Cardholder Account Number

Cardholder account numbers are part of the 12- to 19-digit card number printed or embossed directly onto a credit, debit, or prepaid card. The length of the actual card account number depends on the card issuer, but most card brands use 9-digit account numbers.

The whole card number – also known as the primary account number, or PAN – is made up of several parts. The initial 6-8 digits of the PAN are known as the Bank Identification Number (BIN), which identifies the industry of the credit card (a card branded by an airline, for example), the card network (Mastercard, Discover, Visa, or American Express) and the card-issuing bank.

The cardholder’s account number consists of the remaining digits, with the exception of the very last number, which is used to verify card information during transactions.