Key takeaways
- A digital wallet serves as an extra-secure means of storing credit cards and other forms of payment that can be used to conduct transactions.
- Most major credit cards can easily be added to a digital wallet, except for many prepaid cards, business cards and cards issued outside of the U.S.
- The risks of using digital wallets include the chance that the device it is stored on can be breached, lost or stolen, passwords can be hacked and digital money may not be insured by the FDIC.
A digital wallet, also referred to as an e-wallet, serves as a digital payment resource or software app that allows you to make monetary transactions using a connected device like your smartphone.
But while digital wallets eliminate many of the risks associated with physical cards, they aren’t impervious to breaches and cyberattacks. That begs the question: Is it safe to add a credit card to your digital wallet?
By following recommended practices, you can safeguard your credit card and other stored forms of payment within your digital wallet. Learn how to do so and ways to add a card to your digital wallet by reading on.
Digital wallets explained
Digital wallets provide a way to conduct online transactions using funds from your financial accounts through computers, smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and other intelligent gadgets, reducing the necessity of carrying a physical wallet.
Among the leading digital wallets/payment options nowadays are Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, PayPal, Venmo and Zelle. You can link your bank account, credit cards and other forms of payment to most digital wallets — some can also store diverse data like your driver’s license, loyalty cards, boarding passes, vouchers, hotel reservations, passes, coupons, gift cards, loyalty reward cards, and tickets for events and flights.
Nearly nine in 10 Americans have used at least one form of digital payment since 2022, and two in three consumers anticipate doing so within two years, per research by McKinsey & Company.
“Technically, digital wallets are virtual storage systems that allow users to securely store several types of payment information, such as credit and debit card details, bank account numbers and cryptocurrency,” explains Justin Passalaqua, country director for Worldline, one of the largest digital payment providers in the world.
“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.”
— Justin PassalaquaCountry Director, Worldline
Are digital wallets safe?
In general, digital wallets are considered much safer than using physical credit cards, which can be more easily lost or stolen. When you lose a physical card, anyone who finds that plastic might be able to use it before you realize it’s missing and prior to attempting to cancel it with the card company.
“Unlike physical cards, digital wallet apps have an extra layer of security and will typically require authentication,” says Passalaqua.
These different authentication means include passphrases, codes, facial recognition, thumbprint technology and/or biometrics.
If you lose your smartphone containing your digital wallet, “the thief would need to know your password, have your thumbprint, or mimic your face or thumbprint to be able to access the app that holds your card information,” says Sean Salter, associate professor of finance at Middle Tennessee State University. “What’s more, digital wallets use a random number — called a token — instead of the consumer’s actual account number. So the risk of having the account number stolen is reduced.”
Also, most apps will encrypt sensitive card data when transferring the information, making the data unreadable in case of a breach, per Passalaqua. He adds that, unlike physical cards, a credit card skimmer (a tiny device attached to an actual card reader) cannot be used to access a digital card.
The risks of using digital wallets
Again, using and relying on digital wallets is generally considered to be protected and reliable. But you can still be susceptible to breaches and bad actors if you’re not careful.
“If you use an unreliable public network for transactions or do not follow good password security, the information in the digital wallet could be compromised,” cautions Salter. “And if you lose your mobile device, without proper password protection a hacker might be able to access the stored information.”
Furthermore, there’s a chance that the money you use with some digital apps may not be insured by the FDIC.
“For apps like PayPal and CashApp, the FDIC insurance is there. But for payment functions in more international apps — such as WeChat — your money might be at risk if a hacker steals the account information,” Salter says.
Beyond safety and security, another digital wallet risk is that not every retailer or person you want to send money to accepts payments from digital wallets or possesses the technology to do so. This could leave you in a difficult situation if you’ve left your physical payment methods at home while carrying your digital wallet.
How to avoid digital wallet safety risks
To reduce the odds that your digital wallet will be compromised by fraudsters, hackers and thieves, it’s smart to follow best practices.
- Be careful where you use digital wallets. “Never use your financial apps like a digital wallet on an unsecured network. Rather, use a password-protected Wi-Fi or cellular network,” suggests Andrea Woroch, a money-saving expert.
- Create appropriate passwords. “Make sure your passwords are hard to guess, updated regularly and not written down,” advises Marin Kraushaar, PR director for Georgia’s Own Credit Union.
- Enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible. This can mean being required, for example, to enter your password as well as a PIN or security code that can be texted/emailed to you.
- Never share your login credentials with anyone. Treat your digital wallet credentials the same way you would any other form of sensitive information.
- Check your financial statements carefully. “Monitor your credit card statements and activity closely, and be sure to report any suspicious activity to your credit card issuer immediately,” adds Kraushaar.
- Make sure your device’s operating system and the digital wall app are up-to-date. Running the latest versions ensures you’ll benefit from the latest security features.
- Practice email safety on your digital wallet device. “Make sure you recognize your email recipients. Do not open attachments or links from unknown senders, and use a spam filter,” recommends Passalaqua.
- Ensure you can remotely disable access or wipe your device clean. This is especially important if you lose your smartphone or other mobile device on which your digital wallet is stored.
- Know who you’re sending money to. Double-check the name, phone number and other contact information of the recipient you intend to send money to via the digital wallet. “Also, only use digital wallets for online payment with websites and retailers that are known and reliable,” Salter says.
- Enable security alerts on your device that trigger whenever you use your digital wallet. Confirm that the digital wallets you use offer these features, and that you’ve correctly configured them to notify you of new transactions so that you can identify potentially fraudulent charges more quickly.
How to add credit cards to your digital wallet
Most credit and debit cards can be added to a digital wallet, with a few exceptions.
“Cards belonging to minors under the age of 13 are not allowed. This is a restriction by the federal government intended to protect youth from data collection,” notes Kraushaar. “There are also some credit card issuers, countries and regions that do not support the technology or digital wallet platforms for their cards.”
In addition, many prepaid cards and some commercial/business cards cannot be added to a digital wallet, especially those tied to company expenses.
Adding a credit card to your digital wallet is relatively simple. Follow these recommended steps provided by Passalaqua:
- Install and open the digital wallet app on your smartphone or other electronic device.
- Add your desired payment card/method, often found within the app as an “Add card” button or prompt.
- Enter the required credit card/payment source details within the app.
- Complete any authentication steps, such as retrieving an SMS code for cardholder verification.
- Enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
- Once verified, your credit card becomes securely stored in the digital wallet.
“You can then use your stored credit card for contactless transactions remotely or in person. For example, if a brick-and-mortar retailer accepts Tap to Pay, you can tap your smartphone on the physical card reader to pay,” Passalaqua notes. “Or you can pay for online transactions remotely with your digital wallet, rather than grabbing your physical card and entering in the card details.”
Just be aware that your stored bank or credit card may have contactless transaction limits.
The bottom line
Digital wallets can be even safer and more secure to use than plastic credit cards, cash, checks and other forms of physical payment. But research digital wallet apps carefully and read reviews before committing to one.
“By taking the proper precautions — such as responsible password management — you can feel confident that your digital wallet is a payment upgrade rather than a liability or risk,” says Kraushaar.
