Virtual bank card: what is it for and how to get it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

A useful thing for those who often buy on the Internet and are worried about the safety of their funds.

What is a virtual bank card

A virtual bank card (VBC) is a special card designed for online payments. Buying with its help, you do not risk exposing the data of your main card on the Web.

Such cards are plastic and electronic. A plastic virtual card is issued at the bank's office, it does not have a magnetic stripe and does not have a PIN code attached to it. Such a card cannot be used for purchases in a regular store. The electronic card does not have a physical medium, and it can be quickly issued via the Internet or mobile bank. Banks usually take a commission for the registration of plastic VBC, but you can apply for an electronic one for free.

The vast majority of virtual bank cards are prepaid with the ability to replenish a certain amount on a monthly basis. For plastic virtual cards, as a rule, there is no maximum limit, unlike electronic ones. Plastic virtual cards can be issued in rubles, US dollars and euros, while electronic cards can be issued only in Russian rubles.

The validity period of virtual bank cards can be one or two years, but electronic cards that the client registers via the Internet are issued for an unlimited period.

If we evaluate all the pros and cons of this banking product, then the preponderance is clearly in favor of the former.

Advantages:

1. Convenience of registration.
2. The ability to block and unblock the card at any time.
3. Safe online shopping.
4. The ability to deposit exactly as much money as you need for a purchase, or set a limit on a one-time withdrawal of funds.

Disadvantages:

1. Inability to withdraw the balance from the ATM. To return the money left on the card, you need to write a statement to the bank.
2. There are certain deposit limits.

How to get a bank card

Below we will look at the various options for virtual bank cards offered by popular banks.

Gazprombank

International payment bank card Visa WebCard / MasterCard WebCard

• Type: plastic.
• Currency: Russian rubles, US dollars, euros.
• Where to apply: at the bank office.
• Validity: 1 or 2 years.
• Limit: no.
• Issue fee: 85 rubles (1 year), 160 rubles (2 years).
• Annual maintenance: free.

Learn more →

Alfa Bank

Virtual card MasterCard Virtual

• Type: electronic.
• Currency: Russian rubles.
• Where to apply: in the Internet or mobile bank.
• Validity: no.
• Limit: the client sets himself.
• Issue fee: 49 rubles.
• Annual maintenance: free.

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Promsvyazbank

MasterCard Virtual

• Type: plastic.
• Currency: Russian rubles, US dollars, euros.
• Where to apply: at the bank office, in the Internet or mobile bank.
• Validity: 2 years.
• Limit: no.
• Issue Fee: None.
• Annual service: 120 rubles.

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Virtual Prepaid Visa Card

• Type: electronic.
• Currency: Russian rubles.
• Where to apply: in the Internet or mobile bank.
• Validity: 3 months.
• Limit: existing clients - 300,000 rubles, new - 15,000 rubles.
• Issue commission: 0% when paying with a PSB card, 1.9% when replenishing with a card of another bank.
• Annual maintenance: free.

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Ak Bars Bank

Visa International and MasterCard Worldwide

• Type: electronic.
• Currency: Russian rubles.
• Where to apply: in the Internet or mobile bank.
• Validity: no.
• Limit: 15,000, 60,000, 100,000 rubles.
• Issue fee: 20 rubles.
• Annual maintenance: free.

Learn more →

Outcome

If you want to secure your main payment card, you should use VBC for online purchases. It can be topped up at any time for a certain amount required to make a purchase, and there is no risk.