Payment card standards body EMVCo on Thursday disclosed proposed specifications changes to accommodate the coming of longer numbers on credit and debit cards for identifying the card issuer, changes that could affect merchants using card numbers to identity their loyalty program members in addition to processing protocols.
The changes stem from a revised standard adopted in 2017 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission that supports an eight-digit issuer identification number (IIN) in addition to the traditional six. The IIN is the first part of the primary account number (PAN) on a card, which can vary from eight to 19 digits. The two standards bodies, both based in Geneva, Switzerland, added two IIN digits to accommodate the growth of card issuers globally and prevent a possible shortage of card numbers.