# Card Issuer and Card Type Lookup by BIN Number API | FastKYC

> Identify the issuing bank, card network, card type and country behind any payment card using its Bank Identification Number.

Source: https://www.fastkyc.com/apis/bin-lookup/

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[Utility APIs](/apis/utility/)

# BIN Lookup API

Identify the issuing bank, card network, card type and country behind any payment card using its Bank Identification Number.

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Category

[Utility APIs](/apis/utility/)

Built for

-   [Fintech & Payments](/industries/fintech-payments/)

## What the BIN Lookup API does

BIN Lookup takes the leading digits of a payment card and returns what they encode: the issuing bank, the network, whether the card is debit, credit or prepaid, and the issuing country.

Knowing the card type before authorisation lets you route payments intelligently, apply the right fee, and flag mismatches such as a foreign-issued card on a domestic-only journey.

## Where teams use the BIN Lookup API

1.  Routing payments by card type to reduce processing cost
    
2.  Detecting foreign-issued cards during checkout
    
3.  Displaying the correct card branding in a payment form
    
4.  Flagging prepaid cards in higher-risk transactions
    

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many digits do I need?

The first six to eight digits are enough. Never send the full card number to a lookup service.

Does it validate the card?

No. It identifies the issuing range only. It says nothing about whether the card exists, is active or has funds.

Is this PCI relevant?

A BIN alone is not cardholder data, but the surrounding flow usually is. Keep the lookup inside your existing PCI scope and controls.

## Related APIs

-   [Electricity Bill Lookup API Verify an electricity bill and customer ID across Indian distribution companies, confirming the connection and billing details.](/apis/electricity-bill-lookup/)
-   [Bank Verification Pennyless API Validate an Indian bank account and fetch the account holder name without transferring any money, using real-time banking network data.](/apis/bank-verification-pennyless/)
-   [IFSC Search API Look up any Indian bank branch by IFSC code and get the bank name, branch, address, city and supported payment rails in one call.](/apis/ifsc-search/)
-   [VPA to Account Details API Resolve a UPI VPA to its underlying bank account and holder name, verifying a payment address before you settle money to it.](/apis/vpa-to-account/)

## Start verifying with the BIN Lookup API

Book a walkthrough and we will show the call, the response and how it fits your onboarding flow.

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-   One API key for every check
-   Verified against official Indian records
-   Built for onboarding at scale