A Credit Card Number Example

A Credit Card Number Example

Credit cards will always be associated with a unique number for each card. And although the format and the length of the credit card numbers similar to one another, the actual number will differ according to the issuer of the card. Here are a few interesting facts about credit card numbers.

The first digit of the credit card tomorrow identifies the system that is being used. For example, 3 indicates travel or entertainment, 4 signifies a Visa card, 5 is a MasterCard and 6 is a Discover card. After this structure will follow. Here’s another credit card number example, American Express card numbers start with 57, while diners club, but start with 38.

American Express

The third and fourth digits indicated type and the currency, while digit five through 11 indicate the account number, and digits 12 to 14 is the card number with in the account. The last digit is a check digit.

Visa

Digits two through six are the bank number, digits seven through 12 or seven through 15 are the account number and digit 13 or 16 is a check digit.

MasterCard

Digits two and three, two through four, two through five or two through six are the bank number (depending on whether digit two is a 1, 2, 3 or other). The digits after the bank number up through digit 15 are the account number, and digit 16 is a check digit.

The stripe on the back of a credit card is a magnetic stripe, often called a magstripe. The magstripe is made up of tiny iron-based magnetic particles in a plastic-like film. Each particle is really a tiny bar magnet about 20-millionths of an inch long.

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