Find answers to your questions regarding Bank BIN numbers database
General FAQs
What is a BIN database?
Why would I need access to a BIN database?
Is a BIN database legal?
Is your database accurate and up to date?
What file format do you use for your database?
Is your database ISO compliant?
How big is the database?
Where do you get the information contained in your database?
Why can't I find my BIN in your database?
May I view a sample string from an entry of your database?
What types of credit cards does your database support?
Do you have gift cards in your database?
Can I see a screenshot of the database?
I've noticed that some records (especially MasterCard) lack the card type data. Is it normal?
Licensing FAQs
What do you sell? Online access or a set of files? Can I download it?
Why your database is better than free ones available on the Internet?
Your online free demo only allows me a limit of 2 queries per day. Is there any way to extend this number?
How much does the database cost?
Can I purchase a portion of the database instead of the whole thing?
Are updates included with the purchase price?
When are updates received?
What are the licensing options? How can I buy?
How soon after purchase will I receive a copy of the database?
General FAQs
Q. What is a BIN database?
A. A BIN, also known as an IIN, is the first six digits of a credit card number. This series of numbers is used to identify the issuing bank of that particular card.
Q. Why would I need access to a BIN database?
A. There are a number of ways in which your business or organization could benefit from our BIN database, the most common of which are the ability to verify customer information and prevent credit card fraud.
Q. Is a BIN database legal?
A. Yes, the information our database contains is completely legal even though it is generally not available to the public. The information our database contains is not sufficient enough to be used for purposes of identity theft or credit card fraud.
Q. Is your database accurate and up to date?
A. The accuracy of our database exceeds 99 percent. You should know, however, that there is no 100% full compilation of BIN numbers, so we obviously can't guarantee 100% possible coverage. We continuously work to maintain accurate records and up-to-date information.
Q. What file format do you use for your database?
A. Our database uses a semicolon (";") delimited format format. You can open the database using any basic text editor, such as Notepad, or using a spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel.
Q. Is your database ISO compliant?
A. Yes. We have added 4 additional ISO parameters in each record: ISO country name, ISO country code A2, ISO coutnry code A3, ISO country number.
Q. How big is the database?
A. The database currently contains a total of over 70,000 BIN records on more than 7,700 banks. You can click these links to see a list of supported countries and banks. Please note that the pages may take a while to load.
Q. Where do you get the information contained in your database?
A. Approximately 70 percent of the information contained in our database is shared with us by merchants who process credit card payments online. The remainder of our database entries is provided by banks and financial institutions.
Q. Why can't I find my BIN in your database?
A. Online version of the database doesn't cover all records; it's published for evaluation purposes only. Feel free to e-mail us with the bin numbers you want to know about.
Q. May I view a sample string from an entry of your database?
A. Yes. Each string has 10 parameters. Sample Visa string:
420093;STILLWATER NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY;CREDIT;CLASSIC;UNITED STATES;US;USA;840;USA;800-215-6280
420093 is the BIN, STILLWATER NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY is the issuing bank, CREDIT refers to the type of card, CLASSIC refers to the category (classic, gold, platinum, etc.), UNITED STATES is the issuing country ISO name, US is the issuing country ISO A2 code, USA is the issuing country ISO A3 code, 840 is the issuing country ISO number. Parameters 9 and 10 are purely informational. Parameter 9 may contain additional information regarding geographical location, such as city, state, etc. Parameter 10 is the issuing bank telephone number. All database Visa entries will follow this format.
Sample MasterCard string:
510146;SISTEMA 4B S.A.;;;SPAIN;ES;ESP;724;EUR ESP;34-91-3626300
"EUR" is the description prefix according to the MasterCard standards.
To know more about BIN prefixes, visit this Wikipedia page.
Q. What types of credit cards does your database support?
A. At this time we support Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Supported subtypes: PREPAID (incl. GIFT), CREDIT BUSINESS, CREDIT CLASSIC, CREDIT CORPORATE,
CREDIT ELECTRON, CREDIT GOLD/PREM', CREDIT INFINITE, CREDIT PLATINUM, CREDIT PURCHASING, CREDIT SIGNATURE, DEBIT BUSINESS, DEBIT CLASSIC, DEBIT CORPORATE, DEBIT ELECTRON, DEBIT GOLD/PREM, DEBIT INFINITE, DEBIT PLATINUM, DEBIT PURCHASING, DEBIT SIGNATURE, DEBIT V PAY, PREPAID VISA CASH, PREPAID VISA TRAVELMONEY ATM ONLY, PREPAID TRAVEL MONEY, CREDIT VISA COMMERCE, DEBIT PLUS, CREDIT MULTICURRENCY PURCHASING.
Q. Do you have gift cards in your database?
A. Shortly, yes. However, they are not directly defined as "Gift". The Gift card is a subtype of more general Prepaid type, is usually a prepaid Visa Cash card and may look like:
403527;MBNA AMERICA BANK, N.A.;PREPAID;VISA CASH;UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; or:
450952;JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. - Prepaid Debit;DEBIT;CLASSIC;USA Columbus Ohio
Q. Can I see a screenshot of the database?
A. Absolutely. The following screenshots were taken directly from the BIN database. Additional screenshots can be provided upon request.
Q. I've noticed that some records (especially MasterCard) lack the card type data. Is it normal?
A. Yes, it is normal. Practically all MasterCard records (staring with 5*) come without Field3 and Field4 information. The reason for it is that
official issuers don't supply their agents with this information for unknown reason. So we can't do anything about this.
Licensing FAQs
Q. What do you sell - online access or a set of files? Can I download it?
A. There is no instant download after purchase for security reasons. We sell the BIN database delivered as a .zip file by e-mail. We don't provide online access to our service - you'll have all files at your disposal and will be able to import them into your own system.
Q. Why your database is better than free ones available on the Internet?
A. We are experts in our area and we monitor everyone in the field. Free versions are very outdated, simply
never updated after they have been released. Our database is alive and we offer at least twice as many BINs when compared to any free alternative. Additionally, we are the only provider that offers full ISO compatibility for each record and easily parsed format.
Q. Your online free demo only allows me a limit of 2 queries per day. Is there any way to extend this number?
A. Yes, if your company is interested in purchasing our database we can provide you with additional searches to help you in the decision making process. Please send us an email from your company email address with a list of BINs you want to query, and we will provide you with up to 100 free queries.
Q. How much does the database cost?
A. Access to our entire database is $499US or $999US depending on the license type with some discounts apply.
Q. Can I purchase a portion of the database instead of the whole thing?
A. No, the database is an integral product and must be purchased in its entirety.
Q. Are updates included with the purchase price?
A. Yes, we will include updates free of charge for 6 or 24 months depending on the license type. After that period updates can be obtained at a rate of $199 annually, upon request.
Q. When are updates received?
A. Updates are sent out at least twice during next year. You will receive all updates via email you have placed your order with.
Q. What are the licensing options? How can I buy?
A. Please note, that BIN Database is sold to legitimate companies and organizations only. Please visit the Licensing page for more information.
Q. How soon after purchase will I receive a copy of the database?
A. Once the payment processor has verified your order (usually within 24 hours) we will send you your copy of the database by email. Make sure your email account can handle .zip attachments.
