What is the first six to eight digits of a payment card number, identifying its issuer, called?

The first six to eight digits of a payment card number are called the bank identification number.

A BIN identifies the institution or organization that issued a card and provides information used to route and process transactions. Payment networks and issuers use it to distinguish card programs, such as credit, debit, prepaid, or commercial products.

Historically, the term referred to the first six digits, but modern payment standards increasingly use eight-digit issuer identification numbers. This expansion provides more available number ranges as the global number of cards and payment products grows.

A BIN is not the same as a bank account number, routing number, or personal identification number. It is only the opening portion of the primary account number and does not, by itself, authenticate the person making a purchase. Merchants and payment processors use BIN data for routing, fraud screening, and product identification.