When you make credit card purchases online or over the phone, you'll often need the card's security code to complete the transaction. The security code helps to protect you from credit card fraud and serves as a safeguard against unauthorized transactions.
Where you can find the security code on your card depends on the card's network. Below, CNBC Select explains how to locate it and how security codes work.
How credit card security codes work
What is the security code on a credit card?
Finding your card's security code
Can you find your card's security code without the card?
Bottom line
What is the security code on a credit card?
A credit card security code is a three- or four-digit number designed to prevent fraudulent transactions. You might hear this code referred to as the Card Verification Value (CVV). Other common names for it include Card Security Code (CSC), Card Verification Code (CVC or CVC2) and Card Identification Number (CID).
Typically, you need this code when you're making a payment without presenting your physical card. For example, the retailer can prompt you to type in the security code at the checkout when you're shopping online. Or you might need to provide the code when you're making a purchase by phone.
Merchants don't store credit card security codes after completing a transaction. This means people can't gain access to the security codes by hacking into the merchant's electronic database.
Finding your card's security code
With most credit card networks, including Discover, Mastercard and Visa, you'll find the security code on the back of your card, to the right of the card number.
If you're not sure which network your credit card is in, check the right corner on the front and the back of your card. For instance, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, a popular travel credit card, is in the Visa network. You'll find the Visa logo on the back of the card.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
Highlights
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
On the other hand, the Citi Double Cash® Card, our top pick for the best flat-rate cash-back credit card, is a Mastercard — as you can see from the logo on the card.
The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best no-annual-fee cash-back cards thanks to its straightforward rewards structure. Card is one of the best no-annual-fee cash-back cards thanks to its straightforward rewards structure.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Security codes work a little differently with American Express cards, which can confuse new Amex cardholders. Amex cards have two security codes — a three-digit number on the back and a four-digit one on the front. For purchases and regular transactions, you'll use the code on the front. However, Amex might ask you for the number on the back as well for verification purposes. Terms apply.
Can you find your card's security code without the card?
The purpose of a security code is to prove that you have a physical copy of your card when you're using it for virtual or over-the-phone transactions. This makes it harder for someone else to use your card without your knowledge. For that reason, you can't access your card's security code unless you have the card on you.
If you're shopping online and don't have your card with you, you might be able to use a virtual credit card — if your card issuer offers this feature. A virtual credit card allows you to get a credit card number from your online bank account. This number is different from your physical card's number, which adds another level of protection by keeping your actual card's information safe and hidden.
Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here.
Bottom line
A credit card security code helps verify you have a physical copy of your card when you're making purchases online or over the phone. It adds a layer of safety against fraud, so guard it carefully. Don't lend your card to anyone and if you lose it (or think your information has gotten into the wrong hands), immediately notify your credit card issuer.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card guide is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards.
Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
