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Illustration representing Merchant Category Code classification for card transactions

Merchant & POS

What Does a Restricted/Prohibited MCC Mean?

The MCC code, or Merchant Category Code, is a 4-digit code used to classify merchants. Some MCC codes are restricted or prohibited, and POS terminals or card transactions may be blocked when such a code is used.

Diagram of symmetric key types used in payment systems

HSM & Security

Types of Symmetric Keys

In the world of payment systems, keys and their uses are important for transferring information from one place to another, storing information, and securing authorization and scripting steps. Key types are divided into six categories based on their purpose.

Illustration showing how an Application Identifier (AID) is used in a chip card transaction

EMV

What is an Application Identifier (AID)?

The AID tells the terminal which applications are present on a chip during a POS or ATM transaction. What does the AID do? It lets the terminal determine whether it supports an application on the chip. In Tag 9F06, it is 5-16 digits long.

Payment card illustrating magnetic stripe data used for PIN verification

Credit Card

What is PVV (PIN Verification Value)?

PVV is the number encoded on a card's magnetic stripe that allows the cardholder's PIN to be verified by ATMs and POS terminals. It is a 4-digit cryptogram calculated through a cryptographic operation using the PIN and card data. The real result is longer than 4 digits.

Photograph of a POS terminal used for Chip and Pin card payments

Merchant & POS

What is Chip&Pin?

Chip&Pin, introduced in Turkey on March 31, 2006, is a payment method that greatly reduces the risks of card copying and loss or theft fraud. The chip on the card reduces copying risk, while the 4-digit PIN prevents unauthorized use of a lost card.

Diagram explaining PVKI and PVV calculation in card PIN verification

Credit Card

What Is PVKI (PIN Verification Key Index)?

PVKI is the abbreviation for PIN Verification Key Index. It is located within the card's Track 1 and Track 2 data and is used in PVV calculation. It can take values from 1 to 6, usually defaulting to 1.

Diagram showing the EMV chip card static data authentication (SDA) process

EMV

What is a Data Authentication Code (DAC)?

DAC is the abbreviation for Data Authentication Code. It is a piece of data assigned by the issuer and held by the terminal during the Signed Static Application Data verification process.

Diagram of ISO 8583 Field 2 (F2) card number structure

ISO 8583

ISO 8583 Field Descriptions (F2)

F2 is the Card Number field in ISO 8583, identifying the cardholder and issuing bank. This post covers its structure, the 8-digit BIN update, field format, first-digit scheme identification, and PCI DSS security requirements.

Chart of the effects of credit card usage on inflation

Credit Card

Does Credit Card Usage Increase Inflation?

The effect of credit cards on inflation has been debated for years. Because I am asked about it so often, I ran a poll on arifunal.com to gather readers' views. This post weighs the positive and negative effects and compares the poll with the research findings.

Diagram illustrating the structure of Track2 data on a card's magnetic stripe

Credit Card

What Is Track2?

A special data set printed on a card's magnetic stripe, containing the card information required for authorization when the card is used physically. It consists of 40 numeric characters. The Track2 field structure includes several data fields such as length and description.

Diagram illustrating the Track 1 data structure and field layout on a magnetic stripe card

Credit Card

What is Track 1?

Track 1 is a special data set encoded on a card's magnetic stripe that contains the card information required for authorization when the card is used physically. It includes the cardholder name, card number, and expiration date.

Diagram illustrating the PIN Change/Unblock command process

EMV

What Is Pin Change/Unblock?

The Pin Change/Unblock command is used after card issuance to let the issuer remove a card's PIN block, or instantly change the reference PIN and remove its block, as well.