Vodacom Tanzania recently introduced the M-Pesa VISA Cards as a service for people to use as a payment method for their online purchases. The Virtual Card is issued to Vodacom M-Pesa customers and is not linked to any physical Visa Card or your bank card.
You can use the card online on all websites and applications that accept Visa Card payments.
An important thing to note here is that this card is not a credit card or a charge card, nor is it a debit card linked to a current M-Pesa account; it is a virtual card generated via M-Pesa through USSD or Vodacom App.
M-Pesa virtual VisaCard
You may be wondering what an M-Pesa virtual VisaCard is.
M-Pesa VISA Card is a digital card that exists only in digital format. Using those numbers, you may use them to make online purchases in the same way you would with a real bank card such as a Visa or Mastercard from another bank.
How to Create Your M-Pesa Virtual VisaCard.
1. Open your Money Menu, for example, *150*00 #
2. Select number 4 Pay by M-Pesa.
3. Choose the number 6 M-Pesa VISA Card.
4. Choose Number 1 to make a new card.
5. Go to the SMS App.
You will be sent the card’s credentials via SMS, containing the Virtual Card number, Expire date, and CVV-Card Verification Value. It may also include other relevant information to allow you to use the card online.
1. It’s easy to create and free.
It’s easy to have. You don’t need many things to own this card. It’s just your phone. All Vodacom customers who are using the M-Pesa wallet can sign up for the new card via the M-Pesa USSD menu. For those who are using the app, the company is planning to make the registration available on the M-Pesa app in future updates. This can then be used to top-up the card.
2. It’s easy to deposit and withdraw money from your card.
It is easy to deposit and withdraw your money, and you do not need an ATM or to go to the bank to deposit and withdraw. All the process is done through your M-Pesa mobile wallet. You must have a Vodacom Tanzania line activated to use the M-Pesa wallet, and that’s it.
3. VISA payments are accepted on all platforms.
One of the advantages of the M-Pesa Virtual VISA Card is that you can use the card online on all websites and applications that accept VISA cards. Use platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, eBay, Aliexpress, and other websites to pay for any online services that require you to have a bank card.
4. It is secure and risk-free to use.
Just like a bank card, the M-Pesa virtual visa card is secure and safe to use. The first layer of security is your M-Pesa wallet pin password to access the card, and you will be required to confirm the OTP for all your transactions to avoid anyone with access to your virtual card details using it.
5. It’s easy to delete and create another card.
One of the coolest things about virtual cards is that you can create a new card as many times as you wish. It is very easy to erase and replace another card. This is not possible for bank cards. However, there is a small fee.
So, if you cancel your card for whatever reason, Vodacom will immediately block your card upon successful cancellation, so it cannot be used.
The bottom line
The M-Pesa virtual card has revolutionized the way people transact by eliminating the need for bank accounts and the risk of exposing bank data online. This means that the future of financial inclusion is unquestionably in the mobile devices that most of us carry with us.
