US BANK + Microsoft Wallet = Mobile bonus

[ShadowFox]

Microsoft has re-introduced its wallet/pay system called Microsoft Wallet (MW) through the Microsoft Edge browser.  It stores your credit card information and will automatically fill out the credentials if you try to check out on a website.  However, certain credit card issuers (US Bank to my knowledge) allows the creation of a virtual card.  This is where the magic comes in.    

I had stored some non US bank credit cards in the MW.  I thought what the heck I might as well add my Kroger family credit card and see if something interesting happens.  When added, I get the option of adding “protection via Microsoft” which creates a “virtual card”.  I wondered if this virtual card would trigger the mobile wallet payment?  I saved my virtual card to Amazon (done in Edge browser) and bought a one dollar reload.   Once my statement balance came and my bonus points were awarded, I went back and calculated my bonus points.  AND GUESS WHAT??!  5% back at amazon!  WOW! It worked.  My virtual card showed up in the Amazon app but I did not try ordering from there. 

I am not particularly surprised as the US Bank Altitude Reserve used to have Microsoft Wallet/Pay listed as an eligible wallet bonus before (2010’s?).  I wonder if US Bank had some residual code left in their back-end systems and they just copy pasted into the Kroger branded cards?  Or perhaps US bank plans on adding MW as an eligible wallet bonus later on?  US bank is the only credit card issuer in my line up that allowed this “virtual card”

The potential for this is very wide.  This practically opens the doors to Paypal key V2.0.  Does this virtual card work via other pay systems like Walmart pay, Kroger Pay, Paypal?  Does it work in Apps not related to Microsoft Edge?  Does it work with insurance companies, utilities, etc that don’t accept apple pay?

I believe there are break down charts for the US Bank Altitude Reserve that indicate the break even points for mobile wallet payments at 1-3% CB and at 1-4.5% for travel redemption.  This has a lot of potential to unlock a lot of value for the individual (more places to get the mobile bonus, more places to spend). 

Discover is the only other card that I can think of that has had consistent mobile wallet bonuses.  I tried adding a Discover card to MW.  I did not get the option of adding a virtual card for this one.  Perhaps because I am AU?  Might be worth trying out for those who are not AU?

I will upload some pictures as a guide later on.  

Reference 

Wallet | Microsoft Edge

[ShadowFox]

First step is to locate the settings button in Microsoft Edge. 

Click on settings

Click on Open Wallet

Click on Payment Methods

Click on Add card

Enter in CC credentials (name/number/billing address etc)

You should be given the option to enable protection by edge/virtual card

Enable it

When you view your payment method it should look like...  The virtual card and CC will have different CVV/CC number/expiration date.  

[Gollum]

I don't think I have ever heard of Microsoft Wallet before. In my opinion, Microsoft Windows has had 35 years or so of security problems/failures because Microsoft Windows was not initially intended to be a multiuser, multiprocessing operating system. I don't have any interest in trying Microsoft Wallet.

[mgood]

What am I missing here?

The Kroger card (and cards from Kroger subsidiaries like Ralph's) gets 5% back on mobile wallet spend, up to $3k spend per year.
So using it in Microsoft wallet is triggering the 5% mobile wallet rewards, as I would think it should.

That's what it does. That's why I want one.

[keekers]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[K-in-Boston]

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@Gollum wrote:

I don't think I have ever heard of Microsoft Wallet before. In my opinion, Microsoft Windows has had 35 years or so of security problems/failures because Microsoft Windows was not initially intended to be a multiuser, multiprocessing operating system. I don't have any interest in trying Microsoft Wallet.

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All consumer and enterprise versions of Windows released in the past 25 years (Windows ME excluded) are based on Windows NT, which was built from the ground up for those very purposes.  That's like saying you won't use mass transit because trains were built to run on coal; I don't recall riding a subway powered by steam engine lately.

This could certainly be an interesting development.  I significantly prefer Chrome over Edge, but if I can earn 4.5% back uncapped on Altitude Reserve for a significant amount of spending that might entice me to switch for shopping purposes at least.

[longtimelurker]

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

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This could certainly be an interesting development.  I significantly prefer Chrome over Edge, but if I can earn 4.5% back uncapped on Altitude Reserve for a significant amount of spending that might entice me to switch for shopping purposes at least.

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While some of my cards are listed as "Eligible for virtual card"  the AR isn't, for me.   Not sure how to do a transaction without a virtual card (as the OP did on Amazon) so this may be a problem!

[ShadowFox]

Thanks for the update! Sigh disappointing that you don't have the option for a virtual card with your AR.  Perhaps the feature is limited to the Kroger family credit cards.  Hopefully others with the AR are able to give it a shot.  Maybe US Bank expands this option out to their other cards?

Still an expanded option for 5% isn't bad ($150 yearly rebate).  

[NoHardLimits]

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@ShadowFox wrote:

Thanks for the update! Sigh disappointing that you don't have the option for a virtual card with your AR.  Perhaps the feature is limited to the Kroger family credit cards.  Hopefully others with the AR are able to give it a shot.  Maybe US Bank expands this option out to their other cards?

Still an expanded option for 5% isn't bad ($150 yearly rebate).  

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I just added my USBAR to Microsoft Wallet and could not find the option to enable Protection by Edge.  So, it looks like no soup for me either.

[xenon3030]

Interesting news. Does creating a virtual card from a CC would result a debit virtual card (like PPK) or credit virtual card?

PS: I am not a fan of MS products. In addition to their messy products, they did the same messes on their acquired several products like Linkedin and Skype. I hope that MS does not acquire any other businesses and leave the customers enjoy quality products.