Most banks and credit union debit cards are compatible with popular digital wallets for Apple Pay or Google Pay, allowing you to add your physical debit card’s details for contactless and online payments. However, some banks and fintechs also offer temporary virtual cards, virtual cards for employees or separate virtual cards for each subaccount.
While SoFi doesn't offer extra virtual cards like Revolut or Ivella, if you just need debit cards compatible with digital wallets, SoFi is worth checking out. It's hybrid checking and savings account has no monthly fees and high APYs. The checking account's debit cards are compatible with Apple and Google digital wallets, letting you add your SoFi debit card to your wallet for contactless payments. You can also add the SoFi credit card to your digital wallet instantly after approval. Both checking and savings earn APY, up to 3.80% APY on savings by setting up direct deposit to become a Plus member, or you can pay a $10 monthly subscription fee to enroll as a Plus member. SoFi accepts cash deposits at Green Dot retail locations, costing up to $4.95 fee per deposit, but as an online bank it doesn't have physical branches.
APY
Up to 3.80%
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
While SoFi doesn't offer extra virtual cards like Revolut or Ivella, if you just need debit cards compatible with digital wallets, SoFi is worth checking out. It's hybrid checking and savings account has no monthly fees and high APYs. The checking account's debit cards are compatible with Apple and Google digital wallets, letting you add your SoFi debit card to your wallet for contactless payments. You can also add the SoFi credit card to your digital wallet instantly after approval. Both checking and savings earn APY, up to 3.80% APY on savings by setting up direct deposit to become a Plus member, or you can pay a $10 monthly subscription fee to enroll as a Plus member. SoFi accepts cash deposits at Green Dot retail locations, costing up to $4.95 fee per deposit, but as an online bank it doesn't have physical branches.
Pros
No monthly fees
Up to 3.80% APY on savings
0.50% APY on checking
Cards compatible with digital wallets
Cons
$4.95 cash deposit fee
No physical branches
Deposit or subscription fee for best savings APY
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Up to 3.80%
Intro or bonus offer
Get up to $300 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until January 31, 2026.
Rewards
Get up to $300 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until January 31, 2026.
Fee
$0 per month
ATM transaction fee
$0
Foreign transaction fee
0%
Overdraft fee
$0
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking#1.
SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi Plus members are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.
We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
Get a $50 referral bonus by inviting your friends to join Current. Once the person receives the invite link and makes qualifying deposits of at least $200 within 45 days of opening the account, you and the referred friend each earn $50
Current is a fintech with a bank partner. It offers a Current Account and a teen account, both of which offer virtual debit cards that you can use immediately before the physical debit card arrives. Just like the physical debit cards, the virtual cards can be paused anytime, added to virtual wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay, and used for in-store or online purchases. Also, Current doesn't charge any monthly maintenance or overdraft fees on its main account or the teen account. With the regular Current Account, you can create savings pods and earn up to 4% savings bonus on up to $2,000 per pod, and the teen account has strong parental controls and allowance features. However, Current's virtual cards can't be used to withdraw cash from ATMs, and Current doesn't offer joint accounts.
APY
4.00%
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Current is a fintech with a bank partner. It offers a Current Account and a teen account, both of which offer virtual debit cards that you can use immediately before the physical debit card arrives. Just like the physical debit cards, the virtual cards can be paused anytime, added to virtual wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay, and used for in-store or online purchases. Also, Current doesn't charge any monthly maintenance or overdraft fees on its main account or the teen account. With the regular Current Account, you can create savings pods and earn up to 4% savings bonus on up to $2,000 per pod, and the teen account has strong parental controls and allowance features. However, Current's virtual cards can't be used to withdraw cash from ATMs, and Current doesn't offer joint accounts.
