BIN Analysis — Data Study
Published: October 20, 2026 · By Marcus Hale · Original research
This page presents an analysis of common BIN (Bank Identification Number) prefixes grouped by brand, country and card level. Data is compiled from publicly available BIN databases and is intended for research and development reference.
BIN distribution by brand
| Brand | Prefix range | Share of BINs | Card levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | 4xxxxx | ~40% | Classic, Gold, Platinum, Signature, Infinite |
| Mastercard | 51-55, 2221-2720 | ~30% | Standard, Gold, Platinum, World, World Elite |
| AMEX | 34, 37 | ~15% | Green, Gold, Platinum, Centurion |
| Discover | 6011, 644-649, 65 | ~10% | Standard, Miles, It |
| Other (JCB, UnionPay, etc.) | varies | ~5% | varies |
BIN distribution by region
| Region | Approx. share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| North America | ~35% | USA dominates; Canada and Mexico follow |
| Europe | ~30% | UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy lead |
| Asia Pacific | ~20% | Japan, Australia, India, China (UnionPay) |
| Latin America | ~8% | Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia |
| Middle East & Africa | ~7% | UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Nigeria |
Observations by card level
Card level distribution is uneven across brands. Visa and Mastercard both offer a long ladder of levels, from entry products to premium tiers. AMEX concentrates on charge and premium credit products, so its BINs skew toward higher levels. Discover is narrower, with a smaller set of levels and a mostly domestic US footprint.
| Brand | Typical levels | Geographic concentration |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | Classic, Gold, Platinum, Signature, Infinite | Global, broadest reach |
| Mastercard | Standard, Gold, Platinum, World, World Elite | Global, strong in Europe |
| AMEX | Green, Gold, Platinum, Centurion | North America and Europe |
| Discover | Standard, Miles, It | Mostly United States |
Why BIN data changes
BIN assignments are not permanent. When an issuer launches a new product it requests a new range. When a product is retired the range may be reused after a cooling period. Acquisitions can merge portfolios and shift ranges between banks. For any system that depends on BIN data, freshness is the most important attribute of the dataset.
How to use this data responsibly
Treat the figures on this page as approximate reference values, not a live database. For production systems, use a maintained BIN database with a documented update schedule. For development, use published test BINs rather than real card data. The free tools on this site can validate prefixes and checksums without transmitting data anywhere.
Methodology
Data is compiled from publicly available BIN databases and issuer disclosures. Percentages are approximate and rounded. BIN assignments change as issuers reorganise portfolios. This is reference data, not a guarantee.