BIN Checker
Look up the first 6-8 digits of a payment card to identify its scheme, card type, issuing bank, and country - using an open dataset, without ever handling a full card number.
Only the BIN prefix is looked up, in a local open dataset. Never enter a full card number.
About BIN Checker
Every payment card begins with a Bank Identification Number (BIN), now formally called the Issuer Identification Number (IIN): the leading six to eight digits. Those digits are not random. They encode which network the card belongs to, which institution issued it, what kind of card it is, and the country of issue. Because all of that lives in the prefix, a BIN lookup needs only the first several digits - never the full number.
Enter a BIN and this checker returns the card scheme (such as Visa or Mastercard), the type (debit, credit, or prepaid), the product category, the issuing bank, and the issuing country. Results are drawn from an open, community-maintained dataset of IIN ranges. The lookup matches the most specific range that covers your prefix, so supplying eight digits rather than six can resolve to a more precise product where the data allows.
The lookup runs server-side on our EU infrastructure, so no third-party BIN API sees your query. Coverage is bounded by the dataset itself: newly issued ranges or uncommon regional issuers may not appear yet, in which case the tool reports that the BIN was not found rather than guessing. A missing result reflects a gap in the open data, not an invalid card.
One rule matters above all: only ever enter the BIN prefix. A full card number, CVV, or expiry date is never required and should never be typed into a BIN tool. This checker is designed around the prefix alone, which is public metadata rather than sensitive cardholder data.
How to use it
- 1Find the first 6 to 8 digits of the card number - this is the BIN or IIN.
- 2Type only those digits into the field; no spaces, and never the rest of the number.
- 3Submit to query the open BIN dataset on our EU servers.
- 4Read the returned scheme, type, category, issuer, and country.
Common use cases
- -Risk and fraud teams checking whether a card's issuing country and bank match a customer's stated details.
- -Developers confirming their checkout correctly recognises card scheme and type during testing.
- -Merchants diagnosing why a transaction routed to a particular network or was declined.
- -Distinguishing debit, credit, and prepaid cards before applying surcharge or routing rules.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a BIN or IIN on a payment card?
- A BIN (Bank Identification Number), now formally the Issuer Identification Number (IIN), is the first 6 to 8 digits of a card number. It identifies the card network, the issuing bank, the card type, and the country where the card was issued.
- What information does a BIN lookup reveal?
- A BIN lookup reveals the card scheme (for example Visa or Mastercard), the type (debit, credit, or prepaid), the product category, the issuing bank, and the issuing country. It does not reveal the cardholder's name, balance, or any other digits of the card.
- Is it safe to enter a card number in a BIN checker?
- Only enter the first 6 to 8 digits. A BIN checker never needs a full card number, CVV, or expiry date, and you should never type them. This tool looks up only the prefix and returns issuer metadata.
- Why does my BIN return no result?
- BIN data comes from an open, community-maintained dataset, so recently issued ranges or uncommon issuers may not be listed. A "not found" result means the prefix is absent from the dataset, not that the card is invalid.
- How many digits are needed for a BIN lookup?
- Six to eight digits. Modern IIN ranges can extend to eight digits, and supplying more of the prefix improves accuracy by matching the most specific known range.