VBASSWhat is the Visa BIN Attribute Sharing Service?

How VBASS From Visa Helps You Identify Cards, Stop Fraud & Save Money

As a merchant, your transaction data is one of the best tools at your disposal to protect your revenue from fraud.

Access to better data can help you screen out stolen or counterfeit cards. It provides solid evidence to challenge fraudulent claims.

The Visa BIN Attribute Sharing Service (or “VBASS”) offers a deeper look into transaction data encoded in a card issuer’s Bank Identification Number (BIN). This six- to eight-digit number identifies issuing banks and reveals more details about the payment instrument. By making these BIN attributes more accessible, VBASS makes it easier for merchants to improve their processes and offer a smoother customer experience.

What is VBASS?

VBASS

[noun]/vē • bās/

The Visa BIN Attribute Sharing Service, or VBASS, is an optional service that provides merchants and other entities with enhanced Visa BIN data. Use of VBASS helps merchants improve authorization rates, reduce fraud, and improve their overall checkout experience.

In simple terms, VBASS arms you with the data needed to flag risky transactions, handle customer inquiries, and represent chargebacks with confidence. With the right information, you can better manage fraud and chargebacks, making VBASS a handy tool to help protect your bottom line. 

Within VBASS, developers can access multiple assets, including:

• Full BIN List
• Single BIN Lookup
• BIN Files Metadata
• BIN File Transfer APIs

To receive this data, you need to register with Visa and pay the applicable service fees. A licensed acquirer or issuer can help an entity join the VBASS program, subject to Visa's approval and specific terms. Before onboarding, Visa will also review your project to ensure these APIs are being used appropriately.

What Information Does VBASS Provide?

VBASS data is available in two formats. You can request VBASS data either through the Single BIN Lookup API for individual transactions or via the Full BIN List API for a complete list. 

The Full BIN List offers Basic, Advanced, and Complete levels of detail, while the Single BIN Lookup always provides data at the Complete level. Separate fees apply for each level of the Full BIN List. Here's a breakdown of each level:

Attribute	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Description
Issuer BIN	✔	✔	✔	Bank Identification Number (BIN) of the issuer of the account.
Account Range Minimum/Maximum	✔	✔	✔	Account/Token range min and max
Shared BIN Indicator	✔	✔	✔	True if BIN shared by multiple issuers
BIN Length	✔	✔	✔	Provides BIN length - 6 or 8 digits
POS Domestic Only	✔	✔	✔	Domestic Only BIN or Account Ranges
Online Gambling Block (Purchases)	✔	✔	✔	Indicates whether Online Gambling is permitted or not
Auto Substantiation Indicator	✔	✔	✔	Auto Substantiation enabled indicator
PAN/Token Indicator		✔	✔	Indicates if Pan or Token number
Issuer Billing Currency		✔	✔	Card issuance currency
Issuer Country Code		✔	✔	Card issuance country
Product Platform		✔	✔	Indicates if consumer BIN or commercial BIN
Product ID/Name		✔	✔	Indicates type of Visa product (e.g., Visa Signature, Visa Infinite, Visa Classic)
Account Funding Source		✔	✔	Indicates if credit, debit or prepaid
Brand Indicator		✔	✔	Identifies if the brand or brands is associated with the account range.
Commercial Card Level 2 Data Indicator		✔	✔	Indicates if transaction qualifies for Level 2 interchange rates
Commercial Card Level 3 Enhanced Data Indicator		✔	✔	Indicates if transaction qualifies for Level 3 interchange rates
Combo Card Indicator		✔	✔	Indicator for combo card
Exempt/Non-Exempt BINs (Regulated BINs)		✔	✔	Indicator for regulated BINs
Account Funding Source Subtype			✔	Indicates if reloadable or non-reloadable prepaid
Issuer Name			✔	Name of the Card Issuer
ALM Indicator			✔	Indicates if BIN or Account Range participate in Account Level Management
VAU Indicator			✔	Visa Account Updater enabled indicator
Multi Account Access Indicator			✔	Indicates participation in Multi Account Access

What Benefits Does VBASS Offer?

The Visa Bin Attribute Sharing Service is a valuable tool that gives you key insights into card transactions. With this information, you can enhance your operations and craft a smoother customer experience.

With VBASS, you can take advantage of:

Overall, VBASS helps you make smarter, more data-driven decisions that boost their business efficiency, minimize risk, and deliver a better experience for customers.

How Do You Get VBASS?

You can access the VBASS through two main methods: direct access or indirect access.

VBASS is available globally to merchants who accept Visa cards. Whether you’re operating locally or internationally, VBASS helps you streamline cross-border transactions and stay compliant with regional rules. With Visa’s worldwide network, you can access the data you need to understand customer behavior and payment trends in different markets.

How Effective is VBASS at Preventing Fraud & Chargebacks?

The Visa BIN Attribute Sharing Service can’t prevent Visa chargebacks. That said, it can help provide valuable insights that, when actioned alongside other practices and strategies, can help you stop chargebacks from happening.

VBASS can provide you with expanded transaction data that helps identify fraud patterns, spots red flags, and weeds out risky transactions. For instance, if a large portion of fraudulent charges originates from specific country codes, VBASS lets merchants flag these transactions at the issuer level, even when shipping or IP addresses appear local.

When it comes to preventing disputes and chargebacks, VBASS can help you communicate more effectively with customers and banks while building strong evidence for chargeback representment. For instance, let’s say a cardholder claims their card was counterfeited and that they’ve never been to the location where a purchase was made. Proof that a tokenized card number was processed at that location can provide compelling evidence in favor of the merchant.

VBASS can also give you insights into potential problems with currency conversion, recurring billing, and authorization declines — all issues that often lead to disputes. With this early warning system in place, merchants can tackle these challenges proactively, stopping them from turning into customer service problems and transaction disputes.

VBASS can’t keep chargebacks from happening. But, it can be a valuable part of your broader chargeback prevention strategy. Click below to learn more about multilayered defense against chargebacks and fraud.