It’s no secret that the credit card industry is a competitive space. The competition to sign up new customers is fierce and getting fiercer as banks try to lure new account holders with rewards programs, zero percent introductory offers and other perks. But there’s one thing that’s remained constant: when it comes time for you to choose your credit card number, you have no say in the matter.
How are credit card numbers assigned?
The answer to this question depends on who you ask. When a consumer applies for a credit card, the bank that issues the card assigns it a number. For example, if the consumer uses an online payment processor like PayPal or Stripe to process transactions, then that company assigns the number. Finally, suppose a merchant accepts Visa or MasterCard payments from customers using their POS system instead of one provided by an acquiring bank (like Square). In that case, those companies assign yet another number—this time to each individual transaction rather than just once per account holder.
Why do different companies assign their own credit card numbers?
The idea is that these numbers are easier for companies to track, making it easier for them to catch fraud and ensure that a specific person has made a purchase. Experts who have worked in the credit card number industry for years can tell you how much of a hassle it is when someone steals your credit card number and spends money on it. So it’s an absolute nightmare!
Credit card numbers are also used by businesses to figure out what type of shopping people like doing, so they can send targeted ads to you during online shopping. This is called “customer segmentation.” For example, if you spend $10 at grocery stores every day, then companies might send you offers for coupons or discounts on food items. SoFi advisors explain, “Sometimes the numbers are raised; sometimes they’re flat.”
Why do credit card numbers have a set structure?
It’s important to understand why credit card numbers are structured the way they are. While there are several reasons for this, the most common reason is that it makes it easier for banks and credit card companies to process your payments.
A lot of information has to be processed for you to purchase with your card, including:
- The identity of the person using their card (name and address)
- The amount they want to be charged
- The type of transaction they’re conducting (i.e., whether it’s an online purchase or a cash withdrawal at an ATM)
The way these pieces of information are encoded into the numbers on your card makes each unique number easier for computers—and humans!—to read quickly and accurately.
It’s important to know that your credit card number is supposed to be kept private. If your credit card number gets stolen or falls into the wrong hands, it can be used by someone else to make purchases on your account. In addition, there are many different types of credit cards, and they all have different security protocols in place that require you to follow strict guidelines when making payments online or over the phone with customer service representatives (CSRs). These rules ensure that no one but yourself has access to this sensitive information unless they try hard to hack into their system!