Bank smarter with a Discovery Bank virtual card

We’re bringing our clients even more convenient, innovative and secure ways to pay. They can already use our super-smart payment platform, Discovery Pay, amongst other sophisticated payment features. And this week, we’re proud to announce our latest exciting innovation – our new Discovery Bank virtual card.

Akash Dowra, Head of Client Insights at Discovery Bank, said “The current COVID-19 environment has only continued to increase the demand for safe and secure contactless payment services. Not having legacy systems has meant that we can optimise our core infrastructure to be agile in quickly and efficiently adopting various digital payment methods. This is another exciting milestone for us as we expand our capabilities with personalised solutions that encourage clients to manage their money well while we enable greater banking safety and rewards for financial wellbeing.”

What is a virtual card?

Virtual cards are digital alternatives to plastic physical cards and offer additional levels of safety and convenience. Each virtual card has an expiry date, as well as a unique 16-digit card number and CVV number, and comes with the same benefits as the physical card such as travel insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty, and rewards. But there’s more – virtual cards are issued instantly, so you can start using them immediately to shop online and you can link them with your preferred device to use at any tap-and-go pay point.

What are the benefits of a virtual card?

You no longer have to worry about not having your card on hand and virtual cards are replaced automatically – there’s no need to wait for a new one. Plus, you get state-of-the-art security, which guarantees that no one will be able to skim your card to steal your card details. You’ll have the power to pause, cancel or reactivate it in real time if you feel unsafe. If you use your virtual card exclusively for online payments, you can reduce your physical card’s online purchase limit to zero for additional security.

Adding a virtual card

If you’re a new or existing Discovery Bank client, you can add virtual cards on the Discovery Bank app. Virtual cards linked to your accounts are free, and you can add as many virtual cards as you need.* Plus, because they are digital, you can start transacting immediately once you’ve set up your card.

How to add a virtual card

You can add your virtual card on the app in only a few steps. See the videos or read the step by step instructions below:

For iOS users:

For Android users:

Simply log in to the Discovery Bank app and:

1. Select Cards in the bottom navigation bar.
2. Scroll right and tap Add Card.
3. Select Add a Virtual card.
4. Select the account to link the virtual card to and select a purpose for the card.
5. Set a spend limit, if needed, and tap Next.
6. Select a PIN for your virtual card, then tap Next.
7. Check the details and tap Confirm to complete.

How to use your virtual card for online and in-store payments

To view your virtual card details and begin transacting online, log in to the Discovery Bank app and:

1. Select Cards in the bottom navigation bar.
2. Scroll to the correct card that says Virtual in the bottom left corner of the card image.
3. Tap the menu in the top right corner.
4. Select Show card details.
5. The 16-digit card number, CVV and expiry date will briefly be revealed on the virtual card image. For your convenience, you can copy the card number by tapping the top right menu and selecting Copy card number.

To use your virtual card for in-store payments on eligible smart devices, learn more about adding a card with Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay and Samsung Pay.

* Fair usage principles apply.