Which Card Starts With 4? Identifying Payment Cards
Understand the precise system behind payment card numbers. Learn what the initial digit signifies and how the entire sequence identifies your card.
Payment card numbers are highly structured identifiers containing specific information about the card and its issuer. These numbers are not arbitrarily assigned; instead, they follow a globally recognized system designed to facilitate secure and efficient transactions.
The Significance of the First Digit ‘4’
The initial digit of any payment card number is the Major Industry Identifier (MII). This digit categorizes the primary industry of the card’s issuer. When a payment card number begins with ‘4’, it designates the card as a Visa card. This MII is uniquely assigned to the banking and financial sector, identifying Visa regardless of the issuing bank.
How Payment Card Numbers Are Structured
Beyond the Major Industry Identifier, a payment card number is composed of several distinct parts that collectively identify the card and its origin. The full sequence of digits, typically ranging from 8 to 19 digits, is known as the Primary Account Number (PAN).
The first six, or sometimes eight, digits of the PAN constitute the Issuer Identification Number (IIN), also frequently referred to as the Bank Identification Number (BIN). This IIN/BIN identifies the specific bank or financial institution that issued the card to the cardholder.
Following the IIN/BIN, the subsequent digits form the individual account identifier. This variable-length segment, assigned by the issuing bank, uniquely identifies the cardholder’s specific account.
The final digit of the entire card number is a check digit, which serves as a validation mechanism. This check digit is calculated using the Luhn algorithm, a checksum formula designed to detect simple data entry errors and prevent invalid card numbers from being processed.
Other Major Industry Identifiers
While ‘4’ signifies banking and financial institutions, particularly Visa, other Major Industry Identifiers are assigned to different sectors.
- For instance, the MII ‘1’ is designated for airlines, and ‘2’ can also represent airlines or future industry assignments.
- The digit ‘3’ is used for travel and entertainment companies, encompassing networks like American Express and Diners Club.
- The MII ‘5’ also indicates banking and financial institutions, commonly associated with Mastercard.
- Discover cards typically begin with ‘6’, which represents merchandising and banking/financial industries.
- Other MIIs include ‘7’ for petroleum and ‘8’ for healthcare and telecommunications, providing a structured way to categorize various card issuers and their primary industries.