How to Get, Use, and Manage the Moniepoint Virtual Card
Moniepoint has finally launched its virtual debit card, and for now, it's still free. I got mine for free, and I'm going to walk you through the process of getting yours for free in the Moniepoint app before the free coupon expires. After I got my card, I immediately tested it on Spotify to renew my subscription, and it worked as expected.
But there's one thing I noticed that's missing from the virtual card: the 'manage merchants' feature — which allows users to block transactions from specific merchants and is available on the OPay virtual card — is not available on the Moniepoint virtual card. That's the only distinction I've noticed so far. But for everything else, the card is perfectly serving its purpose.
Moniepoint Virtual Card Explained
Moniepoint virtual card is a “ready-to-use” digital debit card that is minted with a card number, an expiry date, and a CVV for the purpose of completing online payments. Launched on April 1st, 2026, the virtual card is designed with seven colour options that you will actually like.
The card is available in blue (royal, deep, and sky), orange, purple, brown, and pink colours. Verve is the issuer of the card, and there's currently no Mastercard or Visa option for the virtual card. In addition, the card is denominated in naira and uses funds from your Moniepoint account balance. In other words, the card doesn't holds it own balance.
Moniepoint virtual vs physical card
Both the physical card and virtual card are issued by Verve, and both are debit cards. The cards pull money directly from your Moniepoint balance for payment settlement. Both cards have card numbers, expiry dates, and CVV numbers, and both can be managed on the Moniepoint platforms (web and app).
The distinction between these cards is that one can be used at the ATM and POS, while the other can only be used for online purchases. The physical card is the best overall because it works at the ATM for cash withdrawals, it works on POS for in-store purchases, and it can also be used online for payment settlement.
The virtual card, on the other hand, only works online. In other words, it's not a physical card that can be used in-store or at ATMs. The advantage of the virtual card over the physical card is that virtual cards offer stronger security than physical cards, since you can freeze, delete, or regenerate them instantly if compromised, with no risk of physical theft or skimming.
They're also issued instantly in-app, often free, and some providers let you create disposable or merchant-locked cards to limit exposure from data breaches. The main downside is they can't be used for in-person tap or swipe payments unless linked to a mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
| Feature | Physical Card | Virtual Card |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Verve | Verve |
| Card type | Debit | Debit |
| Funding source | Moniepoint balance | Moniepoint balance |
| Card details | Number, expiry date, CVV | Number, expiry date, CVV |
| Managed via | Web and app | Web and app |
| ATM withdrawals | Yes | No |
| POS (in-store) payments | Yes | No |
| Online payments | Yes | Yes |
| Instant issuance | No (requires delivery or card sales agent) | Yes |
| Manage merchants (block specific merchants) | Not available | Not available |
| Cost | N2,800, including card cost, delivery, and VAT | N500, but it's currently free. |
How to Get Moniepoint Virtual Card
You can request the Moniepoint virtual card in the mobile app and on the web via atm.moniepoint.com. If you're a business, the card is also available via the Moniepoint business banking app. I requested and get my own virtual card through the Moniepoint business banking app. Follow these steps to successfully request your virtual card on the Moniepoint platforms:
- Login to your Moniepoint account (via app or web).
- Navigate to “Card” section. If you don't see the Card tab on the homepage, tap the “More” icon under services to view the “all services”. You will see the “Card” button, tap it.
- Tap “Get Virtual Card” and you will be asked to choose your preferred card design.
- Once you've selected a design, tap “Get Card For Free.” Currently, the card is still free but it'll cost N500 when the offer finish. This is another distinction from other platforms like OPay that charge N1,000 issuance fees for their virtual card.
- Next, you will be asked to verify your identity. Once you complete the identity verification, you card will be issued instantly.
Note: the identity verification you'll be asked to complete is not a KYC verification. It's just a selfie video that confirms your authorization at the BVN level. Notwithstanding, your Moniepoint account must also be in tier 2 (or your NIN and BVN must have been linked to the account) before you can request a virtual card on the fintech app.
How to Use the Moniepoint Virtual Card
When I got my Moniepoint virtual card, I quickly tested it on Spotify to renew my subscription, and it worked as expected. The card was linked to my Google Play account, and my subscription was renewed without any delay. So, the card can be used to complete payments anywhere Google Pay is involved, such as in-app purchases (be it local or international payments).
It can also be used to complete payments on online stores like Jumia, Temu, Shein, Alibaba, AliExpress, and others. I can't say for Amazon, because I don't know if the American giant accepts payments via Verve cards.
In addition, you can use the Moniepoint virtual card directly on Spotify, Netflix, Showmax, DSTV, YouTube Premium, Apple Music, and many other streaming platforms if you're in Nigeria. But if you have the platforms' accounts opened in another region, or the accounts aren't Nigerian accounts, the Verve card payment option might not be available.
The card can also be used on platforms like Meta, Google Ads, Facebook, and TikTok to run ads campaigns. In essence, the Moniepoint virtual card works online anywhere payment supports are made for Nigerian. It can be both international and local payments.
How to Manage Moniepoint Virtual Card
The Moniepoint virtual card can be managed through the Moniepoint app. There are four management tabs under the virtual card sub-section: Details, Block, Dispute, and Settings. Under these tabs, you will see the recent (history) transactions you've done with the card. (See as shown in the image below).
Details
If you tap the “Details” tab, you will see your card details including the card numbers, names on the card, expiry date, and CVV number. But before you're allowed to view these details, you will be required to input your app transaction PIN. This gives extra layer of security to protect your card details from unathorized access.
Block
The “Block” feature allows you to place a temporary restriction on your virtual card. You'd want to block your virtual card mainly for security reasons that involves card details being exposed through a data breach, a suspicious transaction, or accidentally sharing the details with the wrong person or website. Blocking it instantly stops anyone from using it before real damage is done.
I usually block my virtual card because some websites can be sneaky and charge recurring (renewal) fees without my consent. For instance, Spotify charges a renewal fee every month, but I prefer to renew my subscription whenever it's convenient for me, not whenever Spotify decides to charge it automatically. So, I just block the card, and when Spotify tries to charge it, the transaction bounces and I get notified. Then, when I'm ready, I simply unblock the card and renew the subscription myself.
Since virtual cards can be used anywhere online, they're also easier for fraudsters to attempt to use once compromised, so having the ability to freeze or block it immediately (rather than waiting to visit a bank or cancel a physical card) gives you a fast, direct way to protect your money.
To block the card, just tap “Block” and select the reason for blocking the card.
Dispute
You can use the “Dispute” sub-section tab under the card to manage all transaction dispute you've logged regarding the card.
As you can see in the image above, the disputes are categorized into two sections. The “investigating” section shows the ongoing disputes or the ones that have not been resolved while the “Resolved” section shows the disputes that have been settled.
Card Settings
Under the “Card Settings” sub-section of the card, you can customize the card name, change the card PIN, reset PIN, manage card limit, and replace the virtual card.
To customize your name on the card, tap “Custom Name” and enter your preferred name in the designated box and tap “Save Name.”
The change PIN can be used if you remember your PIN but want to change it to another one, while the Reset PIN should be used when you don't remember your PIN. If you use the reset PIN, and OTP will be sent to your registered phone number.
The card limit is capped at N500,000 (daily), N3,500,000 (weekly), and 15,000,000 (monthly) maximum. You can tap the “Change” button with the pencil icon to reduce the spending limits.
Lastly, the replace button can be used to get a new virtual card. You will need to select the reason you're replacing the card and proceed to the next phase.
That's all about the Moniepoint virtual card. If you get value from this article, don't hesitate to share it on your social media platforms.
