When reviewing a transaction, it's often necessary to find more information about the card used, such as the bank that issued it. This is done using a Bank Identification Number (BIN) lookup.
What is a BIN?
A BIN is the first 6 to 8 digits of a debit or credit card number. These numbers are unique to the financial institution that issued the card and act as a public identifier.
By looking up the BIN, you can instantly find valuable information to help with risk assessment and transaction verification.
What Information Can You Get from a BIN Lookup?
A BIN lookup can provide several key data points about a card, including:
- The Issuing Bank: The name of the bank that issued the card (e.g., Absa, FNB, Standard Bank).
- The Card Scheme: The brand of the card (e.g., Visa, Mastercard).
- Card Type: Whether it is a Debit, Credit, or Prepaid card.
- Card Level: The tier of the card (e.g., Classic, Gold, Platinum, Business).
- Issuing Country: The country where the card was issued.
Recommended BIN Checker Websites
To perform a BIN lookup, you can use any of these reliable and free online tools. Simply enter the first 6 to 8 digits of the card number into the search field.
1. https://binlist.net/2. https://www.bincodes.com/
3. https://www.freebinchecker.com/
4. https://www.bankbinlist.com/
Important Disclaimer: While these tools are excellent for quick checks and general risk assessment, please be aware that BIN data can change as banks issue new card ranges. For critical, real-time fraud decision-making, it is always best to rely on the data provided directly by your payment gateway's risk systems or to use a dedicated, enterprise-grade fraud prevention service.