What Is the Issue Number on a Debit or Credit Card?

Are you looking for the issue number on a Visa card or a bank card? There is a lot of confusion about the issue number, with several different definitions being spread online.

What may sound like a simple number confuses many. This article tells you how to find a bank card issue number and explains other numbers you may see.

What Is the Issue Number on a Credit or Debit Card?

Your bank adds an issue number to your card if you order a replacement. If you are on your first card, the number should be one.

If you get a replacement, the number changes to two. The purpose of the issue number is to add security and minimise fraud risk. For example, when someone finds your old card.

If your Visa card has an issue number, you will likely find it at the bottom right of the card. You may need magnifying glasses to be able to read it.

Not all banks use an issue number. They are an outdated concept, as better ways exist to protect your account. For example, Halifax and Lloyd’s state that they do not have card issue numbers. Monzo does not use issue numbers either.

If you need to state the issue number to make an online purchase and do not have one, enter a zero.

What Is the Difference Between the Issue Number and the CVC/CVV Code?

Many confuse the issue number with the card verification value/code (CVC/CVV). Yet they are not the same. The CVC/CVV is the security number on your card’s back. It is three digits long (four with American Express). This is also the code that you enter at the checkout.

You should never send your bank details by email, including the CVC code.

What Is the Difference Between the Issue Number and the Issuer Identification Number?

The issuer identification number is another number on your Visa or bank card. This number forms part of your credit/bank card number. It is the long number found on the front side of your cart. You must enter this number alongside the CVC code when you make a purchase online.

The issuer identification number is the card’s first six to eight digits. This number identifies the bank or payment network you are using. It is not specific to your account.

For example, American Express cards start with 34 or 37, regardless of the account holder.

What Is the Difference Between the Issue Number and Start and Expiry Date?

Start and expiration dates are also not issue numbers. They simply state the start date of your card and when its validity ends. Bank cards expire automatically within a few years for security reasons.

The start date may get mistaken for the issue number because it is also called the date of the issue. However, as you know now, these numbers are different.

What Other Numbers Are on Your Credit or Debit Card?

Apart from the numbers mentioned above, your card also has the following numbers:

• Sort code
• Account number
• Bank customer service telephone number

The sort code is the code of your bank, and your account number is your unique account number. Many banks also include a phone number. It may contain instructions on what to do if someone finds the card or where to report fraud.

What Is the Issue Number on a Credit or Debit Card? Summary

Your issue number is a single- or two-digit number on some Visa and bank cards. It describes the number of new cards, starting with one. If you need your issue number, but your bank does not use this number, you can replace it with a zero.

The issue number differs from the long number on your card, the CVC code, and the start/expiration dates. All these numbers fulfil separate functions.

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