A credit card’s first digit is called the Major Industry Identifier (MII) while a Bank Identification Number (BIN) or the Issuer Identification Number (INN) refers to its first four or six digits. These digits are unique and they pass information about the issuer. A credit card with a 4 as its first digit indicates that it is a Visa card and has 13 or 16 digits. American Express cards has ‘3’ as its MII (either a 34 or a 37) and has 15 digits. Also, Diners Club and Carte Blanche cards have their first digits as 3 and these cards usually have 14 digits. MasterCard cards have ‘5’ as their first digit and has 16 digits. Discover cards has ‘6’ as its first digit and has 16 digits. 

First Digit Card

When the first digit a credit card is ‘4’, this means that it is a Visa card and a credit card with 4147 as its first four digits is definitely a Visa Card. According to the Bank Identification Number database, a credit card that begins with 4147 is associated with either one of the following banks: Citibank, Chase Sapphire, Chase, US Bank Visa Signature, Wells Fargo Bank, PNC Bank, Bank of America, Capital One Bank, and Merrill Lynch Bank USA. For example, a card with its first six digits as 414709 means that the card is a Capital One Signature Visa. 

How to Identify a Credit Card Identifier

Step 1: The first digit is identified so as to know the industry it is attached to. Cards that start with 1 and 2 are associated with airlines, 3 with travel and entertainment, 4,5, and 6 with financial institutions/Banks and 7 with gasoline companies.  

Step 2: The number of digits on the card is counted as these numbers differ from card to card. For example, Diners Club and Carte Blanche cards have 14 digits while MasterCard and Discover cards have 16 digits. 

Cards with Bank Identification Number Starting with 4147 and Their Financial Issuers. 

It has been established that a card starting with a 4 is a visa card, however, there are different banks (a lot of which are located in the United States) that issue cards that start with 4147. Here’s a compiled list of banks that issue cards starting with 4147, followed by two numbers to complete the INN. 

PNC Bank, Delaware usually issues their Visa credit cards with its first six digits as 414701.  Nordstrom, Financial Stability Board (P. S. B) in the United States issues their Visa Debit cards with its first digits as 414702. BMW Bank of North American in the United States also issues its Visa Credit card with the first digits as 414703.  Corning Federal Credit Union in the United States issues their Visa Credit card with its first digits as 414704.  Citibank, N. A in the U. S issues its Visa Credit card with its first digits as 414705.  Barclaycard in the United States issues its Visa Credit card with its first digits as 414706.  FIA Card services issues its Visa Credit card with its first digit as 414707 and 414708. Capital One Bank in the United States issues its Visa Credit card with its first digits as 414709.  Lotte Card Co. , Ltd in South Korea issues its Visa Credit card with its first digits as 414710 stands for a Visa Credit card issued by. Chase issues its Visa Credit card with its first digits as 414720. Citibank in Australia issues its Visa Credit card with its first digits as 414726.  

Conclusion

Credit cards are used by a lot of people globally and these cards are unique as they are issued by different financial institutions. Cards with the first four digits as 4147 are most times issued by financial institutions in the United States. 

Does every Visa Card start with a 4?

Yes. Every Visa Card starts with a 4 either a credit card, a debit card, or prepaid card. 

How many digits does a Visa Card number have?

A Visa Card number usually have 13 or 16 digits. 

How do I differentiate between a Visa Card and a MasterCard?

A card can be identified by its first digit which is also called the Major Industry Identifier (MII). A Visa card always starts with a ‘4’ and while A MasterCard card starts with a ‘5’.