Commercial Card Detection
A commercial card is a payment card issued for business use. Business, corporate, purchasing and fleet cards all belong to this group.
At checkout they look the same as personal cards, but they can cost more to accept and may need different handling. The Issuer Identification Number (IIN), also known as the BIN, helps you tell them apart.
- Tell personal cards from business cards
- See the card category level, such as Business, Corporate, Purchasing or Fleet
- Find the issuing bank and other card details
- Use the data through an API or a downloadable file
Personal Card or Business Card?
Every payment card is one of two kinds. A personal card, also called a consumer card, belongs to a person. A business card, also called a commercial card, is for a company.
| Personal card | Business card | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is it for? | One person | A company or other organization |
| What is it used for? | Everyday spending, such as food, clothes and holidays | Work spending, such as supplies, travel and fuel |
| Who pays the bill? | The person | Usually the company. In a small business, the owner may have to pay. |
| Simple example | You buy groceries with your own bank card. | Your employer gives you a company card to pay for a work trip. |
| Cost for the shop | Usually lower | Often higher |
Can you tell by looking at the card? Usually not. Both kinds look the same at checkout. The first digits of the card number, called the BIN or IIN, show which kind it is.
Why It Matters
Types of Commercial Cards
| Category | Who has it | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Business | Small businesses and sole traders | Often guaranteed personally by the owner, so the buyer can be a very small company. |
| Corporate | Employees of larger organizations | Used for travel and expenses. The company is usually liable, not the employee. |
| Purchasing | Organizations buying goods and services | Used to pay suppliers, often with purchase orders and invoices. |
| Fleet | Organizations running vehicles | Used for fuel and vehicle costs. Point of sale systems may need to prompt for extra details or apply limits. |
What to Do With the Result
| The card is | What you can do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Keep your normal checkout. | Consumer card rules and fees apply. |
| Business | Offer business details such as a VAT number. | The buyer may need an invoice. |
| Corporate or Purchasing | Ask for a purchase order number. | These buyers often work with purchase orders and invoices. |
Outside the US
Interchange fees on consumer cards are capped in the EU and the UK. Commercial cards are outside these caps, so the same sale can cost a merchant more. European retailers raised this with EU institutions in 2026, saying merchants cannot easily see when a customer pays with a commercial card.
Rules on adding a fee for card payments differ by country and card type. The EU and UK bans on surcharging consumer cards do not automatically cover commercial cards, but some countries go further. Check your local rules before adding any fee.
What BIN Data Cannot Tell You
- Who is paying. The data describes the card, not the person. A sole trader can hold a business card, and an employee can pay with a personal one.
- Everything from six digits. One six-digit BIN can contain both personal and business ranges, so use eight digits or more when you can.
- The card behind a mobile wallet. Apple Pay and Google Pay can use a token number whose BIN differs from the real card.
- Whether to refuse a payment. Use the card category as one piece of information, together with your processor's response and your own rules.
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Common Questions
What is the difference between a business card and a corporate card?
A business card usually belongs to a small business, and the owner often guarantees it. A corporate card is issued to employees of a larger organization, and the company is usually liable.
Can I check a card for free?
Yes. The free BIN/IIN Lookup shows whether a card is personal or business, along with its level, bank and country. It is a demo with a daily limit.
Are all commercial cards credit cards?
No. A commercial card can also be a debit or prepaid card, so check the funding type as well.