A virtual credit card number is a temporary set of digits your card issuer generates for online shopping, separate from your actual card number
When you use a virtual card number, the merchant sees a different number than the one on your physical card. If that temporary number is stolen or compromised, the thief cannot use it to charge your real account or make purchases elsewhere. The number works only for that specific transaction or merchant, and expires on a date you set or that the issuer sets automatically.
Virtual numbers are offered by some banks and credit card companies as a built-in feature. You request one through your card's mobile app or online account portal, and it appears when ready. You then use it the same way you would use your regular card number—entering it at checkout, whether online or over the phone.
The main reason to use one is fraud protection. Because the number is temporary and tied to a spending limit you choose, your actual card and bank account stay shielded from data breaches at the retailer. If the merchant's database is hacked, the stolen number is worthless to criminals.
Key Takeaways
- Virtual card numbers are temporary digits generated by your bank or card issuer that work only for a single purchase or merchant.
- If a virtual number is compromised in a data breach, your actual card number and bank account remain protected because the number cannot be reused.
- You control the spending limit and expiration date of each virtual number you create.
- Not all banks and credit card companies offer virtual numbers—check your account portal or call customer service to see if yours does.
- Virtual numbers work for online purchases and some phone orders, but not for in-person transactions at physical stores.
How to Request and Use a Virtual Card Number
The process varies slightly by bank, but most follow the same basic steps. Log into your credit card account online or open the card issuer's mobile app. Look for a section labeled "Virtual Card," "Card Controls," "Digital Wallet," or "Temporary Card Numbers"—the exact name depends on your bank.
Click or tap to generate a new virtual number. The app or website will ask you to set a spending limit (the maximum amount that number can charge) and an expiration date. Some issuers let you set these; others assign them automatically. Once you confirm, the temporary number, expiration date, and CVV appear on your screen.
Copy the number and use it at checkout just as you would your regular card. The merchant processes it like any other credit card transaction. The charge appears on your regular statement under your actual account, but the merchant's system records only the virtual number, not your real card digits.
After the transaction completes or the expiration date passes, that virtual number stops working. If you shop at the same merchant again, you request a new virtual number. Some issuers allow you to reuse the same virtual number for recurring charges from one merchant, but this varies by bank.
Which Banks and Card Issuers Offer Virtual Numbers
Citi offers virtual account numbers through Citi Virtual Account Numbers, available to most Citi credit card holders. Bank of America provides ShopSafe, though this program is no longer accepting new enrollments and is being phased out. Discover offers Discover Virtual Numbers to cardholders. Capital One has a virtual card feature available through its mobile app.
Many smaller banks and credit unions also offer virtual numbers, though the feature may be called something different. Some online banks like Ally and Charles Schwab include virtual card options. The best way to learn about your card issuer offers this feature is to log into your online account and search for "virtual card," "temporary number," or "card controls," or call the customer service number on the back of your card.
If your current card issuer does not offer virtual numbers, you have alternatives. Third-party services like Privacy, Blur, and MySudo generate virtual card numbers for a fee or subscription, though these work differently than bank-issued virtual numbers and may have different protections.
Virtual Numbers vs. Other Fraud Protection Methods
Virtual card numbers are one tool among several that protect you from fraud. Tokenization, used by Apple Pay and Google Pay, replaces your card number with an encrypted token when you pay through your phone. The merchant never sees your actual card number at all. Tokenization works for both online and in-person purchases, whereas virtual numbers typically work only online.
Chip technology on physical cards makes it harder for criminals to clone your card at a store. Two-factor authentication (a password plus a code sent to your phone) protects your online account from unauthorized access. Purchase alerts notify you by text or email when charges occur, so you can spot fraud quickly.
Virtual numbers are strongest when you are buying from an unfamiliar retailer or a site you do not fully trust. They are less necessary when you shop from established merchants with strong security records, or when you use a digital wallet like Apple Pay. Many people use all of these methods together—a digital wallet for everyday purchases, virtual numbers for risky online transactions, and chip cards for in-person shopping.
