The number on your credit card is more than a passcode to payments when you swipe your card. Many of the digits have a specific meaning. Find out what a credit card number is, what it means, and why it matters.
In This Piece
What Is a Card Number?
A credit card number is a unique number that helps identify your account and card. This number makes it possible for you to pay with the card and for money to be taken out of the right account.
Think about it similarly to your checking account number. Your personal checks are printed with a specific series of numbers. First is the routing number, which indicates which bank the check draws on. Next is the account number, which tells which account the money should come from.
Credit card numbers work the same way. Each part of that long number has a specific function. These are standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
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How to Tell the Credit Card Type by the First Four Digits
The first digit in any credit card number tells you what type of card it is—Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Amex. Card numbers of each type always start with the same number:
- 3: American Express or cards under the Amex umbrella
- 4: Visa
- 5 or 2: Mastercard
- 6: Discover
American Express goes even further by starting card numbers with either 34 or 37, depending on the secondary branding on the card.
That first digit plus the next five in the credit card number is called the Issuer Identification Number (IIN) or Bank Identification Number. This identifies the credit card company and its network, similar to the bank routing number on a personal check.
In some cases, the IIN may be eight digits. To allow for more IINs to support growing needs, the ISO is requiring the financial industry to move to eight-digit IINs.
The rest of the digits in your credit card number, with the exception of the final number, are related to your specific account. They aren’t necessarily the same numbers that appear in the account number on your statement. But this string of numbers is tied to your account so that payment processes use the right account when you make a credit or debit card payment.
The last digit of a credit card number is known as the check digit. This number is applied in an unusual formula that helps determine if your credit card number is valid when you enter it. Using this formula, it takes only a fraction of a second for a computer to confirm that a credit card number is valid.
What Do the Last Four Digits on a Credit Card Mean?
The last four digits of your credit card number don’t actually mean much on their own, but there’s a reason you might be asked for them. If you save a credit card in an online account or other database, the information has to be encrypted. Employees of that company can’t just look up accounts and see full credit card information. They’re usually only able to see the last four digits.
You might be asked to confirm those numbers to ensure the right card is being charged. You might also be asked to confirm them when buying something online with a saved card number to ensure you’re really you and not someone who’s hacked into an account.
You can’t tell a credit card number by the last four digits. However, you could find a credit card you’ve saved in an account, such as on Amazon, by the last four numbers. Those are the only digits you’ll be able to see when you look at the saved payment methods in your account.
How Many Numbers Are in a Credit Card?
Typically, credit card numbers are 16 or 15 digits. Only American Express uses the 15-digit format. Around 2020, Visa started issuing some cards with 19-digit card numbers, but these aren’t typically used in the United States.
Finding the Right Credit Card
Before applying for a new credit card, determine what kind of credit card you need. For example, if you want to maximize rewards, you may want a cash-back card with perks that match your budget. If you’re looking to build credit, you may need to apply for a secure credit card that’s easy to get with lackluster credit.
To understand what options might be right for you, check your credit. This helps you know what type of credit card you might be approved for.
Then educate yourself about applying for a credit card online. Review options that seem appropriate for you and pick the best one. You can get started in our credit card marketplace. Gather all the information you need and apply.
Source: credit.com