A virtual credit card is a unique card number that is generated in a digital format and is associated with your account. It is a temporary credit card number that can be used while shopping online, and it is designed to protect your actual account number from falling into the hands of criminals. Virtual credit cards are similar to physical credit cards but offer further protection and peace of mind by preventing sensitive details from falling into the hands of criminals. They are a digital version of your physical credit card, and they generate a unique credit card number for you to use in place of your physical card number, preventing the merchant from storing your credit card information and keeping your financial data more secure.

When you use a virtual credit card to check out online, the transaction will show up on your account statement as if you had used your regular card information. Some virtual credit card providers allow users to set a separate expiration date and credit limit from their physical credit card. 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. You can usually lock or delete them with a click if they become compromised.

Virtual credit cards are a good option for anyone who shops online and prefers a little bit of extra protection against the possibility of being hacked. Virtual credit cards are only available with an existing credit card, so you won’t have to worry about an additional hard inquiry on your credit report or credit score requirements. Virtual credit cards are provided by several major credit card issuers, but there are exceptions. Capital One and Citi are two major credit card issuers that allow cardholders to request a virtual credit card.