Technology
What is VBV (Verified by Visa)? A Complete Guide Share:
Online shopping has become a significant part of the global retail scene. The number of digital buyers worldwide will reach almost 3 billion in 2025. As online payment usage grows, so do financial crime risks. To protect online retailers and cardholders, Visa incorporated Verified by Visa (VBV). This security feature adds an extra authentification layer for all online payments. In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the VBV card and how it helps to protect users.
Visa assesses shipping location, device type, and other information to determine the cardholder’s identity. If authenticated, the transaction goes through. Considering the VBV card meaning, this anti-fraud mechanism protects cardholders and merchants from cyber fraud. It adds an extra level of verification in the form of one-time passcodes (OTPs), biometrics, or risk-based authentication to ensure only valid cardholders make online purchases.
Verified by Visa (VBV) and 3D Secure are security protocols aiming to enhance online payment safety. 3D Secure, implemented by major card networks, adds an authentication step during checkout to verify the cardholder’s identity. VBV, Visa’s integration of 3D Secure, sends users a one-time password (OTP) or requires biometric verification to approve transactions. Together, they protect finances against fraud by ensuring that only the approved user can proceed with a purchase.
3DS 2.0 is an evolution of the 3DS protocol, coming with additional features beyond fraud prevention.
| 3D Secure 1.0 | 3D Secure 2.0 | |
| Launch year | 1999 | 2016 |
| Authentication method | One-Time Password (OTP) | Biometrics, integrated authenticators, (OTP) |
| User experience | Disruptive, requires manual password entry | Improved, with minimal disruption |
| Mobile support | Limited | Fully optimized for mobile devices |
| Security level | High, but susceptible to phishing | Higher, with modern authentication methods |
| Compatibility | Browser only | Supports mobile apps, APIs, and browsers |
| Merchant integration | Complex | Flexible, using SDKs and APIs |
| Transaction declines | Higher decline rates due to poor user experience | Lower declines with streamlined authentication processes |
| Compliance with PSD2 | Not fully compliant | Fully compliant with PSD2 (Strong Customer Authentication) |
Learn more about the previous version at https://www.emvco.com/emv-technologies/3-d-secure/. Take a look at the key features of 3D Secure 1.0 vs. 3D Secure 2.0 in the table below.
Verified by Visa is a legitimate security protocol that protect online payments. However, scammers may imitate its process to steal financial information. Customers should confirm verification requests that come from their bank. They should also avoid sharing personal data through unverified links or emails, and report suspicious activity immediately to their bank.
Verified by Visa works similarly to other payment systems like MasterCard. Once a customer decides to buy a product online, they need to verify their identity. This is where VBV 3D Secure steps in.
To complete the VBV 3D Secure verification, you need to follow the standard procedure. Here is the brief guide:
Step 1: Do online shopping at any VBV 3D Secure-enabled merchant website.
Step 2: Enter your UBL Visa Debit Card details at the checkout stage.
Step 3: Enter the One Time Password (OTP) A new window will pop up and ask you to
Step 4: Enter the 6-digit OTP sent to your personal device and click the “Submit” button.
Step 5: Wait for your transaction to be processed immediately.
To activate the VBV Verification, the issuing bank should recognize an unusual pattern in a cardholder’s behavior. This unusual pattern could include:
Financial fraud and identity theft cause numerous losses for financial institutions. The risk has never been more striking, with social media sharing volumes of personal data with scammers. Now that you know the answer to the question “What does VBV mean?” you should learn its benefits for cardholders and online businesses.
Increased Security. VBV adds an extra authentication layer (OTP or biometrics) to authorize the cardholder’s request to make an online transaction.
Reduced Fraud Risk. VBV reduces the risk of unauthorized use of card data by allowing only the rightful cardholder to complete purchases.
Fewer Chargebacks. VBV minimizes the possibility of fraud-based chargebacks, providing smoother transactions.
Convenience of use. VBV reduces secure online payments that maintain ease of use.
Liability Shift. VBV protects merchants from fraud-related chargebacks, as the liability shifts to the bank or card issuer.
PSD2 Compliance. VBV ensures compliance with the EU’s Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2), meeting Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) requirements.
Improved Customer Trust. VBV enhances consumer confidence in online transactions, causing higher conversion rates.
Reduced Fraud. VBV prevents unauthorized transactions, so merchants experience fewer fraudulent chargebacks and create a safer payment scene.
The VBV check manages to increase the transaction security. However, there are some drawbacks to consider as well:
Cart Abandonment. Additional security can also cause glitches at the checkout stage. Completing the verification procedure can slow down some transactions, making consumers abandon their purchases.
