A temporary credit card is a virtual card number that your bank creates for you to use online or over the phone, without sharing your real card details
Your actual card stays in your wallet. Instead, the bank generates a one-time or limited-use number linked to your account. When you use the temporary number to make a purchase, the charge goes to your real card behind the scenes. The merchant never sees your actual card number, expiration date, or security code.
Temporary cards work through your bank's mobile app or online portal. You request a new number, set limits on how much it can spend and how long it lasts, and then use it for that specific transaction or time period. Once the number expires or you close it, it stops working — even if someone gets hold of it later.
Key Takeaways
- A temporary card number is generated by your bank and linked to your real account, so charges still appear on your regular statement.
- You control when the number expires, how much it can spend, and which merchants can use it, giving you more control than sharing your real card.
- Temporary cards reduce the risk of fraud because a stolen number has an expiration date and spending limit built in.
- Not all banks offer this feature — check your bank's app or call customer service to see if it is available on your account.
- Temporary cards work for online purchases and phone orders, but not for in-person transactions where you need to hand over a physical card.
How to create a temporary card number
Log into your bank's mobile app or online banking portal. Look for a section called "Virtual Card," "Temporary Card," "Card Controls," or "Card Management" — the exact name varies by bank. Some banks put it under a "Security" or "Settings" menu.
Click the option to create a new temporary number. You will be asked to set three things: a spending limit (how much the card can charge), an expiration date (when it stops working), and sometimes a merchant category (which types of stores can use it). Set the limit lower than you expect to spend, so if the number is stolen, the damage is capped. Set the expiration date to a few days or weeks after you plan to use it.
The bank will generate a 16-digit card number, expiration date, and CVV (security code) on the spot. Copy these into the checkout form or give them to the merchant over the phone. Do not save them in your browser — write them down or paste them directly into the payment field and delete them afterward.
Which banks offer temporary card numbers
Major banks that offer this feature include Capital One, Citi, Chase, Bank of America, and Discover. Smaller regional banks and credit unions may or may not have it. The feature is sometimes called "Virtual Card," "Temporary Card," "Card Lock," or "find Card Number."
If your bank does not offer temporary numbers through its app, ask customer service whether it is available. Some banks only offer it to certain account types or credit tiers. If your bank does not have it, you can use a third-party virtual card service like Privacy.com or Blur, which creates temporary numbers tied to your bank account or prepaid balance.
When to use a temporary card number
Use a temporary card when you are shopping at a new or unfamiliar online store, especially smaller retailers you have never heard of. Use it for subscription services you are trying out for the first time, because you can set the number to expire when your trial ends — the subscription cannot auto-renew without your knowledge.
Use a temporary card for one-time purchases from merchants you do not fully trust, or when you are buying from a website that has had security breaches in the past. Use it when you are making a purchase over the phone and giving your card details to someone you cannot see. Use it for high-value purchases where you want an extra layer of protection.
You do not need a temporary card for purchases at major retailers with strong security, or for transactions where you are already using other protections like PayPal or Apple Pay. You also cannot use a temporary card in person at a store or gas pump — only online and over the phone.
How temporary cards protect you from fraud
A temporary card number protects you because it has a built-in expiration date and spending limit. If a thief steals the number, they can only charge up to the limit you set, and only until the expiration date you chose. After that, the number is dead — it will not work no matter how many times they try.
Your real card number stays private. The merchant never sees it, so they cannot accidentally leak it in a data breach. If the merchant's database is hacked, the thief gets a temporary number that is already expired or has a $50 limit, not your actual card with access to your full credit line.
You also get a record of exactly which merchant used which temporary number. If you see a charge you do not recognize, you know which store it came from and can investigate or dispute it quickly. This makes fraud easier to track than if multiple merchants all had your real card number.
Temporary cards and your credit score
Using a temporary card number does not affect your credit score. The charge still goes to your real account and appears on your statement the same way. Your bank reports the payment to the credit bureaus based on your real card, not the temporary number.
If you use a temporary card to make a purchase and then pay your bill on time, that payment history counts toward your credit score just like any other charge. The temporary number is only a masking layer — it does not change how your credit is tracked or reported.
Limits and things to know
Temporary cards work only for online purchases and phone orders. You cannot use them at a gas pump, ATM, or in a physical store where you need to swipe or insert a card. Some subscription services and recurring billing systems may not accept temporary numbers because they need a card that will stay active for future charges.
If you set a temporary card to expire before a subscription renews, the renewal will fail and the service will stop. This is useful if you want to prevent auto-renewal, but it means you have to remember to update your payment method if you want to keep the subscription.
Some banks limit how many temporary cards you can create at once, or how many you can create per month. Check your bank's rules before you start generating numbers for every purchase. Also, temporary cards are tied to your bank account, so if your account is frozen or closed, the temporary numbers stop working.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a temporary card number more than once?
That depends on your bank. Some banks let you reuse the same temporary number for multiple purchases from the same merchant until it expires. Others generate a new number each time. Check your bank's app to see whether you can reuse a number or if you need to create a fresh one for each transaction.
What happens if I lose the temporary card number I just created?
You can always go back into your bank's app and view the number again, or create a new one. The number is stored in your account, so you have not lost access to it. If you are worried about security, create a new temporary number instead and discard the old one.
Do temporary cards work internationally?
Yes, temporary cards work for online purchases and phone orders from merchants anywhere in the world, just like your real card does. However, some international merchants may not accept virtual card numbers, so you may need to use your real card for certain purchases.
Can I set a temporary card to work only at one specific store?
Some banks let you restrict a temporary card to a specific merchant category (like "groceries" or "gas"), but most do not let you lock it to a single store. The best way to limit risk is to set a low spending cap and a short expiration date, so the number is useless after you use it once.
Is a temporary card the same as a virtual wallet like Apple Pay?
No. Apple Pay and Google Pay are digital wallets that tokenize your real card for in-person and online payments. A temporary card is a separate number generated by your bank that masks your real card. You can use both — they offer different kinds of protection for different situations.