Pros
No monthly or overdraft fees
Teen banking option
Instant virtual debit card
Saving bonus on pods
Parental controls and allowance features on teen account
Cons
No joint accounts
No physical branches
Virtual cards can't be used at ATMs
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.00% on balances of $0.01 to $2,000
Intro or bonus offer
Get a $50 referral bonus by inviting your friends to join Current. Once the person receives the invite link and makes qualifying deposits of at least $200 within 45 days of opening the account, you and the referred friend each earn $50
Rewards
Earn up to 15x the points when you use your debit card at one of 14,000+ participating merchants
Chime is a fintech company with bank partners. It doesn't review your ChexSystems report when you apply for an account, which is helpful if you have a less-than-ideal banking history. Chime's Checking Account offers a physical and virtual debit card. The virtual debit card is available for immediate use after account approval and you don't have to wait for your physical card to arrive before you can spend. The virtual card's details are also different from your physical debit card, but are still linked to your Chime account. On top of all that, Chime's checking account has no monthly or inactivity fees. Chime offers tons of other services, too, such as the overdraft service Chime SpotMe®, cash advances and a credit-building secured card. But like other fintechs with banking services, you'll have no access to physical branches, and Chime doesn't offer joint accounts.
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Chime is a fintech company with bank partners. It doesn't review your ChexSystems report when you apply for an account, which is helpful if you have a less-than-ideal banking history. Chime's Checking Account offers a physical and virtual debit card. The virtual debit card is available for immediate use after account approval and you don't have to wait for your physical card to arrive before you can spend. The virtual card's details are also different from your physical debit card, but are still linked to your Chime account. On top of all that, Chime's checking account has no monthly or inactivity fees. Chime offers tons of other services, too, such as the overdraft service Chime SpotMe®, cash advances and a credit-building secured card. But like other fintechs with banking services, you'll have no access to physical branches, and Chime doesn't offer joint accounts.
Pros
No monthly fees
Instant virtual debit card
No ChexSystems review
Various products and services
Cons
No joint accounts
Direct deposit requirements for some perks
No physical branches
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
N/A
Rewards
Cash back offers on everyday purchases through the app
Fee
$0 per month
Nonsufficient funds fee
$0
ATM transaction fee
$0
Foreign transaction fee
0%
Overdraft fee
$0
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. ATMs: Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM. Deposit: Once the retailer accepts your cash, the funds will be transferred to your Chime Checking Account. Cash deposit fees may apply if using a retailer other than Walgreens and Duane Reade. Mobile Deposit: Mobile Check Deposit eligibility is determined by Chime in its sole discretion and may be granted based on various factors including, but not limited to, a member's direct deposit enrollment status. Chime Savings Account: Chime Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account. APY: The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is accurate as of September 20, 2023. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest. Get Paid Early: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date. Credit Builder: To apply for Credit Builder, you must have an active Chime® Checking Account. SpotMe: SpotMe® for Credit Builder is an optional, no interest/no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account; SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee service attached to your Chime Checking Account (individually or collectively, “SpotMe”). Eligibility for SpotMe requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. SpotMe for Credit Builder and SpotMe on Debit share a single SpotMe limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners’ discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won't cover non card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe Terms and Conditions. Federal Tax Return Direct Deposit: Chime members may choose to direct deposit their state and/or federal tax refunds with Chime. They may choose to direct deposit no matter what tax preparer they choose. They do not need to file through Chime in order to direct deposit their refund. If a member does direct deposit their federal refund they may receive the refund up to 6 days early. This only applies to federal refunds, not state. When marketing the speed of the tax refund it must always include the following elements: federal tax refund, up to 6 days early, with direct deposit. MyPay®: MyPay® is only offered in select states
Grasshopper is a digital bank offering high-yield business checking and savings accounts. It offers virtual and instant-issue debit cards with the Innovator Business Checking Account. You can issue unlimited virtual cards, and have up to five active at one time. The account also has no monthly fees, 1% unlimited cash back and up to 1.8% APY based on your balance. The virtual and physical cards both earn the cashback rate. On top of all that, the account is fully loaded with features like digital invoicing, automated bookkeeping, cash flow tools, software syncing and unlimited transactions. However, Grasshopper is an online bank and doesn’t accept cash deposits, and you’ll need a $100 opening deposit.
