More and more companies are issuing virtual banking cards to their employees. This allows business owners to set payment limits for each card and monitor accounts more easily.
Virtual accounts provide companies with all the modern tools they need to manage their finances, including the possibility to check balances from anywhere at any time. Some companies use the account as a way of simplifying the approval and recording of expense receipts. This solution makes it easier to trace expenses and store receipts without cluttering you desk with slips of paper.
Qonto offers all the benefits of a business account that’s completely online. Virtual cards give your teams greater freedom and autonomy, while you get to keep control of your company’s overall expenses.
Virtual cards: a seamless way to manage your business expenses
Make the most of Qonto's business payment cards. Virtual cards are available for all of our account packages. Discover the benefits of virtual cards and how they can help you manage your teams' expenses.
Order virtual cards for your employees
With Qonto, you can order both physical and virtual cards. Having the choice of payment methods optimizes your business expense management, team by team or employee by employee.
Order a range of virtual payment cards and share them amongst your employees to reward them with more autonomy.
Virtual cards are an effective way of managing your company's various budgets.
Customize your card limits
Set spending limits in real time for each of the Mastercards you order. Qonto cards are not pre-paid cards so you won't need to re-credit your accounts each time.
You want to keep control? With Qonto, you can receive a notification with each expense request and approve it remotely and immediately. You can modify your limits whenever you want.
Pay one-off expenses with Flash cards
An employee needs to buy office supplies or is going on a business trip? Empower them by allocating a specific budget thanks to Flash card. Employees feel autonomous while you stay in control.
Enjoy virtual cards that are perfectly secure
Reduced risk of loss or theft of your cards: virtual cards can only be accessed via your Qonto account.
Block/unblock your card in an instant: if you suspect fraud or improper use of your card, block it straight from the app.
Benefit from 3D-Secure technology: all of your online payments are made safe thanks to 3D-Secure.
Change card settings in real time: change the limits of each virtual card with a simple click or a tap.
Use Apple Pay and Google Pay with your Qonto cards for all your online payments
Apple Pay and Google Pay are simple, fast and secure means of payment.
How do I set up a virtual Mastercard?
Choose the type of card you want and provide the name of its future user.
01
Customize your virtual card
Set payment limits and days of use for each card.
02
Enter the approval code
You'll receive this by SMS
03
Your card is active
You can now make the most of your virtual card!
The advantages of a virtual Mastercard
An in-demand payment method for businesses
Tighter security
Greater peace of mind
Physical or virtual cards to suit all needs
One Card
Plus Card
X Card
Monthly fee (not included in the subscription)
Card payment limits
per calendar month
ATM withdrawal limits
per calendar month
ATM withdrawals included
Then €1 excl. VAT per withdrawal
Foreign exchange commission on non-euro card payments
per transaction
Conciergerie
Right of access to airport lounges
Additional card printing and delivery fee
Insurance and transparency
With Qonto, you get more than just an online business account. You also benefit from travel insurance and legal assistance included with each card.
250,000 companies are using Qonto cards
Manage your expenses with ease
A Qonto business account offers numerous features to help you manage your professional expenses.
Accounting that's connected and automated
Scan your receipts
Probative value
Integrate with tools compatible with Connect
Simplified expense management
Real-time notifications
Connects to Slack
Team finance management
FAQs about virtual cards for businesses
How does a virtual card work?
A virtual Mastercard is an automated means of payment. Unlike a classic bank or credit card, it is not a physical object and is reserved purely for online purchases.
It usually comes in the form of a temporary account number that the bank or card issuer provides to the customer. The account owner also receives a secret code to activate and use the virtual card. A virtual card can be used for either single-purpose or recurring use, depending on what payment settings have been configured. A virtual card can be used for any number of online purchases and expenses.
As well as using virtual cards for employees and expenses, businesses can even create virtual cards destined for the use of vendors or suppliers.
What are the different types of online bank cards?
Virtual cards are categorized according to factors such as the nature of the issuing party, the number of times it is to be used and the desired expiry date.
• Virtual cards issued by banks: almost all traditional banks and finance management solutions offer virtual card options. Customers can request and receive virtual cards that, like physical cards, are attributed a card number, a Card Verification Value (CVV) and an expiry date. These numbers, codes and dates remain valid for a pre-determined period of time and the card holder can make purchases up to a pre-defined amount.
• Virtual cards issued by large retailers: companies like Nespresso, Fnac, Carrefour, Etam or Decathlon offer virtual cards that are not linked to bank accounts. They can be valid for just weeks or up to a year, and designed either for single-use or recurring purchases. The retailer proposes these services in collaboration with some banks.
• Virtual cards listed by multi-national e-commerce giants: some online stores have put in place their own payment methods. Amazon is among those to have launched its e-card to simplify payments on its own platform, although at time of writing this service is limited to the United States. Apple is another example of a tech multinational to have its own virtual payment card.
How do you use a virtual payment card?
Whether it’s a Mastercard or a Visa card, a virtual card is used in exactly the same way as a traditional bank card. You can find your card number in the personal section of your online bank account and, when you want to make a purchase online, provide the same bank details as would a physical payment card. The payment procedure remains the same, regardless of whether the payment card is virtual or physical.
Qonto offers both virtual and physical Mastercards with all its online business accounts. Simply choose which cards you’d like for you and your employees and order them through your online account.
You can add your virtual Mastercard to your electronic wallet to simplify business payments and expenses.
What is a single-use card or ‘e-carte bleue’?
A single use virtual card, (or e-carte bleue, as they are known in France) is a service connected to your bank card and which allows you to generate a short-lived, temporary card number when buying something online. Once the purchase is processed, the card number can never be used again. This payment method prevents your card number from being exposed on the internet and protects you from online bank fraud.
There are other protection solutions for online purchases, such as the 3D-Secure system. It is being used more and more widely and involves the card holder making a second purchase validation thanks to a code sent to his or her mobile phone.
Ready to take the plunge?
Open a business account with Qonto