Credit Karma Virtual Card—Credit Karma’s Instant Access Solution
Until recently, the only way you could access your funds after applying for a new payment card was by waiting for the physical card to arrive in the mail. Realizing how inconvenient that was for the applicant, many card issuers have introduced temporary solutions to allow customers quicker use of their new accounts.
For instance, when you open an online checking or savings account at Credit Karma, you can get instant access to it via a digital wallet while waiting for the plastic debit card to be delivered[1].
This article will explore the Credit Karma virtual card feature and explain:
- What it is
- How to enable it
- How to use it
The information in this article was sourced in September 2023. For updates, visit the official Credit Karma website or contact the company directly.
About the Credit Karma Virtual Card
Although the solution from Credit Karma is referred to as a virtual card, it’s important to differentiate it from another similar payment method with the same name.
Virtual cards are generated card numbers that are connected to a real funding source, such as a debit card or bank account, but mask that information during transactions to protect it in case of a data breach on the merchant’s servers. However, the term “virtual card” is often used to refer to any digital payment solution.
What’s sometimes referred to as the Credit Karma virtual card is not a virtual card per se but rather an option to connect the account to a digital wallet. The feature allows Credit Karma customers to access their newly opened account while waiting for the delivery of the physical card, which can take anywhere from 7 to 14 business days[1]. The feature is currently available with the following accounts:
- Credit Karma Money™ Spend—checking account[2]
- Credit Karma Money™ Save—savings account[2]
Users can access their accounts by setting up a virtual card with a digital wallet[1], which is an app that allows users to securely store their financial information and use it for online or in-store purchases. Besides enhancing security, digital wallets make transactions more convenient, enabling users to pay with their smartphone or smartwatch at checkout terminals. Digital wallets are not accepted everywhere, so the user should check with the merchant to confirm they can pay with their Credit Karma digital card.
How To Get the Credit Karma Virtual Card
After opening an account with Credit Karma, the user needs to fund it before connecting it to a digital wallet[1]. They can do so by[3]:
- Transferring funds from another Credit Karma account or a linked external account
- Depositing a check via the Credit Karma Mobile app
- Making a direct deposit using routing and account numbers
- Making an ACH transfer from an external source
To access the virtual card feature, the user should[2]:
- Launch the Credit Karma Mobile app
- Go to their account settings
- Navigate to the Debit cards & ATM settings page
- Find the option to connect the account to a digital wallet
At the moment, the available digital wallet options are Google Pay™ and Apple Pay®[2]. The integration process differs slightly depending on the app, so the user should follow the on-screen instructions to complete it. They will likely need to verify their identity via a one-time passcode or another authentication method.
How To Use the Credit Karma Virtual Card
Once the digital wallet has been set up with the Credit Karma account, the user can make purchases online or at a physical location that accepts this type of payment. The following table sums up what the process typically entails:
| Online/In-app | In-store |
|---|---|
| 1. To find out if Google Pay or Apple Pay are accepted, the user should look for the respective options at checkout and select the one they want[5]. 2. If asked, they’ll need to choose a payment method and provide shipping details[4][5]. 3. After reviewing the information, they should confirm the payment[4]. 4. They may also need to authenticate the transaction via a passcode, fingerprint scan, or another method[5]. |
1. The user should first check if the merchant accepts digital wallet payments. Stores that accept them typically display the Contactless Symbol or a logo of one of the digital wallets on their payment terminals. 2. Once the merchant initiates the payment, the user should unlock their phone and access the digital wallet app[5][6]. 3. If needed, they should also choose the card they want to use[5]. 4. Finally, the user should hold their mobile device a few inches over the payment terminal until they see a checkmark on the screen[5][6]. |
The Limitations of Digital Wallets
Digital wallets make purchases more convenient and enable users to access their Credit Karma accounts instantly after opening them. Still, this payment method comes with a few disadvantages. For example, despite their increasing popularity, digital wallets are still not as widely accepted as standard payment cards are.
Compared to payments made directly with a credit or debit card, digital wallet transactions are far more secure as the payment information is encrypted and tokenized, which means your actual card or account numbers are not stored within the digital wallet. However, if the user loses their phone, they could lose access to the digital wallet unless they can reach it from a computer or another source.
Some criminals may also figure out how to use the lost phone to make fraudulent transactions. For this reason, cards loaded onto digital wallets can’t match the security of actual virtual cards, which generate unique and random card numbers for transactions.
While Credit Karma doesn’t offer virtual cards in their true definition, you can alternatively get them from independent virtual card providers like Privacy. Privacy is bank-agnostic and can be linked to most U.S. banks’ checking accounts and debit cards. The provider’s virtual cards are issued by Visa® or Mastercard®, and you can use them at most merchants that accept U.S. debit or credit cards. Privacy Virtual Cards also come with additional features and customization options to give you more control over your spending.
Privacy—Where Security Meets Convenience
Privacy will help you make shopping online a safer and more streamlined experience. The company is Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant, BBB®-accredited, and maintains the same security standards as any reputable bank. With split-key encryption and password hashing with 100,000 iterations, Privacy increases the safety of your transactions and financial data.
Besides protecting you, Privacy Virtual Cards make checkouts faster. By downloading the Privacy browser extension, you can have card details auto-completed into the checkout fields, allowing you to make spontaneous purchases without having to reach for your wallet or memorize card numbers. The extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. The Safari extension also has a mobile version that can be used on iPhones and iPads.
If you want to create and manage cards on the go, get Privacy’s mobile app for Android or iOS. You can also opt to receive a push notification and email each time your virtual card is used or declined.
Privacy Gives You Full Control Over Your Transactions
With Privacy, you get access to numerous features and card settings:
