This is often referred to as the ‘long number’ on the front of your credit card, which is usually 16 digits, but can be up to 19 digits in some instances. More formally, it’s known as a Permanent Account Number, or ‘PAN’.
It’s not just a random number though. Your credit card number is unique to you and includes information used to identify your account, card and who it’s issued by.
The first digit indicates the provider:
Mastercard numbers start with a 2 or 5.
Visa card numbers start with a 4.
American Express numbers start with a 3.
The first 6 digits help to identify the card issuer, known as an Issue Identifier Number or ‘IIN’.
All numbers following that relate specifically to your account, excluding the last one which is known as a ‘check digit’. This helps us verify that the full credit card number has been provided, and in the right order, anytime you make a purchase or payment.
This method for creating credit card numbers is used internationally, and was invented by IBM engineer Hans Peter Luhn in 1954.
2. Valid from/Expires end expandable section
These numbers represent the month and year your card was issued, and when it will expire. For example, 06/20 would be June 2020.
Credit cards are typically issued for 2 to 4 years, and renewed just before the expiry date. You might notice that the ‘expires end’ date is 3 years and 1 month after the ‘valid from’ date, just giving you a little extra time to switch to your new card.
Once it’s expired, you won’t be able to use your old card, so it’s a good idea to start using a new card as soon as it arrives, just to avoid any future inconvenience.
If your credit card is re-issued for any reason, e.g. you’ve ordered a replacement for a lost card, as you’d expect, your new card will have revised ‘valid from’ and ‘expires end’ dates.
For security, any old cards should be cut up and disposed of carefully.
3. Security number or 'CVV' expandable section
When you make a purchase online or over the phone, you may be asked for the ‘CVV’, ‘CVC’, ‘CVN’, ‘CVV2’ or a ‘security number’. In reality, they’re all the same thing.
In simple terms, it’s a card verification number or code. Because it’s only ever printed on the card itself, when you provide it, that helps us to verify the physical card is still in your possession.
On Visa and Mastercard credit cards, you’ll find your security number on the back of your card. It’s the last 3 digits of the number printed in the top right-hand corner of the signature strip.
On American Express credit cards it’s a 4-digit number printed on the front, just above and to the right of the long credit card number.
I'm a seasoned expert in the field of credit card systems and payment security, with a deep understanding of the intricate details that govern the creation and functionality of credit cards. My knowledge extends from the foundational concepts to the historical context of credit card development, and I am well-versed in the technical aspects of credit card numbering, expiration dates, and security codes.
Let's delve into the key concepts discussed in the provided article:
1. Credit Card Number (PAN):
The credit card number, also known as the Permanent Account Number (PAN), serves as a unique identifier for each cardholder. The first digit of the card number indicates the card provider: 2 or 5 for Mastercard, 4 for Visa, and 3 for American Express. The first six digits are the Issue Identifier Number (IIN), helping identify the card issuer, while the subsequent digits are specific to the individual account. The last digit, known as the 'check digit,' ensures the integrity of the full credit card number. This standardized method, devised by IBM engineer Hans Peter Luhn in 1954, is internationally recognized.
2. Valid from/Expires End:
These numbers represent the validity period of the credit card. The 'valid from' date indicates when the card was issued, while the 'expires end' date signifies the card's expiration. Typically, credit cards are issued for 2 to 4 years, and renewal occurs just before the expiry date. The 'expires end' date is set 3 years and 1 month after the 'valid from' date. It is essential for cardholders to switch to a new card upon expiration, and in case of re-issuance (e.g., due to a lost card), revised 'valid from' and 'expires end' dates will be assigned.
3. Security Number or 'CVV':
The Card Verification Value (CVV), also referred to as 'CVC,' 'CVN,' 'CVV2,' or simply 'security number,' is a crucial security feature. When making online or phone transactions, the CVV serves as a verification code, ensuring that the physical card is in the cardholder's possession. For Visa and Mastercard, the security number is located on the back, in the top right-hand corner of the signature strip and consists of the last 3 digits. On American Express cards, it's a 4-digit number on the front, positioned just above and to the right of the credit card number.
My comprehensive knowledge of these credit card elements showcases the intricacies involved in their design, functionality, and security features, underscoring the importance of each component in ensuring a secure and efficient payment system.
The first number signifies the type of card company or industry, the next five numbers identify the credit card issuer, the following numbers are your account number and the last number is determined by the Luhn algorithm.
Only pre-approved 'test card' numbers provided by Windcave can be used for testing, within test environments. We recommend using the test card 4111 1111 1111 1111 for Visa, 5431 1111 1111 1111 for MasterCard, 3711 1111 1111 114 for Amex, and 3600 0000 0000 08 for Diners.
You can be approved for up to two new credit cards every rolling two-month period. You can be approved for up to three new credit cards every rolling 12-month period. You can be approved for up to four new credit cards every rolling 24-month period.
This 15 (sometimes 16) digit number is designed in a specific sequence to communicate vital authentication factors about the card member, issuing bank and credit card network. This means that there are over 1 trillion possible credit card numbers for each card issuer!
Most card issuers use a three-digit code on credit and debit cards, including VISA, Mastercard, and Discover. But American Express uses a four-digit CVV. Each CVV is unique to the card and account holder, meaning there's no universal CVV code.
4400 – This prefix is commonly associated with Visa branded debit and credit cards issued by various banks. Cards that start with 4400 are part of Visa's extensive network and are widely accepted both domestically and internationally. 5466 – Credit cards that begin with 5466 are typically MasterCard products.
The golden rule of credit card usage is to do everything you can to pay off your entire balance each month. If you can do this, you won't be charged any interest.
When you have a credit card, most people usually make one payment each month, when their statement is due. With the 15/3 credit card rule, you instead make two payments. The first payment comes 15 days before the statement's due date, and you make the second payment three days before your credit card due date.
Never borrow more than 20% of your annual after-tax income. Keep your monthly debt payments to less than 10% of your monthly after-tax income. Keep track of your purchases and don't buy expensive and unnecessary impulse items.
The CSC is typically printed on the back of a credit card (usually in the signature field). On some cards, all or part of the card number appears before the CSC, for example, 1234 567. In this example, 1234 are the last four digits of the credit card number, and 567 is the CSC.
CVV code stands for card verification value, or card verification code (CVC). It's a 3-4 digit number written on your credit or debit card. The CVV number is used as an extra layer of security to prevent anyone who knows your card number from making purchases online in your name.
The Luhn algorithm works by summing up every other digit in the identification number, starting from the rightmost digit, and then doubling the value of every other digit and summing up the individual digits of the doubled values.
Paying the balance in full has great benefits. If you wait to pay the balance or only make the minimum payment it accrues interest. If you let this continue it can potentially get out of hand and lead to debt. Missing a payment can not only accrue interest but hurt your credit score.
So, there are 10 quadrillion different 16-digit credit card numbers. If we choose one at random, we would have a 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000 chance of guessing correctly, which is 0.00000000000001%. That means there are 1 trillion credit card numbers with the same last four digits as what would be found on a receipt.
The first digit indicates the provider: Mastercard numbers start with a 2 or 5. Visa card numbers start with a 4.American Express numbers start with a 3.
There isn't even any ability to verify a name let alone obtain the name of a cardholder just from the card number. The only way that I can think of would be if a judge issued a subpoena, but this would obviously only happen if the card was used by someone committing a crime or something similar.
Citi cards start with 5 or 4 in most cases, depending on whether the Citi card is on the Visa or Mastercard network. Store cards issued by Citibank will begin with a different number, since they are not associated with any major payment network.
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