The card number is typically embossed on the front of a payment card, and is encoded on the magnetic stripe and chip, but may also be imprinted on the back of the card. Card numbers are allocated in accordance with ISO/IEC 7812. In the case of stored-value type cards, the association with a particular customer is only made if the prepaid card is reloadable. The card number prefix identifies the issuer of the card, and the digits that follow are used by the issuing entity to identify the cardholder as a customer and which is then associated by the issuing entity with the customer's designated bank accounts.

The card number is primarily a card identifier and may not directly identify the bank account number/s to which the card is/are linked by the issuing entity. In some situations the card number is referred to as a bank card number. JSTOR ( September 2022) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ī payment card number, primary account number ( PAN), or simply a card number, is the card identifier found on payment cards, such as credit cards and debit cards, as well as stored-value cards, gift cards and other similar cards.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.įind sources: 'Payment card number' – news Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This article needs additional citations for verification.