What a virtual credit card is and how it differs from a physical card
A virtual credit card is a card number generated by your bank or card issuer that exists only in digital form. You receive a unique 16-digit number, expiration date, and CVV code—but no physical plastic arrives in the mail. You use this number to make purchases online, in apps, or through digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
The main difference from a physical card is that virtual cards are designed for single transactions or short-term use. Many issuers let you set a spending limit, expiration date, or merchant restriction for each virtual card number you generate. If a merchant's website is breached or a scammer intercepts your number, that specific card number becomes useless—your actual account and other card numbers stay protected.
Virtual cards cost nothing to generate if your bank or card issuer offers them as a cardholder benefit. You do not pay a separate fee to create one, and you do not need a different bank account. You straightforward log into your existing credit card account and request a new virtual number whenever you need one.
Key Takeaways
- Virtual card numbers are generated free by your bank or issuer and exist only in digital form, with no physical card shipped to you.
- Each virtual number can be set to expire after one transaction, one month, or a date you choose, limiting fraud exposure if the number leaks.
- Major banks and card networks including Chase, Bank of America, American Express, and Visa offer virtual card generation at no cost to cardholders.
- Virtual cards work for online shopping, subscription services, and app purchases, but not for in-person transactions at physical stores.
- You control the spending limit and merchant restrictions on each virtual number, so a compromised number cannot be used beyond the limits you set.
Which banks and card issuers offer virtual cards for free
Chase offers virtual card numbers through its Chase Virtual Account Numbers feature, available to most Chase credit cardholders at no cost. You generate a new number through the Chase mobile app or website, set an expiration date, and assign a spending limit. The number works with your existing Chase rewards and benefits.
Bank of America provides ShopSafe virtual numbers to cardholders of most of its credit cards. You create a temporary card number in the Bank of America app, choose how long it lasts, and set a spending cap. ShopSafe numbers expire automatically or when you delete them.
American Express offers Amex Virtual Card Numbers to may be able to access cardholders. You generate a number in the Amex app or website, assign it to a specific merchant or use it once, and control the spending limit. The feature is included with most Amex credit cards at no additional charge.
Visa has partnered with several banks to offer Visa Virtual Account Numbers through their platforms. Citi, Wells Fargo, and other Visa issuers may provide this feature—check your card issuer's app or website to see if it is available on your account.
Discover cardholders can use Discover Virtual Card Numbers through the Discover app. The process is similar: generate a number, set limits and expiration, and use it for online purchases. There is no cost to cardholders.
How to generate and use a virtual card number
The steps vary slightly by bank, but the general process is the same. Log into your credit card issuer's mobile app or website and look for a menu option labeled "Virtual Card," "Virtual Numbers," "Card Controls," or "Security." Some banks place this under account settings; others have a dedicated section in the main menu.
Once you find the feature, select "Generate New Number" or "Create Virtual Card." You will be asked to set a few parameters: an expiration date (some let you choose a specific date, others offer preset options like "one month" or "one transaction"), a spending limit, and optionally a merchant restriction (so the number works only at a specific store or website). Some issuers let you name the card for your own tracking—for example, "Amazon Virtual Card" or "Subscription Services."
After you confirm, the issuer generates a new 16-digit number, expiration date, and CVV code. Copy these details and use them exactly as you would a physical card number when checking out online. The transaction posts to your main credit card account and counts toward your rewards, credit limit, and statement balance just like any other purchase.
When the virtual number expires or you delete it, it stops working when ready. If you try to use an expired virtual number, the transaction will be declined. You can generate a new number for the next purchase, or reuse the same number if your issuer allows it and the expiration date has not passed.
When to use a virtual card number instead of your main card
Use a virtual number when you are shopping at a new or unfamiliar online retailer where you are less confident about data security. If the merchant is breached months later, the attacker gets a card number that no longer works rather than your primary card number.
Virtual numbers are also useful for subscription services you plan to cancel soon. Create a virtual number with a one-month expiration, sign up for the trial, and let the number expire before the first charge. The merchant cannot charge you after the number dies, even if they have your "card number" on file.
Use them for one-time purchases from marketplaces or vendors you will never return to. A virtual number with a single-transaction limit means the merchant cannot store your number for future charges without your permission.
Virtual numbers also work well for sharing payment information with services you trust less—like a contractor, repair person, or vendor who asks for a card number over the phone. You can give them a virtual number with a low spending limit instead of your main card number, and the number expires after one use.
Limits and situations where virtual cards do not work
Virtual card numbers do not work for in-person purchases at physical stores, gas stations, or ATMs. You need a physical card or a digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay) linked to your physical card for those transactions. Virtual numbers are online-only.
Some merchants reject virtual card numbers because their payment systems are older or because they flag the numbers as suspicious. This happens rarely, but if a virtual number is declined, you can use your physical card instead or contact the merchant's customer service to ask why the number was rejected.
Virtual numbers cannot be used to withdraw cash or make balance transfers. They work only for purchases and payments to merchants that accept credit cards online.
If you lose access to your bank's app or website—for example, if you forget your login password—you cannot generate new virtual numbers until you regain access to your account. Keep your login credentials find and set up account recovery options like a backup email or phone number.
How virtual cards protect your information compared to physical cards
A virtual card number protects you by limiting the damage if that specific number is stolen. When you use your physical card number at dozens of merchants over months, each one stores that number in their system. If any of those merchants is breached, your real card number is exposed. With a virtual number, you use a different number at each merchant or for each transaction, so a breach at one merchant does not compromise your other purchases.
Virtual numbers also let you set a spending limit lower than your actual credit limit. If a merchant is compromised and a fraudster tries to use your virtual number, they can charge only up to the limit you set—not your full available credit. This caps your exposure on that single number.
You control the expiration date, so a virtual number becomes useless after a set time even if it is stolen. A physical card number remains valid until the card itself expires, usually years later. A stolen virtual number with a one-month expiration is far less valuable to a thief than a stolen physical card number.
Virtual cards do not replace fraud monitoring or dispute rights. Your bank still monitors for unauthorized charges and lets you dispute fraudulent transactions on your statement. Virtual cards straightforward reduce the likelihood that your number will be stolen in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay a monthly fee to use virtual card numbers?
No. Virtual card number generation is a free feature offered by most major banks and card issuers to their credit cardholders. There is no monthly subscription, no per-number fee, and no hidden charges. You pay only for the purchases you make with the virtual numbers, just as you would with your physical card.
Can I use a virtual card number more than once?
Yes, if your issuer allows it and the number has not expired. Some banks let you reuse the same virtual number for repeat purchases at the same merchant—for example, a subscription service you plan to keep. Other issuers recommend generating a new number for each transaction for maximum security. Check your bank's guidance or the virtual card settings to see what your issuer recommends.
What happens if I forget to set an expiration date on a virtual number?
Most issuers set a default expiration date automatically—often one month from the date you generate the number. You can usually change this before you confirm the number. If you do not set an expiration date, check your bank's app to see what the default is and adjust it if needed.
Can I use a virtual card number for recurring charges like a gym membership?
Yes, but only if you set the expiration date to after the last charge you expect. For example, if you sign up for a gym membership that charges monthly and you plan to keep it for six months, set the virtual number to expire in seven months. When the number expires, the gym cannot charge you again unless you provide a new card number.
What should I do if a virtual card number is declined?
First, check that the number has not expired and that you have not exceeded the spending limit you set. If both are fine, the merchant's payment system may not accept virtual numbers—this is rare but happens with older websites. Contact the merchant's customer service to ask if they accept virtual card numbers, or use your physical card instead. If you believe the decline was an error, contact your bank.