Address Verification

When you use your MasterCard^® card online, by mail or by phone, a merchant may request the processing financial institution to verify the address given to them at the time of purchase. Your card issuer will then look up your billing address on file.

Verifying your address during the checkout stage of a transaction is designed to combat lost or stolen cards from being used to purchase goods or services in card-not-present environments. That way, when you are not handing your actual plastic card to someone to make a purchase, you have greater protection from fraudulent use of your card.