If your bank requires additional verification in the United States, the transaction may be delayed or blocked until your identity or activity is confirmed. This usually happens when a payment is flagged by security systems.
Verification is handled by your bank, not the merchant.
What happens
When a transaction is flagged:
- The payment may be declined or placed on hold.
- You may receive a request for verification.
Verification can occur through:
- SMS or app-based confirmation codes.
- Email alerts.
- Phone calls from the bank.
Until verification is completed:
- The transaction will not be approved.
- Repeated attempts may continue to fail, including situations where international card payments fail repeatedly after security checks are triggered
What determines the outcome
The outcome depends on:
- Whether you successfully complete the verification process.
- Whether your bank can confirm your identity.
- Whether the transaction is considered legitimate.
If verification succeeds:
- The transaction may be approved or retried successfully.
If verification fails or is not completed:
- The transaction may remain blocked.
What it may lead to
Common outcome:
- Transaction approved after verification.
Possible escalation:
- Temporary block on your card, including situations where your card is temporarily frozen by your bank after suspicious activity is detected.
- Multiple transactions declined.
Worst realistic outcome:
- Card or account temporarily restricted.
- Payments unavailable until verification is completed, including cases where your bank blocks a transaction abroad during travel-related fraud checks
- Ongoing issues if the bank cannot confirm activity.
Verification delays can interrupt payments for hotels, transportation, or other services.
Common escalation triggers
- Transactions from a new country or location.
- Unusual spending patterns.
- Large or repeated transactions.
- Multiple failed payment attempts.
What this depends on
Outcomes vary based on:
- Bank security policies.
- Type of transaction.
- Whether you can receive verification messages or calls, including situations where your phone cannot receive bank verification codes while traveling
- Availability of your registered phone or email.
Banks use automated fraud detection systems that may act immediately.
Who controls the decision
Verification and approval decisions are controlled by your bank and card issuer.
Merchants cannot bypass or override bank verification requirements.
Last reviewed: April 2026
This page describes typical operational outcomes. Individual cases vary.