Credit Card Identifier
Identify the brand and validate a full card number.
How this tool works
This tool identifies what a card number is, rather than validating it. It reports the brand, the issuer, the product type, the category and the country, and it will tell you when a prefix is not in the dataset rather than guessing at it.
It is the tool for the moment when you have a number and a question about it. The distinction from a validator matters: a validator asks whether the number is well formed, and an identifier asks who issued it and for what. Both are useful, and they answer different questions.
What it reports
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Brand | Visa |
| Issuer | The institution holding the allocation |
| Type | CREDIT |
| Category | CLASSIC |
| Country | GB |
An unknown prefix is reported as unknown. The dataset is a snapshot, so a prefix allocated after it was taken will not be found.
When to use it
- Identify an unfamiliar card number
- Confirm the brand and issuer behind a record
- Enrich a set of numbers with their details
- Check a listing's description of a card against the prefix
Frequently asked questions
What is a card identifier?
A tool that reports what a card number is: the brand, the issuing institution, the product type, the category and the country of issue, read from the six digit prefix.
How is it different from a validator?
A validator checks whether the number is well formed, structurally and by checksum. An identifier tells you who issued it and for what. They answer different questions.
What if the prefix is not recognised?
It is reported as unknown, which is the honest answer. The dataset is a snapshot of a published source, so a prefix allocated since then, or a mistyped one, will not be found.
Does it check the checksum as well?
It identifies the prefix. Whether the whole number is internally consistent is a separate check, and one the prefix alone cannot answer.
Can I use it on a batch of numbers?
Yes, and the batch lookup tool does the same thing for many at once.