Yes, You Can Send Money Without CVV — Here's How (2024)

Whether you’re sending your money to a family member or making an online payment to a merchant, keeping yourself and your money safe is vital. Your CVV confirms that you're in possession of the card you're making a payment with.

What is a CVV?

A CVV (Card Verification Value) is a security code on the back of your debit or credit card that helps protect you from fraud. It’s used to prove you’re in possession of the debit or credit card you’re using, and helps protect your account if your card number should fall into the wrong hands.

Your CVV is also known by other names, including:

• Card Security Code (CSC)

• Card Verification Code (CVC)

• Card Validation Code 2 (CVC2)

• Card Identification Number (CID)

Where to find your CVV

Your CVV is printed on the back of your card. It’s usually a three digit number, but with American Express, it’s a four digit number. Each CVV is unique to the card and account holder, and will change if you get a new card.

How to send money without a CVV

If you want to make an online payment with your card, you'll usually need your CVV to process the payment. However, if you’re using a money transfer service, there may be some equally secure alternatives that you can use instead. These include:

• Using a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment service

• Making a bank transfer

• Sending cash

Sending money by bank transfer

Another alternative is to pay for your money transfer by bank transfer. This way, the funds will be drawn directly from your bank account rather than your card. You'll need to provide the following information to send money by bank transfer:

• Your name

• Your bank account number and sort code

• The bank details of the account you want the money to be sent to and the name associated with this account

Sending money as cash

Another option is to send your money in cash. A few money transfer providers like Western Union and MoneyGram allow you to make transfers in cash. Your recipient can then pick the cash up from a pickup point, collect it at their house (in the case of home delivery), or receive the funds directly into their bank account.

Of course, if you are looking to send money electronically, this isn’t going to be the best option for you.

How a CVV protects your account

A CVV is an extra layer of security that increases the likelihood that it’s you making the payment. Requesting a CVV makes it harder for fraudsters to authorize payments with your card details if they don’t have the physical card with them.

Key benefits of using a CVV code when sending money

There are some key benefits to using a CVV code when making an online purchase. These include:

Stores that don’t need a CVV

As it’s only an optional additional security measure, not all need you to provide a CVV to buy something. Some well known names that don’t need a CVV include:

• Amazon

• Apple Pay

• Google Wallet

• PayPal

• Walmart

• Target

Stores like these allow you to transfer money over using only your card number, and not your CVV.

Why some stores don't need a CVV for card payments

Most stores that don’t need you to provide a CVV when you make a card payment have other layers of security in place. These may include:

You may also find that some larger retailers simply have a higher risk tolerance than others. They could potentially be prepared to absorb the costs of potential fraud and chargebacks, but this does not make it safer for you. If you’re paying by card, entering your CVV helps protect you from potential fraudsters.

CVVs - An extra layer of protection for your card payments

CVVs are an important layer of security. They help verify your identity when making payments online, adding another layer of protection should your card details fall into the wrong hands. This is why your CVV is often an essential requirement when making an online payment and sending money.

For international money transfers, the best way to avoid using your CVV is to send money via a bank transfer with a money transfer provider. This means you won’t need to provide your card details.

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