What numbers are what on a credit card?
Matthew Harrington
Updated on January 21, 2026
Issuer identification number: The next six to eight digits are an issuer identification number (IIN), which is also called a bank identification number (BIN). That number specifies which financial institution issued your card….Issuer Information.
| Credit Card Industry Numbers | |
|---|---|
| 9 | Government |
What are the 3 numbers on a credit card?
The code on the back of a credit card is a three-digit number known as a Card Security Code (CSC) or Card Verification Value (CVV), among other names.
Are there 13 digit credit card numbers?
TMI About Credit Card Numbers The first digit is different for each card network: Visa cards – Begin with a 4 and have 13 or 16 digits. Mastercard cards – Begin with a 5 and has 16 digits.
Can CVV be 4 digits?
The CVV is a three- or four-digit code that’s printed on your credit card as a fraud-prevention measure. When you provide this number for an online or phone purchase, the merchant will submit the CVV when it authorizes the transaction.
Are all credit card numbers 16 digits?
Credit cards that are part of the Visa, Mastercard and Discover payment networks have 16 digits, while those that are part of the American Express payment network have just 15. There are also other numbers on the front or back of your credit card that can be used to authenticate transactions.
How many digits are on a credit card?
This 16-digit number is referred to as your Credit Card Number and is unique for every individual. Typically, credit cards have the 16 digits on the front of the card. These digits are exclusive for every card holder and denote the individual account number for the card. These sixteen digit numbers and not randomly generated and follow a pattern.
How do you find out the account number on a debit card?
The Card Face. Look at the string of digits on the face of your debit card. Visa and MasterCard, the most common issuers of debit and credit cards, have 16 digits. These digits represent the card issuer and your specific account number.
How many digits are on an American Express card?
For example, Visa and Mastercard cards are often 16 digits long, although shorter and longer numbers exist. American Express cards have 15 digits, and Discover cards have 16 digits. Why might card numbers grow longer? The ISO recognized that card numbers may run out unless issuers use more characters.
What do the first two digits on a Visa account number mean?
These digits represent the card issuer and your specific account number. The first digit characterizes the type of your card. Look at the first two digits. For both Visa and Mastecard the first digit identifies the card issuer; “4” is Visa and “5” is MasterCard.
