What are virtual cards and what are they for?

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Cards are not a homogeneous product, far from it. There are different formats on the market so that users can subscribe to you at any time. In all cases, they settle for a means of payment that serves them to face payments of any type. To this end, banks have decided to adapt this product to the real needs of their customers. Where the appearance of new technological items is promoting constant renewal. Because the cards are no longer like the ones that were used a few years ago. They are evolving and a sample of this trend is represented by the so-called virtual cards.

The letters have become a payment method totalmente universal. Ya es raro para la persona que no tiene uno de ellos, be cual sea el modelo: crédito, débito, virtual o inclusive otros formatos más modernos o innovadores. Siempre están presentes en su billetera hasta que reemplazan el dinero físico. No en vano, su acceso se ha hecho muy sencillo y con muy pocos requerimientos puedes tener uno de ellos en tus manos. Aún cuando en algunos casos será totalmente necesario que asumas comisiones o gastos por su administración o mantenimiento, dependiendo de la tarjeta contratada.

So much so, therefore, according to the latest data released by Mastercard show that the 82% of Spanish users already have a credit card. credit, debit or prepaid. These figures represent an increase of slightly more than the 8% compared to the situation of a year ago. Whatever the case, debit cards remain the preferred payment method with almost 75% of preferences. They are followed by credit cards that represent the 23% of the market. Although on the contrary, the so-called prepaid are still a minority among the Spanish population since they did not account for more than 2% of world demand in the last year.

Latest trend: virtual cards

Whatever the case, a trend that has increased in consumer preferences is that of virtual cards. But do you really know what they are and what they consist of? Because it simply involves a renewal in this class of products and to the point of being highly accepted by younger users that use them with some frequency to the detriment of other more traditional models. At the same time, credit institutions have been able to respond to this very special demand and practically all banks have a plastic of these characteristics. Is this your own case?

Because virtual cards are not made of ordinary plastic, but on the contrary, they maintain their own identity, as you will see below. It can be said that virtual cards are a payment product that does not have the physical conditions of credit or debit cards. This is one of its main general characteristics since, although they do have a physical body, they do not have the same benefits as other bank cards. Not surprisingly, they are primarily used to pay for purchases over the Internet. Hence the enormous projection they have among new users.

Mechanism in these plastics

On the other hand, it is convenient to mention that these cards will include a number with its expiration date as if it were a credit or debit card. In this sense there are practically no differences. Where there are, they are done with other complementary measures, such as transaction confirmation mediante un PIN y en otros casos a través de una confirmación mediante un código recibido por SMS. Dicho de otra forma, cuentan con alta seguridad para realizar operaciones. Más allá de los servicios que brinda este original e novedoso medio de pago.

Of course, one of their great contributions is that they allow you to maintain a more rigid control of your personal finances. Among other reasons due to the fact that it does not get into debt in the operations by not targeting the movements of quotas. On the other hand, virtual people are very prone to developing any type of online shopping. From acquiring the latest smartphone phone to booking a vacation. They are adapted to the latest trends in the consumer sector. This factor makes them very interesting for all types of users, as long as they have an active connection with new technologies.

Advantages of this payment dynamic

One of the aspects that you should consider from now on are the benefits that a plastic of these characteristics can generate. What's more, they are many and multiple by nature, as you will see from now on. Because they represent another of the most relevant differences in terms of what the more traditional bank cards are. These are some of the most notable advantages offered by this financial instrument.

• Its great flexibility: because it is you who decides the amounts of liquidity that you must contribute to your virtual plastic. From this dynamic, the balance or the balance of your personal accounts cannot be altered. For this purpose, it is very similar to debit cards.
• Payment security: consists of a system that protects you from certain unwanted situations, such as loss or theft. With the characteristic of virtuality that is given to this type of cards.
• Very affordable costs: you can not forget that these plastics are the cheapest on the market. Not in vain, they are free and you will not have expenses for their maintenance administration. Unlike what are the credit or debit cards that require a fixed disbursement every year.
• Very easy access: On the other hand, you will not have many impediments to subscribe in the next few days. It will only be necessary your desire to have it in your portfolio, without having to contribute payroll or regular income. You can formalize them in a very simple and simplified way.

Disadvantages of your hiring

On the contrary, virtual cards, and how could it be otherwise, entail a series of damages in their use and that you should know. So that from this dynamic you can assess whether your hiring is prudent or not from these very moments. Because you will have no choice but to take care of the following scenarios that we expose you below.

• Your own limitations: this type of unique cards are only valid for online purchases. If these are not your intentions, of course you will not have many benefits with them.
• You will depend on the recharges: you will not have a stable balance to make purchases. If not, on the contrary, it will depend on the recharges you can do at all times. To this end, it can be similar to what preload cards are. Where it is you who decides the funds that this card should have.
• You can't use it at ATMs: cards with these characteristics do not allow you to withdraw cash from automatic devices. Not even any kind of queries from ATMs available to credit institutions.

Banks offer

La contratación de tarjetas virtuales está de forma directa asociada a la vinculación del Username con la entidad financiera. Bajo esta base general, las entidades de crédito han decidido incorporarlos a sus habituales offer of financial instruments. To this end, Banco Santander, Bankia, BBVA, La Caixa or Banco Sabadell contemplate a model of these characteristics. They are very easy to hire and are aimed at a very defined user profile. Young, closely related to new consumer trends and very accustomed to the new means of technologies are some of the most relevant.

If you are going to hire any of these models, you must think that it will not cost you a euro. Only the recharges that you want to make to face the purchases you need to make. On the other hand, you can't forget that hiring processes They are generally very fast and similar to those of a traditional bank card. To the point that you can complement virtual cards with your credit or debit cards. Its use is totally different and therefore you can have each of these cards.

Virtual cards on the market

One of the examples that clarifies this user demand is represented by the calls Cybercard La Caixa which is marketed by the following characteristics: it is a virtual card that does not include registration fee and 1% of expenses for the recharges made. In total harmony with the products designed by other financial entities.

En conclusión, otro aspecto que debes valorar es que esta clase de productos bancarios debe tener algún tipo de vinculación con la entidad financiera. A modo de ejemplo, asociado a una cuenta bancaria del mismo. No obstante, además se están desarrollando mediante establecimientos comerciales. Como strategy para fidelizar a los clientes de forma mucho más eficaz.