APY
Up to 1.80%
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$100
Grasshopper is a digital bank offering high-yield business checking and savings accounts. It offers virtual and instant-issue debit cards with the Innovator Business Checking Account. You can issue unlimited virtual cards, and have up to five active at one time. The account also has no monthly fees, 1% unlimited cash back and up to 1.8% APY based on your balance. The virtual and physical cards both earn the cashback rate. On top of all that, the account is fully loaded with features like digital invoicing, automated bookkeeping, cash flow tools, software syncing and unlimited transactions. However, Grasshopper is an online bank and doesn’t accept cash deposits, and you’ll need a $100 opening deposit.
Pros
Unlimited virtual card issuing
Up to 5 active virtual cards
No monthly fees
Earn APY and cashback rewards
Cons
No cash deposits
Online only
$100 opening deposit requirement
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
1.80% on balances of $25,000 to $250,000 1.00% on balances of $0.01 to $24,999.99 1.00% on balances of $250,000.01+
Intro or bonus offer
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on online and signature-based purchases with your free physical Visa debit card or instant-issue virtual cards.
Privacy Cards are virtual cards with strong controls that mask your debit and credit card details. With the $0 Personal Privacy plan, you can create Single-Use cards and Merchant Cards, totaling up to 12 new cards each month. Each virtual card gets unique numbers, and you can set nicknames and logos for tracking. The Single-Use cards expire after one use and are designed for merchants you don't plan on shopping with again. Merchant Cards can only be used at the first merchant they're used with and are automatically declined anywhere else. With paid plans, you can create other cards, such as Category Cards and Shared Cards, and get the ability to create more virtual cards per month. With all the plans, you can set spending limits for each card, track spending in the app and cancel a virtual card if you no longer need it. There are no fees on domestic transactions, but you need to be a US citizen, have a US bank account and be at least 18 years of age.
Fee
From $0 per month
Privacy Cards are virtual cards with strong controls that mask your debit and credit card details. With the $0 Personal Privacy plan, you can create Single-Use cards and Merchant Cards, totaling up to 12 new cards each month. Each virtual card gets unique numbers, and you can set nicknames and logos for tracking. The Single-Use cards expire after one use and are designed for merchants you don't plan on shopping with again. Merchant Cards can only be used at the first merchant they're used with and are automatically declined anywhere else. With paid plans, you can create other cards, such as Category Cards and Shared Cards, and get the ability to create more virtual cards per month. With all the plans, you can set spending limits for each card, track spending in the app and cancel a virtual card if you no longer need it. There are no fees on domestic transactions, but you need to be a US citizen, have a US bank account and be at least 18 years of age.
Pros
$0 Privacy Personal
Create multiple virtual cards
Strong controls and custom spending limits
Nickname cards for tracking
Cons
3% fee on foreign transactions with Personal Privacy plan
Requires US bank account and citizenship
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
N/A
Fee
From $0 per month
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Fee
From $0 per month
For temporary virtual credit cards
Cred.ai
9
Excellent
While it's not a true virtual debit card, it kind of works like one. The Credi.ai Unicorn Card is a secured credit card backed and repaid with a linked bank account. It has no hard credit check, no annual fees and no opening deposit requirement, and there's no APR if you set up automatic payments. But the real draw of the Unicorn Card is its extra perks and security features, such as the virtual Stealth Cards. Stealth cards are temporary virtual cards that expire, which are useful for shopping at unfamiliar sites or signing up for free trials. On top of that, you can pair Stealth Cards and your physical Unicorn Card with High Security Mode, which lets you create self-expiring authorization windows that lock the card once time runs out. Just know that as a secured credit card backed by a bank account, it has a low credit limit of $500 and without autopay, interest charges can apply if you don't repay your balance by the end of the billing cycle.
