The first six digits, including the major industry identifier, compose the issuer identifier number (IIN) which identifies the issuing organization. The IINS was previously called the "bank identification number" (BIN) and some places still use that term.
Read more about this topic: ISO/IEC 7812
Famous quotes containing the word number:
“In the U.S. for instance, the value of a homemaker’s productive work has been imputed mostly when she was maimed or killed and insurance companies and/or the courts had to calculate the amount to pay her family in damages. Even at that, the rates were mostly pink collar and the big number was attributed to the husband’s pain and suffering.”
—Gloria Steinem (20th century)