How to Identify a Card Network from the First Numbers
Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and More Explained
Did you know?
You can tell which payment network your card uses
just by looking at the first few numbers.
No app.
No bank login.
No tools.
Just math.
Let’s explain.
1. What Are the First Numbers on a Card? (BIN / IIN)
The first digits of your card are called:
BIN (Bank Identification Number)
or
IIN (Issuer Identification Number)
They tell:
It’s your card’s digital identity.
2. The First Digit = The Network Category
The very first number already gives information.
| First Digit | Category |
|---|
| 1 | Airlines |
| 2 | Airlines / Future use |
| 3 | Travel / Entertainment |
| 4 | Visa |
| 5 | Mastercard |
| 6 | Discover / Local networks |
| 7 | Oil / Fuel |
| 8 | Telecom |
| 9 | Government |
But for most people, 3, 4, 5, 6 matter.
3. Visa Cards: Start with 4
If your card starts with:
4
It is Visa.
Examples:
4123 5678 9012 3456
4532 9876 1234 5678
All Visa cards worldwide begin with 4.
Always.
4. Mastercard: Starts with 5 or 2
Mastercard uses:
51–55
or
2221–2720
Examples:
5234 5678…
2223 4567…
If it starts with 5 or certain 2 numbers → Mastercard.
5. American Express (Amex): Starts with 34 or 37
Amex is easy:
34
37
Examples:
3412 345678 90123
3712 987654 32109
Also: Amex cards have 15 digits (not 16).
6. Discover: Starts with 6
Discover usually starts with:
6011
622126–622925
644–649
65
Mostly used in the USA.
Example:
6011 1234 5678 9012
7. Other Networks
UnionPay (China)
Starts with:
62
JCB (Japan)
Starts with:
3528–3589
Maestro (Europe / Debit)
Starts with:
50, 56–69
Diners Club
Starts with:
300–305, 36, 38
8. Why This Matters in Business
Knowing the network helps with:
✅ Payment acceptance
✅ Fees calculation
✅ Fraud detection
✅ International payments
✅ Checkout optimization
Example:
Some shops accept Visa/Mastercard but not Amex.
If you know the prefix → you know if it will work.
9. First 6 Digits = Bank + Country
The first 6 digits = full BIN.
They identify:
Example:
453912 → UniCredit Italy
520473 → Barclays UK
Banks and merchants use this for risk control.
10. Online BIN Lookup Tools
If you want details, search:
👉 “BIN lookup”
👉 “IIN checker”
👉 “Credit card BIN database”
Paste first 6 digits → see full info.
Useful for developers and merchants.
11. Security Note: What These Numbers Don’t Give
Important:
BIN numbers alone do NOT give access.
They cannot:
❌ Steal money
❌ Hack accounts
❌ Clone cards
They only identify the network and issuer.
The real security is in:
CVV
Chip
Tokenization
2FA
12. Why Networks Use Fixed Numbers
Because payment systems must work globally.
Millions of machines read cards.
They need:
Fast
Standardized
Universal rules
So prefixes are fixed.
13. MAACAT Insight: Cards Are Not Random Numbers
Your card is:
A mini-database
A routing system
A security key
A financial passport
Every digit has a role.
Nothing is random.
Quick Summary
| Network | Starts With |
|---|
| Visa | 4 |
| Mastercard | 5 / 2 |
| Amex | 34 / 37 |
| Discover | 6 |
| UnionPay | 62 |
| JCB | 35 |
| Maestro | 50–69 |
Next time you see a card number,
you’ll know immediately:
Who runs it.
Where it comes from.
How it works.
That’s financial literacy.
And that’s power.
