how bank identification numbers bins work
the bank identification number is a numbering system developed by the american national standards institute ansi and the international organization for standardization iso to identify institutions that issue payment cards the ansi is a nonprofit organization npo that creates business standards in the u s while the iso is an international nongovernmental group that creates standards for various industries 12all payment cards come with a bin number this is a set of four to six numbers randomly assigned to debit cards credit cards charge cards gift cards electronic benefit cards and other payment cards the number is embossed on the front of the card and appears in print just below as well the first digit specifies the major industry identifier the digits that follow specify the issuing institution or bank for example visa credit cards start with a four which falls under the banking and financial category 