Fraud Exposure. Hackers can create fake VBV checks to steal personal and financial data. This way the Visa Secure program creates a new attack zone.
Poor Standardization. Not all merchants or customers proceed with Verified by Visa. Each card issuer has a separate program with 3D Secure. The lack of standardization can cause frustration and lead to an unstable customer experience.
Lack of Buy-in. New security practices can cause more inconvenience for consumers. For example, consumers may be required to use a specific device to receive PIN codes. Consumers have to remember one more password. The integration of VBV requires time and effort.
The technology can cause some friction at the checkout stage. Cardholders can forget their password, or enter the wrong one. They might also be redirected to the wrong window, which makes them abandon their purchase. This eventually leads to lower conversions on the retailer’s website.
Merchants must purchase and install plugins to enable Verified by Visa on their website. They need to contact their processor to ensure VBV is part of their processing services. The processor can inform them about possible costs for their business to use the payment authentication system by Visa. While the program itself is free, there can be additional expenses for installation to be unbearable for small businesses. In addition, merchants have to integrate the new protocol into the existing payment system, ensuring compatibility with various devices and browsers, and maintaining a smooth user experience.
VBV and Visa Secure have been integrated to protect consumers and merchants from the constantly growing risk of digital fraud. With these tools, you can do online shopping without any safety concerns. So, what is VBV? What is Visa Secure? How are they different?
VBV marked significant progress when it comes to online transaction security. But the world of technology doesn’t stand still. Visa Secure became an effective fraud protection method fully based on VBV. It implements the EMV 3-D Secure protocol to enable innovative authentication based on biometric and risk assessments. Visa Secure can’t be viewed as a pure upgrade. Instead, it was created as a new way to manage online payments.
While VBV relied only on fixed passwords, Visa Secure implemented more advanced tools like biometric and risk assessments. This makes the payment process more secure and more convenient for the average users. They can do online shopping without exposing their financial data to third parties. Merchants can also reduce the risk of fraud and the financial losses that come alongside. In addition, Visa Securecode can provide a smooth checkout experience that helps gain customers’ trust. As a result, merchants can enjoy better conversion rates and fewer abandoned carts.
Whether you own an online store or a combined brick & mortar, VBV is required to protect your eCommerce business. To start using the VBV credit card protocol, contact your credit card processor.
The VBV integration may seem a bit complex for merchants. However, the process usually doesn’t take more than a few days. Here are the key steps:
Assess Compatibility. Ensure your payment gateway supports VBV and is compliant with 3D Secure protocols.
Contact Your Payment Processor. Work with your bank or payment processor to enable VBV on your account.
Integrate 3D Secure API. Implement the necessary 3D Secure API or SDK provided by Visa to enable authentication.
Configure Merchant Settings. Set up transaction parameters and authentication rules in the gateway dashboard.
Run Testing. Keep track of online transactions to verify proper VBV functionality and ensure a smooth user experience.
Launch the Tool. Activate VBV for your customers and monitor its performance to indicate any issues at the early stage.
To introduce Verified by Visa to your customers, you can make some adjustments to your website. Here are the best practices to consider:
VBV has become the main security tool used by online businesses. This is just the beginning. The future promises even more innovative methods for fraud monitoring and prevention.
VBV CC’s technology contributed to the growing number of online transactions made through contactless methods. Visa is still known for offering proper security and improving the overall user experience.
Biometric Authentication. Facial recognition and fingerprint scanning will further secure online payments.
AI-Powered Fraud Detection. Real-time analysis of transaction patterns will enhance fraud prevention.
Tokenization. Replacing sensitive card details with encrypted tokens ensures greater security.
Seamless Software Integration. Improved compatibility with wearables and IoT devices will redefine payment methods.
The future of online payments requires the payment system to combine VBV’s mechanism with cutting-edge technologies. A highly secure experience will be even more efficient in checking the customer’s identity, maintaining their privacy, and processing safe transactions.
Verified by Visa (VBV) plays a crucial role in the online payment ecosystem by offering higher security and fraud prevention for merchants and consumers. As eCommerce expands, VBV has to meet new challenges, implementing advanced technologies like biometrics, AI-driven fraud detection, and real-time risk assessments. Through compliance with regulatory standards such as PSD2, VBV earns trust and confidence in digital transactions.
In this article, we’ve covered the most important aspects of Verified by Visa. What is a VBV? How it works? What benefits does it offer? With this fraud prevention solution from the financial industry, merchants can protect online transactions, get better ecommerce interchange, and earn customers’ trust. To start using VBV, get in touch with the processor to initiate the integration process.
