Detailed Breakdown of Credit Card Components

Embossing Name

• Most credit cards allow 20–25 characters, including spaces, for the cardholder's name.
• Some issuers may allow 26–28 characters, depending on their policies.
• If the cardholder's name exceeds the allowed length, the bank shortens it.
  Example: If the name is "Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam", it will appear as "A P J Kalam" on the card.
  • If the name is "Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam", it will appear as "A P J Kalam" on the card

Credit Card Number

• A credit card number is usually 16 digits long, but it can be between 12 to 19 digits, depending on the bank or card network.
• Formally, it is called the Primary Account Number (PAN).
• The number is unique to each card and is printed on the front.
  • Note: Some newer cards, like metal cards, only show the embossed name on the front, with all other details on the back.

A 16-digit credit card number is divided into 3 parts: BIN, Account Identifier and Validator Digit.

1. Bank Identification Number (BIN) / Issuer Identification Number (IIN):

The first six digits of a credit card number are called the Bank Identification Number (BIN) or Issuer Identification Number (IIN). These digits help identify the bank or financial institution that issued the card.

Is BIN always 6 digits?

Until April 2022, BINs were always 6 digits long. However, from April 2022, the ISO standard expanded the length from 6 digits to 8 digits.

For now, most cards still use a 6-digit BIN, but in the future, we may see 8-digit BINs becoming more common.

Important note:
While the BIN range may increase, this does not affect the overall length of the card number. The length remains the same, as per payment gateway standards.

BIN Range

The BIN Range refers to the specific range of BINs assigned to a particular bank. For example:

• 516722 – 516900: Assigned to State Bank of India (SBI).
• 516901 – 517000: Assigned to Axis Bank.

Think of the entire 516722 range as assigned to the bank, much like how a roll number is assigned to students or a car registration number is assigned to a vehicle. The first digits identify the card network (e.g., MasterCard), which generates the BIN and assigns it fully to the bank.

The table below shows some of the networks, their BIN ranges, and the corresponding card number lengths.

Network	IIN Ranges	Length	Example
Visa	4	13, 16, 19	4111 2345 6789 0123
MasterCard	51-55, 2221-2720	16	5111 1111 1111 1111
American Express (Amex)	34, 37	15	3412 3456 7890 123
Discover	6011, 622126-622925, 64-65	16	6011 1111 1111 1117
Diners Club	36, 38, 300-305	14	3611 1111 1111 11
Rupay	60, 65, 81, 82, 508	16	6085 1234 5678 9101

2. Account Identifier:

The next 8 digits in a credit card number are called the Account Identifier.

This is a unique number used by the issuing bank to identify the cardholder's account.

Example: Think of the Account Identifier like a customer ID at a store. When you make a purchase, the store uses your customer ID to determine which account to charge. Similarly, the bank uses the Account Identifier to know which cardholder's account to debit or credit.

3. Validator Digit (Check Digit):

 The Validator Digit, also known as the check digit, is a method used to validate the accuracy of a long string of preceding numbers.

This digit is crucial for ensuring the card number is valid and can be used in transactions. It is calculated using a mathematical formula called the Luhn algorithm, which helps prevent errors and fraudulent activities.

Expiry Date on Credit Cards: Why It Matters?

The expiry date is the date until which a credit card is valid. Once the expiry date passes, the card is no longer accepted for transactions, and the cardholder needs to request a new card from the issuing bank.

Format:

• The expiry date is usually written in MM/YY format (Month/Year).
• Example: 12/25 means the card expires at the end of December 2025.

Usage:

• The expiry date helps card processors verify that the card is still valid, preventing expired cards from being used in payment transactions.

Rules for Expiration Date (ISO 7813 and ISO 8583)

The expiration date is governed by rules set by ISO standards, especially ISO 7813 (for financial cards) and ISO 8583 (for electronic transactions).

Scenario: f your card expires on 31st December and you're in Russia, where the time zone is 24 hours ahead (i.e., it will be 1st January in Russia before it becomes 31st December in India), which date is considered the expiry date?
Answer:The card will be considered expired in Russia on 1st January, even though it’s still valid in India until 31st December. The expiry date is determined based on the time zone in which the cardholder is located, ensuring that cards remain valid and secure across different time zones.

Why Does the Expiry Date Matter?

Expiration date is primarily a security measure to ensure that a card is replaced after a certain period. This helps prevent fraud and ensures that the card’s cryptographic keys and data are up to date.