The credit card number is a 15- or 16-digit number printed on either the front or back of your physical card, depending on the card issuer and design. Most traditional cards display it across the front in raised (embossed) or flat-printed digits, but a growing number of newer cards have moved it to the back or removed it from the physical card entirely.
Front of the Card
The most common placement for decades has been the front of the card, running horizontally across the middle or lower half. On older cards, the number is embossed (raised) so it can be felt with your fingernail. Many newer cards print it flat instead. You’ll typically see four groups of four digits (or three groups on American Express cards, which use 15 digits). The expiration date usually sits just below the card number, and the cardholder’s name appears near the bottom.
Back of the Card
Some issuers now print the full card number on the back, keeping the front of the card clean with just the cardholder’s name and the issuer’s logo. If you don’t see a long string of digits on the front, flip the card over. The number is usually printed flat near the top or center of the back side. This design choice is partly a security measure: it makes the number harder for someone to read at a glance when you hand your card to a cashier or set it on a counter.
Where to Find the CVV
The CVV (card verification value) is the short security code you’re asked for during online purchases. It’s separate from your main card number and printed in a different spot.
- Visa, Mastercard, and Discover: A three-digit code printed on the back of the card, usually near the signature panel or just to the right of it.
- American Express: A four-digit code printed on the front, above and to the right of the account number.
On all major networks, the CVV is flat-printed rather than embossed. This is intentional. Because the CVV isn’t raised, it won’t leave an imprint on old carbon-copy receipts, adding a layer of protection.
Numberless Cards
Some cards have no visible number at all. Apple Card’s titanium card, for example, shows no account number, expiration date, or CVV on the physical card itself. If you have a numberless card and need the full number for an online purchase, you’ll retrieve it digitally.
On Apple Card, open the Wallet app on your iPhone and tap the card, then tap the card number icon. You’ll authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode, and the app will display a virtual card number, expiration date, and security code you can use for online purchases. On an iPad, you’ll find this under Settings, then Wallet & Apple Pay, then Card Information. Other issuers with numberless designs follow a similar pattern through their own apps.
Apple Card also lets you request a new virtual card number at any time, which is useful if your number is ever compromised. The physical titanium card has its own separate card number, but you can only see its last four digits through the app.
Finding Your Number Without the Physical Card
If your card isn’t nearby or has been lost, you can usually find your account number through your issuer’s mobile app or online banking portal. Log in, navigate to your credit card account, and look for an option to view card details. Keep in mind that most apps mask the full number for security, showing only the last four digits by default. You may need to tap a “show full number” option and verify your identity before the complete number appears.
Digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay use a process called tokenization, which replaces your real card number with a substitute number for transactions. You can typically see the last four digits of your card in the wallet app, but the full number won’t be stored there. If you need the complete number, go to your bank’s own app rather than the digital wallet.
Paper or digital copies of your original card approval letter, your most recent billing statement, or your online account dashboard are other places where the full number may appear, though statements often show only the last four digits as well.
Which Number Is Which
Credit cards display several different numbers, and it’s easy to confuse them. The card number (also called the primary account number) is the long 15- or 16-digit number used to identify your account for every transaction. The expiration date, shown as a two-digit month and two-digit year, tells merchants and payment processors when the card expires. The CVV is the short three- or four-digit security code. Your card may also show a separate “member since” date or a four-digit code beneath the first few digits of your account number on American Express cards. When a website or phone system asks for your “card number,” they want the long one.