›

You can use your virtual card to shop online, make payments, or anywhere you can enter card information to complete a purchase. You can also add your virtual card to your digital wallet to make contactless purchases.

Why use a virtual Visa card? ›

With the Virtual Visa Debit card, you have the freedom to pay bills, shop online and shop internationally in-store, using funds directly from your bank account1. Safely shop at millions of merchants where Visa is accepted.

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