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The Daily Insight Hub

How can you tell what bank by credit card number?

Author

Andrew Campbell

Updated on February 02, 2026

The first six digits of the whole number are the IIN, or “issuer identification number” (also known as the BIN, or “bank identification number”). These numbers identify the institution that issued the card. The first digit of the IIN is the MII, or “Major Industry Identifier”.

Who is credit card issuer?

A credit card issuer is a bank or credit union that provides a credit card directly to the end user, such as a consumer or small business owner. If you take a look at a credit card, you’re likely to find a lot of different company names on it, in addition to the card issuer.

What is issuing bank name?

The credit card issuing bank or issuer, as the term goes, refers to the banks that issue credit cards. The name of the bank which issued your card can usually be found displayed prominently on the front of your credit card.

What if my card doesnt have an issue number?

It doesn’t even really matter whether this is your first plastic for that account or a replacement card – if you don’t have an issue number printed on the front of your card, your card issuer will simply ignore that field when it is submitted through.

Is Visa a credit card issuer?

Visa and Mastercard do not actually issue credit cards to consumers. The “issuer” is the bank or credit union that backs the card financially. You may also hear the issuer referred to as the “issuing bank” or even just the “credit card company.”

What is the biggest credit card company?

Major Credit Card Companies in 2021:

  • American Express: 53.7M cards in circulation.
  • Bank of America: 55.6M cards in circulation.
  • Barclays: 16.6M cards in circulation.
  • Capital One: 99.7M cards in circulation.
  • Chase: 92M cards in circulation.
  • Citibank: 70.8M cards in circulation.
  • Discover: 57M cards in circulation.

How to find out the issuing bank for a credit card?

You can use our BIN Checker right away, but we also offer you to understand how it works. Sometimes we need to figure out the name of the bank that has issued the card, but we have only the card’s number. It’s easy to find out everything about the issuing network if we have the card in our hands, but sometimes we’ve only got a number.

What do the numbers on a credit card mean?

Bank Identification Numbers. “Bank Identification Number,” or BIN, refers to the initial sequence of four to six numbers that appears on a credit card. The number is used to identify the card’s issuing bank or other financial institution.

What can a bank identification number do for You?

Bank identification number is a powerful tool. With Bindb, your company can find out more about the card that your customer used than ever before. Bin numbers can identify the issuing bank Distinguishing between “debit” and “credit” cards is a vital component in risk assessment.

Where can I find my credit card issuer ID number?

In the U.S., the official list of issuer identification numbers is maintained by the American Bankers Association. The ABA will only release its database to you if you meet its special qualifications.