mastercard credit card numbers start with 4 or 5

The seventh through 15th (or seventh through 12th) digits are the account number. But here’s where the breakdown gets slightly different with each card.įor Visa cards, the second through six numerals indicate what financial institution the card belongs to-the bank number. For example, if your card begins with the number 4, it’s a Visa a 5, a MasterCard a 6, Discover and 34 or 37, American Express (clearly the credit card number diva here with two starter digits). The first digit or two of a credit card number sequence indicates the card issuer. This is where the function of each digit becomes important. That is to say, it routes through the correct network and bank for approval. Once you swipe your card, a terminal (or credit card reader) uses the magnetic strip on the back that stores your card number to determine where the transaction should go. The ANSI assigns every card number for specific systems, such as MasterCard and Visa, and banking institutions, including JP Morgan Chase and Citibank. Let’s break it down.įirst, you should know that the only organization that can assign credit card numbers is the American National Standards Institute-a nonprofit that represents more than 125,000 companies and 3.5 million professionals. That sequence of digits has actual meaning and indicates everything from your account information to the bank issuer.

Those 15 or 16 numbers embossed on the front of each of your credit cards aren’t randomly assigned.

Mastercard credit card numbers start with 4 or 5