Primary Account Number

The PAN length can be anything from 13 to 19 digits long, with the majority of cards consisting of 16 digits embossed in groups of 4 for convenience. The now almost universal spacing (nnnn nnnn nnnn nnnn) has no transactional significance.

The basic construction of a PAN is made up of the following:

    • BIN – 6-8 digits
    • Account Reference
    • Check Digit

The BIN identifies the entity responsible for issuing the cards and managing the accounts.

The first digit of the BIN identifies the card network or industry, but should be treated with caution as they are not always accurate!

Common assignments include:

    1. Airlines
    2. Airlines or financial
    3. Travel and Entertainment (T&E) – e.g. American Express, Diners Club
    4. Visa
    5. Mastercard
    6. Discover and Union Pay in some cases
    7. Petroleum
    8. Healthcare / Telecommunications
    9. Government / Retail / Reserved

Again, the assignments are not definitive and there are overlaps.

Check out the Payment Card Gallery for examples.