There are a large number of people in the United States who cannot live without credit cards. Curiously, many do not even understand what the numbers on their card are and what they mean. It is understandable, the important thing is the ability they offer us to buy, but it is good that you know the best friend parts of your wallet.
Each of the numbers on your credit card has its own meaning, depending on its location. The important thing is that each combination is different, along with other security figures, to make your card unique and non-transferable.. These numbers are extremely important, as you already know, because they are the ones you use when shopping online.
If you haven’t counted them, your credit card can contain up to 16 digits (so why typing them all is so annoying, trying to avoid mistakes). Here’s a funny fact: a trillion plastic has a 1 followed by 12 zeros. Logically, this combination might not be enough to distinguish the plastic, so each digit ends up having its own meaning.
We explain the meaning of your card explained in order of reading from left to right.
First number: Major Industry Identifier (MII)
The first number on your credit card is an identifier for the company or industry that provides the card. It is known as the Major Industry Identifier (MII). These are the nine MII numbers:
1: Airline companies
2: Airlines and financial companies
3: Travel and entertainment, including American Express
4: view
5: Mastercard
6: To discover
7: Petroleum
8: Health and communications
9: Government
For example, if you have a Visa card, your credit card number will start with the number 4; if it came from an airline, it would start with the number 1.
Credit card issuer numbers
Banks use up to five numbers below to identify the credit card issuer or issuer. American Express specifies the type of card and currency, using the numbers three and four.
your account number
The remaining numbers, except the last digit, they are your account number and are specific to you. When you receive a new credit card number, for example when you lose your card, only these numbers and the last digit will change.
The latest issue: surprise
Your latest credit card number is special. It is the only number determined by a formula, called the Luhn algorithm.using the previous numbers on your card.
Today, and fortunately, if you miss a number on your credit card when you enter it online, an online validator knows that you have not entered a valid credit card number, because the number will not be correct according to the algorithm. Luhn. This is beneficial to consumers, as they don’t discover until the end of the purchase that they have made a mistake in one of their figures.
CVV
An extra number, independent of your credit card number, and which functions as a means of security, is the card’s verification value or, popularly known, as CVV.
If you have a Visa, Mastercard or Discover card, the CVV is three digits and is on the back of your card, on the right side of the signature strip area. On an American Express card, the CVV is four digits and is on the front of the card, just above and to the right of your credit card number.
The main purpose of the CVV is to prove to online merchants that you actually have the card. Whoever stole your credit card number, but not the CVV and expiration date, would not be able to shop online. Pay close attention to who sees your physical credit card or where you enter your account number, including the expiration date and CVV. If you log into bogus portals and enter these numbers, you are putting your account at risk of identity theft.
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