Limits and Things Virtual Numbers Cannot Do
Virtual card numbers work only for online purchases and phone orders. You cannot use them at a gas pump, grocery store, or any merchant that requires a physical card to swipe or insert. If you need fraud protection at a physical location, use your phone's digital wallet instead.
Virtual numbers do not protect you from your own mistakes. If you enter the wrong amount at checkout, or if you authorize a charge you later regret, the virtual number does not prevent that transaction. Fraud protection covers unauthorized charges—charges made without your permission—not buyer's remorse or accidental overpayment.
Some merchants reject virtual numbers. This is rare, but it happens. A few retailers have systems that flag temporary numbers as suspicious, or they require the billing address to match the card issuer's records in a way that virtual numbers sometimes cannot satisfy. If a virtual number is declined, you can use your regular card instead.
Virtual numbers also do not help with recurring charges like subscriptions or monthly bills. Some banks allow you to create a reusable virtual number for a specific merchant, but you must set this up in advance. If you cancel a subscription, you need to notify the merchant separately—the virtual number expiring does not automatically stop the charges.
When to Use a Virtual Card Number
Use a virtual number when you are shopping at a retailer you do not know well or a site with a reputation for security problems. Use one when you are making a one-time purchase from a small business or international seller. Use one when you are buying from a marketplace where many sellers operate under one platform and you are unsure how carefully they handle payment data.
Use a virtual number when you are signing up for a free trial that requires a credit card. This protects you if the company charges your card after the trial ends without permission—the virtual number will decline, and you will know when ready that something went wrong.
You do not need a virtual number for every purchase. Major retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart have strong security and fraud protections built into their systems. Established banks and financial institutions are also safe. If you shop primarily from well-known merchants, virtual numbers add a layer of protection that may not be necessary for most of your transactions.
How Virtual Numbers Affect Your Credit Report and Rewards
Virtual card numbers do not affect your credit score or credit report. The charge appears on your account statement under your real card, and the payment history is recorded normally. From the credit bureau's perspective, a virtual number transaction is identical to a regular card transaction.
Rewards and cash back work the same way. If your card earns 2% cash back on all purchases, you earn 2% on purchases made with a virtual number. The rewards post to your account just as they would for any other charge. Some cards offer bonus rewards for specific categories (groceries, gas, travel), and virtual numbers earn those bonuses too, as long as the merchant is classified in that category.
The only exception is if your card issuer ties rewards to the physical card itself—for example, a card that requires you to insert the chip to earn bonus points. This is extremely rare, and most modern cards do not work this way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone use a virtual card number after it expires?
No. Once the expiration date passes, the number stops working entirely. Any attempt to charge it will be declined. This is why virtual numbers are effective—even if a criminal obtains the number, it has a built-in kill date.
What happens if I dispute a charge made with a virtual number?
You dispute it the same way you would dispute any credit card charge. Contact your card issuer's fraud department, explain the unauthorized transaction, and they will investigate. The fact that you used a virtual number does not change the dispute process. Your bank will credit your account while they investigate, just as they would for a regular card dispute.
Can I use a virtual number for subscriptions like Netflix or Spotify?
Some banks allow you to create a reusable virtual number for a specific merchant, which works for subscriptions. However, you must set this up in advance and designate that number for recurring charges. If you use a one-time virtual number for a subscription, it will be declined when the merchant tries to charge you the next month. Check your bank's app to see if it offers reusable virtual numbers.
Do virtual numbers work internationally?
Virtual numbers work with international merchants the same way they work with domestic ones, as long as the merchant accepts credit cards online. However, some international retailers have stricter security checks and may decline virtual numbers more often than domestic retailers do. If a virtual number is declined, you can try your regular card or contact the merchant to ask why the transaction was rejected.
Is there a cost to use virtual card numbers?
No. If your bank or credit card issuer offers virtual numbers as a built-in feature, there is no fee to generate or use them. Third-party virtual card services charge a subscription fee, typically $5 to $10 per month, but bank-issued virtual numbers are free.