Bank Identification Number (BIN)

Key takeaways
* A Bank Identification Number (BIN), also called an Issuer Identification Number (IIN), is the set of leading digits on a payment card that identifies the issuing institution.
* BINs appear on credit, debit, prepaid, charge, gift and other payment cards and speed up transaction routing and fraud checks.
* Merchants and processors use BIN data to determine card brand, card type/level, issuing country and the issuing bank, which helps authorize, route and screen transactions.

What a BIN is

A BIN is the first four to six digits on a payment card. Those digits identify the card’s issuer and provide basic information about the card, such as:
* Major industry identifier (card network, e.g., Visa, MasterCard, American Express)
* Card type and level (e.g., debit vs. credit, corporate vs. platinum)
* Issuing bank and issuing country

How BINs work in payments

When a card is used, the merchant’s payment system reads the BIN and uses it to route the authorization request to the correct issuer. The issuing bank then verifies whether the card and account are valid and if sufficient funds or credit are available, returning an approval or decline. This routing and verification happen within seconds and enable faster, more accurate transaction processing.

What BINs are used for

BINs serve several practical purposes:
* Transaction routing — direct authorization requests to the correct issuing bank.
* Payment acceptance — allow merchants to accept and distinguish multiple card brands and types.
* Fraud detection and risk screening — compare BIN details (issuing country, bank type) with transaction data to flag suspicious activity.
* Merchant services — look up issuer contact info or determine whether transactions comply with regional or network rules.

Example

At a gas pump, swiping a card immediately reveals the BIN. The terminal sends an authorization request identified by that BIN to the issuing bank. The bank checks the account and either approves or declines the charge within seconds.

Bank Identifier Code (BIC) vs. BIN

A Bank Identifier Code (BIC), often called a SWIFT code, is a different standard used for international transfers. A BIC is typically 8 or 11 alphanumeric characters and uniquely identifies a bank in cross-border payment networks. BINs/IINs identify card issuers for card-based transactions; BICs identify institutions for interbank messaging and wire transfers.

BIN scamming and card safety

“BIN scamming” can refer to fraud schemes in which scammers impersonate bank representatives to trick cardholders into revealing card details. Protect yourself by remembering:
* Your bank will not call or email asking you to disclose your full card number, PIN, or one-time passcodes.
* Do not provide card digits or verification codes in response to unsolicited calls or messages.
* If you suspect fraud, hang up, contact your bank using a known legitimate number, and report the incident to the appropriate consumer protection agency.

Why BINs matter

BINs make card payments faster and help merchants, processors and banks detect and prevent fraud. They are a foundational element of modern card payment systems, used for routing, screening and compliance.

Summary

A BIN/IIN is the leading digit sequence on a payment card that identifies the issuing institution and supports routing, authorization and fraud prevention. While the BIN itself appears on the card and is not secret, keep full card details private and be cautious of anyone requesting sensitive information under the guise of security.