What Is an Issuer Identity Amount (IIN)?
The issuer identification amount (IIN) refers to the first few digits of a price card amount issued by way of a financial established order. They are typically the main 8 digits found out on a credit score rating, debit, or some other type of price card.
The issuer identification amount is unique to the issuer and its partnering group provider. The IIN helps decide the processing group used for the card’s transactions.
Key Takeaways
- Issuer identification numbers (IIN) indicate what company issued a credit score rating or debit card.
- The IIN turns out as the main quite a few digits in a credit card amount, and are used to validate the card’s authenticity and status.
- Every credit card issuer will have its non-public unique IIN, as an example American Express taking part in playing cards will get started with the digits ’34’ or ’37’.
Understanding Issuer Identity Numbers
The principle six to eight digits on a price card similar to a credit score rating or debit card are known as the issuer identification amount. The IIN is simplest used to identify the card group—not the cardholder. The numbering device shall we in a credit score rating, debit, or some other price card to be referred to as being issued through a processing group by way of a financial established order.
Each and every time a card is used in a transaction, a card processor goes through a sequence of verification steps to make sure the cardholder is allowed to make the transaction, and that the account has sufficient budget.
In keeping with the International Necessities Staff (ISO), the number of IIN digits upper from six to eight to handle the emerging number of card issuers.
Even though price card numbers vary in period, they are generally comprised of as many as 19 digits. When issuing a purchaser a price card, the issuer creates a unique identifier used for file protective and transaction processing.
Common Issuer Identity Numbers
The principle digits of a price card are the issuer identification amount. The ones digits range from one to six. Issuers have established unique issuer identification numbers for which they are recognized throughout the industry.
Examples of issuer identification numbers include the following:
- American Express: 34, 37
- Discover Card: 6011, 622126 to 622925, 624000 to 626999, 628200 to 628899, 64, 65
- Mastercard: 2221 to 2720, 51 to 55
- Visa: 4
IINs Versus Value Card Numbers
Value card numbers are unique identifiers which can be different from a purchaser’s primary account amount. A value card amount is an additional identifier that is also associated with a purchaser’s account. Every time a purchaser is issued a brand spanking new type of price card it’s going to have its non-public unique price card amount.
The volume found out on the front of a price card is any place between 8 and 19 digits—along side the IIN—and is not a randomly assigned amount. They represent a code that identifies the cardholder and links it with the financial established order issuing the card. The principle few digits represent the issuer identification amount. The remaining digits on the card are used to identify the cardholder and link it to a selected account with a financial established order.
When a card is used, the transaction process verifies each and every the IIN along with the fee card amount. The fee card amount shall we in processing ways to be in contact with a financial established order to make sure the budget are available throughout the account.
