Originally reposted from: US Credit Card Guide

  • Friendly reminder: virtual cards carry risk, so be cautious with large top-ups.
  • This card is suitable for people in China who do not have a US bank card.

[2024.5 Update] Some new use cases have been added, including US mobile services like tello and ultra mobile.

Background

Virtual cards are a very useful banking service, offering privacy, security, and convenience. US virtual cards are especially flexible and can help people without a US bank card make purchases as if they had a US card. We have also covered other virtual card services on the blog:

This article introduces an emerging US virtual card provider, WildCard. This service charges for membership and spending. If you already have a US credit card, you likely do not need this virtual card service. But if you do not yet have a US bank card and need to handle certain US payments or subscription services, WildCard is worth considering.

Sign Up for WildCard

  • Open WildCard
  • You need to link a Mainland China or Hong Kong mobile number

WildCard offers $1 off the annual fee when you sign up. Just make sure the invitation code field shows HQWVFAQE, as shown below.

About the WildCard Virtual Card

The WildCard virtual card is supported technically by a company called Commercial Liquidity, Inc. Its partner bank in the US is First Pryority Bank (with FDIC insurance). The company mainly provides US Mastercard virtual card subscription services for residents of Mainland China and Hong Kong. Its virtual card can be used for various US app and website subscriptions (such as Apple Store and Youtube), especially AI subscriptions (such as ChatGPT, OpenAi API, Claude Pro, Midjouney, etc.).

One thing to note is that WildCard requires a paid subscription, and top-ups incur a 3.5% fee. Still, the fee is reasonable, and for people without a US card, it can be very practical. The official supported-use list is shown below:

Account Activation

Prepare a Mainland China or Hong Kong mobile number.

After verifying the SMS code and setting a password, click to activate membership.

Choose your subscription term:

  • 2 years: $11.99
  • 3 years: $16.99
  • Remember to enter HQWVFAQE in the invitation code field

Fees

After subscribing, the fees are as follows:

  • Top-up fee: 3.5%
  • Purchase fee: none
  • Preauthorization charge: $1 (often charged by merchants on the first transaction and later refunded)
  • Withdrawal fee: none
  • Non-US merchant fee: 1% + $0.5 (so it is not recommended for non-US merchants such as WeChat or Alipay)
  • Refund fee: 2%

So overall, normal use is not a problem. For smaller payments, a 3.5% fee is acceptable for people without a US card.

Top-Up Methods

Supported top-up methods include Alipay, Hong Kong Alipay, and WeChat Pay.

WeChat Pay

  • Fee: 3.5%
  • Maximum per transaction: $400
  • Minimum top-up: $10 (actually $5)

Alipay

  • Fee: 3.5%
  • Maximum per transaction: $400
  • Minimum top-up: $10

Hong Kong Alipay

  • Fee: 3.5%
  • Maximum per transaction: $120
  • Minimum top-up: $20

For more on Hong Kong Alipay, see:

Withdrawals

Withdrawals go to Alipay. The stated processing time is 1–3 business days, though in practice it arrives almost instantly.

You can conveniently view top-up and withdrawal records on the page.

Spending Limits

  • If you complete identity verification through Alipay, the monthly limit is $3,000
  • If you do not complete identity verification, the monthly limit is $100

Identity verification is simple: verify your Alipay information, scan the code, and complete facial verification.

After verification, you get a $3,000/month limit.

Virtual Card Features

Before opening the virtual card, remember to set the cardholder name (though virtual cards generally do not care much whose name is used). WildCard’s virtual card is currently serviced by First Pryority Bank. The card BIN is 5592, and the billing address is in OR (a tax-free state).

ChatGPT Refund Service

One nice feature is that if you use WildCard to subscribe to ChatGPT and the subscription does not go through, they support a full refund. You can contact customer service for details.

Other Features

In addition to virtual card service, WildCard also offers other features, mainly these 2:

  • Cross-border phone service (can be used to activate various AI accounts, such as ChatGPT)
  • Cross-border email service (supports Gmail and FastEmail setup)

The phone service works roughly like this and can be used for things like 25-minute SMS verification sessions. Readers can explore the details themselves.

SMS verification can be used to activate various AI services, such as ChatGPT and Claude.

The email setup service includes Gmail and FastEmail. Both support API integration and are suitable for users with high email-volume needs.

Summary

  • Most people currently using WildCard are doing so to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus, Claude, or the US Apple Store. It is a relatively low-cost paid option for people without a US card.
  • Friendly reminder: virtual cards carry risk, so be cautious with large top-ups.

Sign Up for WildCard

  • Open WildCard
  • You need to link a Mainland China or Hong Kong mobile number

WildCard offers $1 off the annual fee when you sign up. Just make sure the invitation code field shows HQWVFAQE.