DCI (Debit/Credit Indicator) is a flag that shows whether a given transaction was made with a credit card or a debit card.
With the arrival of prepaid cards, it began to be used as DCPI (Debit/Credit/Prepaid Indicator).
Is DCI information sent in the authorization message?
This information is not sent in the authorization message. Banks derive this information from the data in their own systems together with the data in the authorization message, and store it in their systems.
Why does it matter?
Whether a transaction was made with a credit card, a debit card, or a prepaid card causes the transaction to be handled differently in several respects:
- Commission: The commission rates charged to the merchant can vary depending on the card type.
- Installment: Installment transactions can only be made with credit cards.
- Reporting: Banks and regulatory bodies report card spending separately according to card type.
How is the card type determined?
The card type is generally determined from the BIN portion of the card number. Card schemes and BKM (the Interbank Card Center) share BIN tables with their members showing which card type each BIN range belongs to. Banks load these tables into their systems to determine the card type at the time of the transaction.
Separating out prepaid cards
Although prepaid cards are technically similar to debit cards, they are treated as a separate category in terms of regulation and commission structure. For this reason, DCI eventually evolved into DCPI, and prepaid cards were defined as a distinct type.
Commercial vs. individual distinction
Alongside the card type, whether the card is an individual or a commercial card is also included in the BIN tables. This information is likewise important for commission and reporting purposes.
