BIN Checker
Enter the first 6 digits of a card to see its brand, issuing bank, card type and country. The lookup searches 370,000+ BIN ranges and is free, with no sign-up.
Enter at least 6 digits. Full card numbers are also accepted (only first 6-8 digits are used).
What is a BIN/IIN?
The Bank Identification Number (BIN), also known as Issuer Identification Number (IIN), is the first 6-8 digits of a payment card number. It identifies the institution that issued the card and can reveal details about the card type, brand, and issuing bank.
Why Use BIN Lookup?
BIN lookup is commonly used for fraud prevention, payment processing optimization, and card validation. It helps merchants identify card types, detect potentially fraudulent transactions, and apply appropriate processing rules.
Common BIN Ranges
VISA
MasterCard
American Express
Discover
JCB
UnionPay
How to read a BIN lookup
Card brand
The network that runs the card, such as Visa, Mastercard or American Express. It decides which rules and fees apply.
Card type
Credit, debit or charge. Merchants often treat debit and credit differently for fees and refunds.
Card level
The product tier, such as Classic, Gold, Platinum or Business. Premium and commercial cards usually carry higher interchange.
Prepaid
Whether the range is for prepaid cards. Subscription businesses often flag these because balances can run out.
Issuing bank
The bank or fintech that issued the card, with its customer service contact where known.
Country
Where the card was issued. Comparing it with the buyer's IP or billing country is a common fraud check.
Want to browse rather than search? The BIN database lists every range by country, card brand and issuing bank. To check that a full card number is well-formed, use the card validator.
BIN checker FAQ
What is a BIN checker?
A BIN checker looks up the first 6 to 8 digits of a payment card, the Bank Identification Number, and returns the card brand, card type, card level, issuing bank and country of issue.
Is this BIN checker free?
Yes. Lookups are free, need no account, and the same data is available through the free CardGenr API.
How many digits is a BIN?
Traditionally six. Since 2022 the major networks have been moving to eight-digit BINs, so this checker accepts six to eight digits and matches the longest range it knows.
Can a BIN checker tell me if a card is real or active?
No. A BIN identifies a range of cards from one issuer. It cannot tell you whether a specific card exists, is active or has funds; only an authorisation through a payment processor can.
Why do merchants look up BINs?
To route payments, estimate fees, block card types they do not accept, and spot fraud signals such as a card issued in one country being used from another.