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Card payment is now widespread.

And the Covid 19 crisis has even increased card use by


lowering the minimum payment level. However, fear of card theft and hacking continues to
grow. To counter this, some banks have launched virtual bank cards, or e-cards. They are a
virtual means of payment that can only be used once. Could this be the end of the little
plastic card?

What is a virtual bank card?


As its name suggests, it is a digital payment method that allows you to pay for your
purchases on the internet, without having to provide the actual card number. The principle is
simple: create a digital card with a certain credit amount. The card has a unique number.
This number is transmitted to the merchant. In case of fraud, hacking or phishing, your bank
account is not at risk in any way. E-cards are now available from banks and through neo-
banks. Some used e-card technology as a key selling point. Take MANAGER.ONE.

E-cards for professionals.


Launched in 2017, the banking platform, MANAGER.ONE, is reserved for professionals and
business leaders. The online bank has developed a whole range of services for corporate
clients: intelligent expense report management, remote expense authorization (according to
country, time zone, retailers and more), and unlimited virtual bank cards. There are two
types of cards: single-use, intended for a specific expense or transaction such as
subscriptions or payment of a large sum; and payment limited cards, which can be rendered
obsolete once the limit is exceeded. And they’re ultra-secure. So much so that you might
question the need for physical cards.

Will virtual cards replace our plastic cards?


They still need fine-tuning. E-cards are reassuring for planned transactions, but are less
convenient for impulse or emergency purchases - they have to be created before they can
be used. The other issue to be ironed out is status: your bank card says a lot about you.
Neo-banks and new players in banking made no mistake when creating and coming up with
imaginative, technological and ethical designs

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