A virtual account number (VAN) is a substitute account number some banks display in place of your real one when you link an external account to Relay, keeping your true details private.
Who uses virtual account numbers?
Some large financial institutions issue virtual account numbers as a standard security measure when their customers link external services to their accounts. JP Morgan Chase is the most common example, and other major banks may follow similar practices.
How does a virtual account number work when I link my external account to Relay?
Your external bank generates a VAN in place of your real account and routing numbers, so Relay only ever sees the substitute. The mechanics:
Your external bank creates a virtual account number tied to your real account
Relay stores and displays the virtual number, not the underlying one
Payments routed through the virtual number still arrive at your actual account
Only your external bank can map the virtual number back to the real one
Will a VAN affect my ability to move money into or out of Relay?
No. The virtual account number works exactly like a standard account number for transfers. You can move money in and out of Relay the same way you would with any linked bank account.
Why do my account and routing numbers look different in Relay than in my external bank?
That is the VAN in action. If the numbers displayed in Relay do not match what you see in your external bank's own portal or statements, your external bank has substituted a virtual number to protect your details. This is expected behavior and nothing is wrong with the connection.
What's covered and what isn't
What a VAN covers:
Your account number when displayed in Relay
Your routing number when displayed in Relay
The link between these substitute numbers and your real external account
What a VAN does not change:
Your ability to send or receive money through the linked account
Your actual account balance or transaction history at the external bank
How Relay processes ACH transfers, deposits, or withdrawals
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