Fee
$0 per year
Minimum deposit to open
$0
While it's not a true virtual debit card, it kind of works like one. The Credi.ai Unicorn Card is a secured credit card backed and repaid with a linked bank account. It has no hard credit check, no annual fees and no opening deposit requirement, and there's no APR if you set up automatic payments. But the real draw of the Unicorn Card is its extra perks and security features, such as the virtual Stealth Cards. Stealth cards are temporary virtual cards that expire, which are useful for shopping at unfamiliar sites or signing up for free trials. On top of that, you can pair Stealth Cards and your physical Unicorn Card with High Security Mode, which lets you create self-expiring authorization windows that lock the card once time runs out. Just know that as a secured credit card backed by a bank account, it has a low credit limit of $500 and without autopay, interest charges can apply if you don't repay your balance by the end of the billing cycle.
Pros
Create temporary virtual cards
High Security Mode for expiring authorization windows
No APR with autopay
No annual fees or deposit requirements
Cons
Low $500 credit limit
Requires US bank account or Credi.ai deposit account
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
N/A
Fee
$0 per year
ATM transaction fee
$0
Foreign transaction fee
0%
Fee
$0 per year
Minimum deposit to open
$0
verified_userFDIC Insured
For global virtual cards
Revolut
9.6
Excellent
Get a $10 cash reward when you first use your card on a qualifying $1+ transaction. Terms & Conditions apply.
The personal Revolut Account lets you create unlimited disposable virtual prepaid debit cards and multi-use virtual cards right in the Revolut app. The disposable virtual cards refresh their details every time you use them. The multi-use virtual cards keep the same details, so they're useful for paying recurring bills and adding to digital wallets. And since you can create unlimited virtual cards, you can make different ones for different expenses to track your spending and budget. On top of all that, Revolut is a borderless account, letting you exchange over 25 currencies in the app, spend in over 150 currencies and make overseas purchases with your cards. But, as an online banking option, Revolut doesn't accept cash or check deposits, and there are no physical branches.
APY
Up to 3.50%
Fee
From $0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
The personal Revolut Account lets you create unlimited disposable virtual prepaid debit cards and multi-use virtual cards right in the Revolut app. The disposable virtual cards refresh their details every time you use them. The multi-use virtual cards keep the same details, so they're useful for paying recurring bills and adding to digital wallets. And since you can create unlimited virtual cards, you can make different ones for different expenses to track your spending and budget. On top of all that, Revolut is a borderless account, letting you exchange over 25 currencies in the app, spend in over 150 currencies and make overseas purchases with your cards. But, as an online banking option, Revolut doesn't accept cash or check deposits, and there are no physical branches.
Pros
$0 Standard plan
Unlimited disposable and multi-use virtual cards
Spend in over 150 currencies
Exchange over 25 currencies in app
$1,000 monthly allowance for free currency exchange with Standard plan
Cons
No physical branches
Doesn't support cash or check deposits
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
3.50% on balances of $0+ 2.75% on balances of $0+
Intro or bonus offer
Get a $10 cash reward when you first use your card on a qualifying $1+ transaction. Terms & Conditions apply.
Fee
From $0 per month
ATM transaction fee
$0
Foreign transaction fee
0.5%
Overdraft fee
$0
Money loaded on your prepaid card is held at Metropolitan Commercial Bank and money in your Savings Vaults is held at Sutton Bank. Money at each bank is FDIC insured up to $250,000 in the event of Metropolitan Commercial Bank's or Sutton Bank's failure. Securities products are not FDIC Insured, not bank guaranteed and may lose value.
