What is included on the front and back of your payment card?

WHETHER YOU WANT YOUR USER TO TAKE MONEY OUT AT AN ATM, PURCHASE SOMETHING IN A STORE, ON THE PHONE OR USING AN E-COMMERCE WEBSITE, KNOWING WHAT MAKES UP A PAYMENT CARD CAN BE CRUCIAL. SO LET'S DIVE IN

Luc Gueriane, Moorwand CCO

Working in such a fast moving payments business means we fully appreciate the amount of work that goes into creating a card programme. However, we understand that it is very easy to forget the incredible amount of information that is packed into a single payment card. Whether you want your user to take money out at an ATM, purchase something in a store, on the phone or using an e-commerce website, knowing what makes up a payment card can be crucial.

Front of the card

The microchip

EMV stands for Europay, Mastercard and Visa. This computer chip creates a unique transaction code for each purchase you make.

BIN 

The BIN (Bank Identification Number) relates to the first 4/6 numbers of a payment card and identifies the card issuer (bank or financial institution), the scheme acceptance network (Mastercard, Union Pay, Visa etc.) and the type of card (whether it is credit, debit or prepaid). It is an important element for the identification of transactions with merchants.

The BIN Sponsor empowers the programme manager to take control of their programmes such as eWallet accounts, prepaid cards or debit cards without the need for an individual e-money license or direct scheme membership.

Account Number

The long number across the middle is the permanent account number or PAN. The number identifies the institution that issued the card and the cardholder.

Cardholder name

Name of the account holder.

Expiration date

This appears as ‘end’ on some cards. Your card will expire on the last day of the month shown.

Brand Mark

Card networks (also known as schemes) control transactions between credit card issuers and merchants. UK card schemes include Mastercard, American Express, Visa and Maestro. If a merchant displays this logo, you’ll be able to use your card there.

There is also a contactless symbol on the front of many cards, which means that cards with this symbol are set up for contactless payments. You can use them to make payments of up to £45 without punching in your PIN.

Back of the card

CVV

The CVV/CVC code (Card Verification Value/Code) is located on the back of your credit/debit card on the right side of the white signature strip.

Check out Moorwand’s other payments guides