Do I still need a physical card if I have a digital wallet? (2024)

FAQs

Do I still need a physical card if I have a digital wallet? ›

“Essentially, digital wallets are digital versions of a physical wallet, enabling users to make electronic transactions – including online purchases and payments in physical stores – without the need to provide their payment information or a physical card.”

You can use your debit card without having the physical card by utilizing a virtual debit card or adding your card details to a digital wallet. Digital Wallets: These are the most common option. They allow you to store your debit card information securely on your phone or other device.

If the credit card needs to be used in person, a physical credit card will be the better fit. Meanwhile, the added security and fraud protection virtual cards offer make them an ideal fit for online purchases, like managing your digital advertising spend.

Digital wallets can be safer than swiping your physical card since they use data encryption and tokenization to keep your information protected. “These apps do not share your credit card number with the merchant and the actual card number is not stored on the phone itself,” Jariwala added.

Here are some ways you can use a credit card without the card: Online transactions: You can use your credit card for online payments without having the physical card. Simply enter your credit card details, including the card number, CVV, and expiry date, during the payment process.

In addition to your metal One credit card, there is a virtual rendition of the same card available for you in the OneCard App. This card is also a VISA/MasterCard/RuPay powered credit card so you can use it for any online or app-based transactions or purchases.

Yes, you can use your debit card number without physically having the card. If you have the number written down or memorized, you can enter it for online purchases. You can also use your debit card for both online and in-store purchases if you have it saved to your mobile wallet.

A virtual card is a payment card that exists only in digital form. This means there's no physical card associated with it and no cash withdrawals to keep track of.

Once you've added your card to a digital wallet, you should only need your physical card for ATM withdrawals, larger transactions that don't support contactless payments, or to use when a retail or business location does not support contactless functionality.

When you save a credit or debit card to your Google Account, you may be able to turn on a virtual card number. Virtual card numbers can be shared with merchants for online or in-app transactions to keep your actual card number info more secure.

Why not to use a digital wallet? ›

Instead of juggling multiple physical credit cards in a wallet or purse, digital wallet apps completely remove the hassle of searching for the right card during a transaction. Additionally, digital wallets can often hold extra information or assets, such as loyalty cards, hotel bookings, and flight tickets.

Digital wallets let you make purchases online without using your physical credit card, while mobile wallets let you make purchases in stores without your credit card.

The most famous ones are PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay. The basic functionality of these payment apps tends to be similar. You load them with funds from your bank account and/or receive funds from other sources. You then use these funds to make purchases and/or transfer them to your bank account.

Virtual cards offer an added layer of security when checking out online. But some kinds of purchases may require you to present your card to verify your identity. In these instances, you may want to use your physical card instead.

Still, payments without a physical card are possible. As we've mentioned, some people make more of their payments with their phone by holding it over a card reader. You also don't necessarily need your card to make payments online, provided you have access to the card details.

Besides your physical card, you can usually find your card number on billing statements and in your profile online or in your bank's mobile app. Your credit card account number by itself usually isn't available for you to view. This helps protect your information.

You'll need a pre-printed paying-in slip. If you don't have one, you could pay the cash into your own account and transfer the money to the person's account. If you'll be doing this regularly, you could set up a standing order.