Credit Card Number
Overall Rating:  [0/5]Total Votes [ ] |
|
Credit Card Number is the primary account number of the credit card holder, which one can see embossed on the credit card as well. The credit card number, which shares a common numbering scheme, has got some internal structure.
Credit cards throughout the world follow the same standard when it comes to numbering. It's the International Standards Organization (ISO/IEC 7812-1:1993) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI X4.13) that has drawn up the specifications for credit card numbering system.
The Numbering System
The credit card numbers are a particular type of ISO/IEC 7812 bank card numbers. An ISO/IEC 7812 consists of the following:
This is the first digit of the credit card that represents the category of the issuer of the credit card. From the MII, one can know about the category that the card issuer represents. MII is a part of Issuer Identification Number (IIN). Following is the list of MII:
Issuer Identification Number (IIN)
The first six digit of a credit card is known as Issuer Identification Number, which also include the MII (the first digit of a credit card number). IIN helps to identify the issuer of the credit card. The rest of the digits in the credit card number are allotted by the card issuer. As a security measure, some credit card issuers also print the first four digits of IIN on the credit card.
Following is the list of IIN ranges, which have been allocated to various issuing networks:
Account Number
The digit seventh and onwards in your credit card are your individual account identifier. As a credit card number can be of maximum 19 digits, and as the first 6 digits are issuer identifier and the last digit is the check digit, hence, an account number in a credit card can be of 12 digits (19-7) at maximum.
Check Digit
The final digit of a credit card number is called Check Digit. Luhn algorithm is used to find out the check digit.
Structure of a credit card number
Credit cards throughout the world follow the same standard when it comes to numbering. It's the International Standards Organization (ISO/IEC 7812-1:1993) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI X4.13) that has drawn up the specifications for credit card numbering system.
The Numbering System
The credit card numbers are a particular type of ISO/IEC 7812 bank card numbers. An ISO/IEC 7812 consists of the following:
- Major Industry Identifier (MII) – a single-digit number
- Issuer Identification Number (IIN) – a six-digit number
- An Account Number
- Check sum calculated (using Luhn algorithm)
This is the first digit of the credit card that represents the category of the issuer of the credit card. From the MII, one can know about the category that the card issuer represents. MII is a part of Issuer Identification Number (IIN). Following is the list of MII:
| MII Digit Value | Category of Issuer |
| 0 | ISO/TC 68 and other industry assignments |
| 1 | Airlines |
| 2 | Airlines and other industry assignments |
| 3 | Travel and Entertainment |
| 4 | Banking and Financial |
| 5 | Banking and Financial |
| 6 | Merchandizing and Banking |
| 7 | Petroleum |
| 8 | Telecommunications and other industry assignments |
| 9 | National assignment |
Issuer Identification Number (IIN)
The first six digit of a credit card is known as Issuer Identification Number, which also include the MII (the first digit of a credit card number). IIN helps to identify the issuer of the credit card. The rest of the digits in the credit card number are allotted by the card issuer. As a security measure, some credit card issuers also print the first four digits of IIN on the credit card.
Following is the list of IIN ranges, which have been allocated to various issuing networks:
| Issuing Network | IIN Ranges | Length of Card Number |
| American Express | 34, 37 | 15 |
| Bankcard | 5610, 560221-560225 | 16 |
| China UnionPay | 622126-622925, 624000-626999, 628200-628899 | 16-19 |
| Diners Club Carte Blanche | 300-305 | 14 |
| Diners Club enRoute | 2014, 2149 | 15 |
| Diners Club International | 36 | 14 |
| Diners Club US & Canada | 54, 55 | 16 |
| Discover Card | 6011, 622126-622925, 644-649, 65 | 16 |
| JCB | 3528-3589 | 16 |
| Laser | 6304, 6706, 6771, 6709 | 16-19 |
| Maestro | 5018, 5020, 5038, 6304, 6759, 6761, 6763 | 12-19 |
| MasterCard | 51-55 | 16 |
| Solo | 6334, 6767 | 16, 18,19 |
| Switch | 4903, 4905, 4911, 4936, 564182, 633110, 6333, 6759 | 16, 18, 19 |
| Visa | 4 | 13, 16 |
| Visa Electron | 417500, 4917, 4913, 4508, 4844 | 16 |
Account Number
The digit seventh and onwards in your credit card are your individual account identifier. As a credit card number can be of maximum 19 digits, and as the first 6 digits are issuer identifier and the last digit is the check digit, hence, an account number in a credit card can be of 12 digits (19-7) at maximum.
Check Digit
The final digit of a credit card number is called Check Digit. Luhn algorithm is used to find out the check digit.
Related Links