*The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is a variable rate and may change at any time. These APYs are accurate as of 11 February 2025. Monthly fees apply for Premium and Metal plans. Terms and Conditions Apply. Standard customers can earn up to 3.25%, while Premium and Metal customers can earn up to 4.25%. No minimum amount required. Savings Vault services provided by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC.
Revolut is a financial technology company. Banking services provided by Metropolitan Commercial Bank (Member FDIC) and are subject applicable terms.
Designed for couples, Ivella offers joint checking and savings accounts with no monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees and no balance requirements. Ivella features savings pods, which are subaccounts of your savings account. Each pod has its own account and routing number, each pod gets its own virtual card and you can set up automatic deposits and withdrawals for each pod. The free membership lets you have one savings pod, and the paid Pods+ membership for $5 per month allows you to have up to 500 savings pods. On top of all that, you can earn 5.15% APY if you have the free membership and set up direct deposit, or you'll get the 5.15% APY automatically if you have the paid membership. Without the paid subscription or direct deposit, the savings APY is 1%. But since Ivella is designed for couples, you'll need someone to open Ivella with you.
APY
Up to5.15%
Fee
From $0
Designed for couples, Ivella offers joint checking and savings accounts with no monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees and no balance requirements. Ivella features savings pods, which are subaccounts of your savings account. Each pod has its own account and routing number, each pod gets its own virtual card and you can set up automatic deposits and withdrawals for each pod. The free membership lets you have one savings pod, and the paid Pods+ membership for $5 per month allows you to have up to 500 savings pods. On top of all that, you can earn 5.15% APY if you have the free membership and set up direct deposit, or you'll get the 5.15% APY automatically if you have the paid membership. Without the paid subscription or direct deposit, the savings APY is 1%. But since Ivella is designed for couples, you'll need someone to open Ivella with you.
Pros
Up to 500 virtual cards tied to saving pods
Up to 5.15% APY with paid membership or direct deposit
30-day free trial for paid membership
Cons
500 pods requires paid membership
Joint accounts only
APY
Up to5.15%
Minimum balance to earn interest
$0
APY
Up to5.15%
Fee
From $0
verified_userFDIC Insured
For instant virtual prepaid cards
Skrill
Skrill offers an instant prepaid virtual card, simply called the Skrill Visa Prepaid Card. There's no application fee for your first virtual card if you have a verified Skrill account, have used the Skrill app and have deposited at least once into your Skrill account. The prepaid cards also have no activation period, overdraft fees, inactivity fees, foreign exchange fees or cash reload fees. You can manage your Skrill card with the Skrill app to check balances, deposit money or view transactions. Plus, you can add the virtual and physical prepaid cards to mobile wallets for contactless purchases. If you want an additional virtual prepaid card, there is a $2.50 subsequent application fee. If you want a physical Skrill prepaid card or haven't met the requirements, there's a $10 application fee.
Fee
$0. per month
Skrill offers an instant prepaid virtual card, simply called the Skrill Visa Prepaid Card. There's no application fee for your first virtual card if you have a verified Skrill account, have used the Skrill app and have deposited at least once into your Skrill account. The prepaid cards also have no activation period, overdraft fees, inactivity fees, foreign exchange fees or cash reload fees. You can manage your Skrill card with the Skrill app to check balances, deposit money or view transactions. Plus, you can add the virtual and physical prepaid cards to mobile wallets for contactless purchases. If you want an additional virtual prepaid card, there is a $2.50 subsequent application fee. If you want a physical Skrill prepaid card or haven't met the requirements, there's a $10 application fee.
Pros
Free virtual card if you're an active Skrill user
No reload, inactivity, overdraft or foreign exchange fees
Compatible with digital wallets
Cons
$10 application fee for non-Skrill users and physical cards
$2.50 application fee for additional virtual cards
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
N/A
Fee
$0. per month
Fee
$0. per month
What is a virtual debit card?
