Principles and Formulas

Identifying a UnionPay card account type relies on two levels: first, bank card number validation using the Luhn algorithm (also known as the modulus 10 algorithm) to verify if the card number is valid; second, the Bank Identification Number (BIN)—the first 6 digits of the card number. UnionPay assigns specific BIN ranges to each issuing institution and defines the card type (debit card, credit card, prepaid card, etc.) corresponding to that range.

Luhn Algorithm Formula (plain text representation):
Starting from the right, sum the digits in odd positions directly; multiply the digits in even positions by 2, and if the result is greater than 9, subtract 9, then sum them up; take the total sum modulo 10. If the remainder is 0, the validation passes.
Variable explanation: Let the card number be d1 d2 … d16. Starting from the 1st digit on the right (the check digit), let S1 be the sum of the odd positions, and S2 be the sum of the processed even positions. Then (S1 + S2) mod 10 = 0.

After you enter a card number, this tool first uses the Luhn algorithm to determine if the card number is valid. It then extracts the first 6 digits to match against the built-in BIN table and outputs the corresponding account type. If the card number fails validation, it will prompt "Invalid card number."

Complete Example

Let's look at an example together: open the UnionPay Card Account Type Checker above, and you will see an input box and an "Identify" button.

Enter 6228480012345678 in the input box (note: do not include spaces or dashes, just enter the 16-digit number directly);
Click the "Identify" button;
The result area on the right or below the tool will immediately display "Debit Card", along with a brief explanation: "BIN 622848 belongs to Agricultural Bank of China, card type is Debit Card."

Interpretation: The card number 6228480012345678 passes the Luhn check (you can verify this yourself), and the first 6 digits 622848 correspond to the Agricultural Bank of China debit card BIN range, so the result is a debit card.

More Examples

Let's try two different card numbers:

Credit Card Example: Enter 6225751234567890 and click Identify. The tool displays "Credit Card" (BIN 622575 belongs to a China Construction Bank credit card).
Invalid Card Number: Enter 1234567890123456. The tool prompts "Invalid card number: Validation failed" because it does not pass the Luhn algorithm.

These two comparative examples demonstrate that this tool can not only distinguish between debit and credit cards but also identify input errors.

Result Interpretation

Meaning of the three common types of identification results:

Debit Card: Used for spending your own deposited funds, cannot be overdrawn, and is usually linked to a savings account.
Credit Card: Used for spending within a bank-approved credit limit, allowing you to buy now and pay later.
Prepaid Card: Must be loaded with funds before use; anonymous cards (like gift cards) also fall into this category.

If the result only shows "UnionPay Card" without a specific distinction, it means the card's BIN belongs to a general range or the tool's database does not yet cover its detailed classification. However, the vast majority of mainstream bank BINs are already in the database.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect number of digits: UnionPay cards are typically 16 or 19 digits long. Entering fewer than 16 digits or including spaces can lead to identification failure or misjudgment.
Using non-UnionPay cards: This tool only supports UnionPay BINs starting with 62, 60, 9, etc. Entering a Visa (starts with 4) or Mastercard (starts with 5, non-62) will display "Non-UnionPay Card."
Confusing Luhn validation with BIN identification: Passing the Luhn check only means the card number is mathematically valid; it does not guarantee the BIN corresponds to the correct card type. The BIN table requires regular updates.
Relying on this tool for transaction decisions: This tool is for reference only. The actual account type is subject to the issuing institution's system.

Related Concepts Comparison

Concept	Purpose	Identification Basis
Luhn Validation	Verifies if the card number comes from a standard generation algorithm	Modulo 10 calculation of all digits in the card number
BIN Identification	Determines the issuing institution and card type	The first 6 digits of the card number
UnionPay Card Type	Account functional attributes (Debit/Credit)	Issuing institution classification corresponding to the BIN range

Summary: Luhn validation is the basic filtering layer, and BIN identification is the type determination layer. Combining both provides reliable results.

Quick Reference Table

⚠️ Unregistered table bankcard-bins:common

Common UnionPay card BIN and card type mapping (Examples): Agricultural Bank of China debit card BIN 6228xx, China Construction Bank credit card BIN 6225xx, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China debit card BIN 6200xx, etc. The complete data is built into the tool's database, so there is no need to memorize it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why does it show "Non-UnionPay Card" after I enter my card number?
A: Please confirm whether the first 6 digits of the card number start with 62, 60, or 9. If the card number starts with 4 or 5, it might be a Visa or Mastercard. This tool only supports UnionPay standards.
Q: Can this tool distinguish between a savings card and a debit card?
A: For UnionPay cards, a "debit card" is what is commonly referred to as a savings card. The "Debit Card" displayed by the tool means savings card; the two terms are synonymous.
Q: The Luhn validation failed, but my card works perfectly fine?
A: A very small number of special card numbers issued by banks may not follow the standard Luhn algorithm, but this hardly affects their use. This tool will prompt "Validation failed" but will still attempt to display the identification result based on the BIN (marked as "Validation not passed").
Q: How often is the tool's data updated?
A: The BIN table is updated quarterly based on official data published by UnionPay, but there may be a lag in issuing banks adjusting their BIN ranges.
Q: Can the identification result be used as legal evidence?
A: No. This tool is for educational purposes and quick reference only. For formal business, please rely on the returns from the issuing bank's system.

Limitations and Boundaries

This tool only supports UnionPay cards (starting with 62, 60, 9) and does not support cards from other networks.
The distinction between debit and credit cards relies on the BIN table. This table may not include some regional banks or newly issued BIN ranges, which might be displayed as "UnionPay Card (Unclassified)."
Prepaid cards and virtual card numbers may not be in the traditional classifications of the BIN table, so the identification results may be inaccurate.
Disclaimer: The results of this tool do not constitute any financial or legal advice. Please consult the issuing institution for the actual account type. Do not use this tool for transaction authorization or risk assessment.

Now you can enter your own UnionPay card number in the calculator above to see what type it is identified as.

Calculation Basis / Methodology

ISO/IEC 7812-1:2017 Identification cards — Identification of issuers — Part 1: Numbering system — Defines the allocation rules and length of the Issuer Identification Number (IIN). The UnionPay BIN is a Chinese regional identifier under this standard.
People's Bank of China "Bank Card Business Management Measures" — Clarifies the definitions and classifications of debit cards, credit cards, and prepaid cards, serving as the legal basis for the account type output of this tool.

Last updated June 2, 2026 · Maintained by Toolkk