Virtual bank card: operation, price and payment

Amaterialized version of the traditional bank card, the virtual card stands out as a modern and secure payment solution. With the same features as a physical card for store purchases, it offers reinforced online protection. How does it work? How to get it? What is its price? Here are the main characteristics of this digital alternative to the classic blue card.

Capital video: virtual card: operation, price and payment

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What are virtual bank cards for?

A virtual card has the same function as a traditional bank card. It allows you to adjust your purchases securely online or in store. These digital banking cards represent an alternative to all those who no longer wish to cling to a conventional physical card in their portfolio. Indeed, just the Store in the electronic wallet (also called Wallet) of his smartphone.

How does a virtual card work?

A virtual card has the same characteristics as a conventional payment card, since it corresponds to its dematerialized version, namely:

• A series of sixteen figures;
• a validity date;
• A three -digit cryptogram (CVV code).

If it allows shopping in stores and online purchases, it does not allow species to withdraw to an automatic ticket distributor, unlike a conventional card.

What banks offer virtual cards?

Faced with the success of virtual cards, most banking establishments today add this payment solution to their customer offer, in addition to traditional cards. This is the case of so -called classic banks such as the Savings Fund, Banque Populaire, LCL, Crédit Mutuel, etc., but also online banks, such as Revolut, Fortuneo or Hello Bank!.

What is the price of a virtual card?

Traditional bank prices

The price of a virtual card varies significantly according to the banking establishment. In traditional banks, this service is generally payable: Société Générale invoice 14 euros per yearthe savings bank between 12 euros and 15 euros According to the regional fund, while BNP Paribas offers this service to 24 euros per year.

An often free service for online banks

Online banks stand out by often offering free virtual cards. This is particularly the case of Fortuneo, Boursorama Banque or even Revolut. For professionals, online banking prices remain interesting, as at Qonto which offers this option at 24 euros per year.

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How to pay with a virtual card?

Payment using a virtual card differs depending on the type of purchase: online or in store.

Pay online with a virtual card

To pay online with your virtual card, simply bring your smartphone, go to your wallet and display the codes of the card. It only remains to register them in the payment form of the purchase site or the online store. The 3D Secure 3D authentication system starts then. A new window opens and redirects the customer to the site of his banking establishment.

He must confirm his identity, depending on the authentication process proposed, with a single use code received by SMS or via the biometric fingerprint system. When authentication is confirmed by the bank, payment is authorized and the transaction is finalized.

Pay in store with a virtual card

To settle in a store with its virtual card, simply associate it with its type portfolio Apple Pay or Google Pay. Once the association is made, it only remains to pay without contact by approaching your smartphone on the payment terminal.

What are the advantages of the virtual or digital card?

Reinforced security

Security, security and still security! With the virtual card, the risk of being stolen your bank card and its bank details no longer exists (this is the advantage of dematerialization).

An immediate payment solution

When opening an account with a classic bank or online bank, the virtual card also makes it possible to have an immediate payment solution. More expectations between the signing of the account opening contract with the bank and the reception at his home of his physical bank card.

The advantages of the virtual disposable card

The virtual card also exists in disposable format. Also called ephemeral virtual card or blue e-card, it cannot be used that for a transaction both. It represents an ideal solution to secure its online purchases thanks to its generation system for unique banking coordinates for each transaction.

In fact, the risk of bank card fraud and resale of online banking information by malicious individuals is eliminated. It also makes it possible to avoid abusive samples, since the contact details become deciduous after use.

What differences between a virtual card and a blue e-card?

Although often confused, the virtual bank card and the blue e-card have notable differences. The first is the dematerialized version of a conventional bank cardstored on a phone, which can be used for both online and store payments via contactless. The blue e-card, on the other hand, is more a service than a real card. It generates temporary and unique bank details for each online transaction. Once the purchase is made, this number becomes a decu. It is used to strengthen the safety of payments on the Internet.

Finally, unlike the virtual card, the blue e-card cannot be used for store payments or automatic samples, since its number changes with each use.