The Bank Identification Number (BIN) is a term from the credit card industry. It refers to a six-digit number that is assigned to banks for electronic routing of transactions. Credit/debit cards that are involved in banking transactions contain a BIN on magnetic stripe.

The term BIN is no longer supported. The number is now called an Issuer Identification Number (IIN). As of January 2017, the IIN length has changed from a 6-digit number to an 8-digit number. Existing six-digit IINs will be converted into a block of a hundred eight-digit IINs. As the majority of issuers are unlikely to need all one hundred of these, they are encouraged to return any unused eight-digit IINs to ANSI.

The term Bank Identification Number (BIN) is no longer supported. The number is now called an Issuer Identification Number (IIN).

To obtain an IIN, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) must be contacted www.ansi.org. On the ANSI web page, enter "IIN" in the Search box. Links will appear for the registration process.

The IIN structure is defined within the international standard ISO/IEC 7812-1, Identification cards - Identification of issuers - Part 1: Numbering system. The application and registration procedures are identified in ISO/IEC 7812-2. These standards are developed by the International Organization for Standardization / International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) Joint Technical Committee (JTC) 1, Information Technology, Subcommittee (SC) 17, Cards and personal identification, Working Group (WG) 5. As of January 2017, the IIN length has changed from a 6-digit number to an 8-digit number. Existing six-digit IINs will be converted into a block of a hundred eight-digit IINs. As the majority of issuers are unlikely to need all one hundred of these, they are encouraged to return any unused eight-digit IINs to ANSI.

In approximately 1989 the pharmacy services sector began using electronic processing for pharmacy claims. This electronic processing of pharmacy claims meant the health plan (or their Pharmacy Benefit Manager/processor/payer on their behalf) needed a number for the electronic routing of transactions. Some health plans decided to use magnetic stripe cards, some did not. Those that use magnetic stripe cards apply to ANSI for an IIN. These numbers commonly begin with "6" as in "610014". Those health plans that did not have a business reason for creating pharmacy benefit cards with a magnetic stripe were in need of a number, because they still needed to process electronic pharmacy claims.

NCPDP provides a service to those health plans that do not use magnetic stripe cards. The NCPDP Processor BIN is a six-digit sequential number we assign that begins with "0" as in "000010". We do not reuse numbers. There is a fee to obtain a number.

Contact NCPDP Provider Services Department at 480.734.2870 or PharmacyHelp@ncpdp.org, or complete a Processor ID Application. Your number will be assigned and notification will be delivered via fax or email.

The ANSI IIN is a number used throughout electronic routing. The NCPDP Processor BIN, while NCPDP assigns it, is only a number inside the pharmacy industry. Beyond the initial assigning of the BIN, NCPDP does not formally or informally track the history of the number.

When a patient requests a prescription to be filled at the pharmacy, the pharmacy collects pertinent information on their prescription benefit program. One piece of information is the name of the health plan/PBM. If the health plan uses the NCPDP Pharmacy ID and Combination Card Implementation Guide that NCPDP members have created, the BIN/IIN is clearly shown on the card. The pharmacy system then includes this BIN/IIN in the electronic transaction the pharmacy sends to the payer for the prescription. The BIN/IIN is a field in the Telecommunication Standard that is used for the routing and identification in pharmacy claims. The BIN/IIN field will either be filled with the ANSI IIN or the NCPDP Processor BIN, depending on which one the health plan has obtained.

Leading zeroes in the NCPDP Processor BIN are significant.

Since 8 digit IINs are now being assigned, use the first 6 digits of the IIN as the BIN even if the first digit(s) is a zero. Once new versions of the standards are adopted, truncation will no longer be necessary.

The Processor Control Number (PCN) is a secondary identifier that may be used in routing of pharmacy transactions. A PBM/processor/plan may choose to differentiate different plans/benefit packages with the use of unique PCNs. The PCN is defined by the PBM/processor as this identifier is unique to their business needs. There is no registry of PCNs. The PCN is alphanumeric as defined by the PBM/processor. The PCN, like the BIN/IIN appears on the pharmacy ID card, in accordance with the rules defined in the NCPDP Pharmacy ID and Combination Card Implementation Guide. This document is available with NCPDP membership. General information is available on the Guidance Documents page under the "Pharmacy and Healthcare Identification Cards" banner. Not all entities use the PCN to differentiate plans. Some entities may use the Group ID; still others may not need this level of differentiation.

The BIN/IIN and PCNs are listed on the PBM/processor/plan’s Payer Sheets for trading partners to know the proper identifiers for routing transactions. PBM/processor/plan’s Payer Sheets are shared with their customers – to the pharmacies, dispensing providers, clearinghouses and vendors. Information on the NCPDP Payer Sheet Template Implementation Guide for Version D.0 is available on the HIPAA page under the "Telecommunication Version D.0" banner.

The IIN structure is defined within the international standard ISO/IEC 7812-1, Identification cards - Identification of issuers - Part 1: Numbering system. The application and registration procedures are identified in ISO/IEC 7812-2. These standards are developed by the International Organization for Standardization / International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) Joint Technical Committee (JTC) 1, Information Technology, Subcommittee (SC) 17, Cards and personal identification, Working Group (WG) 5.