A debit card is connected to your checking account. A virtual debit card is simply the storage of your debit card’s 16-digit card number, the CVV number and your expiration date in a virtual wallet, such as an Apple or Google Wallet. With that information loaded on your phone or browser in the digital wallet, you can charge your debit card without swiping or inserting your physical card.
There are also randomly generated virtual debit cards that are still tied to your checking account, but they have different details, which can allow for more privacy if you don’t want to share your actual debit card’s details with unfamiliar merchants or new sites. Some fintechs and banks allow you to create disposable virtual cards that expire after one purchase.
How to get a virtual debit card
If you want to add your physical debit card to a digital wallet, learn more about digital wallets here. In most cases, you simply need to open your device’s digital wallet, take a picture of your card or manually enter the card’s details, and verify the card’s addition.
To get virtual cards that are separate from your physical debit card, follow these steps:
Sign up for the account or service. Once you’ve chosen where you’ll get your virtual cards from, sign up for the service. In most cases, you’ll need a bank account to fund the virtual card.
Activate the card. After signing up for the service, you can create a virtual card and activate it.
Fund the card. If your virtual debit card will be funded by your linked checking account, this step is easy enough. If you’re using a prepaid virtual card, you’ll need to load the card, which may involve a cash reload fee, depending on the method.
Add the card to your preferred digital wallet. Once the card is activated and funded, you can add it to your preferred digital wallet and it’s ready to use. There are multiple wallets available, such as Apple Wallet, Google Wallet or Paypal.
Pros of virtual debit cards
Using a virtual debit card has several advantages, including:
Security. Using a virtual debit card that generates a random card number will help keep your funds secure when shopping online. On top of that, most digital wallets are encrypted and assign your card with different details than your actual debit card.
Convenience. You won’t need to bring a physical debit card to complete transactions in-store because you can pay with your digital wallet on your phone.
Speed. You won’t need to wait for a card to be delivered when you sign up for a new account or if your card expires. With the new digital banks, you may be able to use your virtual card as soon as your account is active.
Card options. There are single- and multi-use virtual debit cards available to suit your online payment needs, and you can use a prepaid card or link it to your bank account or credit provider.
Currency options. Some providers also offer multi-currency prepaid debit cards, such as Revolut, allowing you to save on currency conversion fees when buying from overseas retailers.
Cons of virtual debit cards
Keep in mind virtual debit cards may not suit everyone.
May not work in person. Some physical stores don’t accept contactless payments yet, so there may be restrictions on where you can use a virtual debit card.
Prepaid card limits. Financial institutions commonly set limits for how much you can load onto a prepaid card, such as $500 per day.
Bottom line
One of the biggest draws of virtual debit cards is their potential security benefits — especially with randomly generated virtual cards. Using a virtual card that’s tied to your checking account or credit card but has entirely different details means you’re not sharing your card details with unfamiliar people or merchants, giving an extra layer of security.
But for most virtual debit cards, you’ll need a US bank account because they’ll need to be funded. If your checking account isn’t compatible with popular digital wallets, or you just want a better debit card, compare the best checking accounts.
Frequently asked questions
Are virtual debit cards free?
In many cases, virtual debit cards are free or low-cost. With Revolut and Privacy, there are no-fee account options available that allow you to create multiple virtual cards.
Are there any virtual prepaid debit cards?
Yes, Skrill is a popular prepaid card option that offers virtual options. It doesn’t have any cash reload, inactivity or monthly fees. But to waive the $10 application fee, you’ll need to download the Skrill app and deposit some money into the Skrill account.
Can I use a virtual debit card at an ATM?
Some ATMs allow for contactless ATM withdrawals, often just called cardless or contactless ATMs. Just like with contactless registers and POS systems, you’ll see the same contactless symbol on ATMs that allow for cardless transactions.
Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto.
Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt.
Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others.
Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio
Bethany's expertise
Bethany has written 435 Finder guides across topics including:
If you’ve fallen victim to debit card fraud, you may be eligible to receive a refund.
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