![mastercard credit card numbers start with 4 or 5 mastercard credit card numbers start with 4 or 5](https://res.cloudinary.com/dipmwqfxq/w_350,h_221,c_fit,f_auto,q_99/cci/2015/04/Citi-back.jpg)
Every credit card has a unique number associated with it. The long credit card numbers on your credit card inspire awe and if it makes you think what these long strings of numerals signify this article is for you. See also How Many Harry Potter Movies Are There Each issuer can have a trillion possible numbers of an account. The maximum length of the number of a credit card can be 19 digits, and the length of the accounting field can maximum be 12 digits. The first 6 digits of the number of credit cards (with the MII digit) build the issuer identifier that denotes the card network and the number to which it belongs. But of course, do not expect that the cardholders are not so prepared, so that information about the first digit is just to make a note.
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If in the randomly generated card number the first figure does not match the type of card, it will signal that the card is a fake. This is also one of the first lines of defense against fraud. For example, digit 3 is American Express, number 4 is VISA and 5 is MasterCard. The first digit indicates the type of card. American Express is the exception with only 15 numbers with 4-digits (for verification) on the front of the card.Ī credit card number is the most important part of the information printed on a credit card. For additional verification, sometimes, you are asked to provide the 3-digits that follow the card number on the signature line on the back of the card. Visa and MasterCard both have 16 digits except for the American Express and other International cards which have 15 digits. The number of digits on a credit depends on the type of credit card.