This universal compliance and security documentation page provides the essential security and inspection guides required to maintain and ensure the physical integrity of MagTek products before and after deployment.
Reference Section
Information Available
Common technical details for magnetic stripe cards.
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7810
Physical characteristics of credit card size document
7811-1
Embossing
7811-2
Magnetic stripe - low coercivity
76 alphanumeric data characters between Format Code and Discretionary Data.
SS: Start Sentinel - %
FC: Format Code - ^
PAN: Primary Account Number (19 digits max.)
FS: Field Separator
37 data characters between PAN and Discretionary Data.
SS: Start Sentinel - Hex B - ;
PAN: Primary Account Number (19 digits max.)
FS: Field Separator - Hex D - =
ADDITIONAL DATA: Number of characters:
ES: End Sentinel - Hex F - ?
LRC: Logitudinal Redundancy Check character
104 numeric data characters between Format Code and Additional Data.
SS: Start Sentinel - Hex B - ;
PAN: Primary Account Number (19 digits max.)
FS: Field Separator - Hex D - =
USE AND SECURITY DATA - Number of characters
ES: End Sentinel - Hex F - ?
LRC: Logitudinal Redundancy Check character
FC: Format Code - (2 digits) (in place of optional field)
0.110"
ABA
75
5 bits per character
40 numeric characters
0.110"
THRIFT
210
5 bits per character
107 numeric characters
NAME: Name (26 alphanumeric characters max.)
ADDITIONAL DATA: Number of characters:
Expiration Date (YYMM) - 4
Service Code - 3
DISCRETIONARY DATA: Number of characters:
PVKI - PIN Verification Key Number
PVV or Offset - PIN Verification Value
CVV or CVC - Card Verification Value, Card Vakudation Code
ES: End Sentinel - ?
LRC: Logitudinal Redundancy Check character
Expiration Date (YYMM) - 4
Service Code - 3
DISCRETIONARY DATA: Number of characters:
PVKI - PIN Verification Key Number
PVV or Offset - PIN Verification Value
CVV or CVC - Card Verification Value, Card Vakudation Code
Country Code (optional) - 3
Currency Code - 3
Currency Exponent - 1
Amount Authorized per Cycle - 4
Amount Remaining this Cycle - 4
Cycle Begin (Validity Date) - 4
Cycle Length - 2
Retry Count - 1
PIN Control Parameters (optional) - 6
Interchange Controls - 1
PAN Service Restriction - 2
SAN-1 Service Restriction - 2
SAN-2 Service Restriction - 2
Expiration Date (optional) - 4
Card Sequence Number - 1
Card Security Number (optional) - 9
ADDITIONAL DATA: Number of characters:
First subsidiary account number (optional)
Second subsidiary account number (optional)
Relay marker - 1
Cryptographic check digits (optional) - 6
Discretionary Data
7811-3
Location of embossed characters
7811-4
Location of tracks 1 & 2
7811-5
Location of track 3
7811-6
Magnetic stripe - high coercivity
7813
Financial transaction cards
Measurement - 0.223"
Track
Recording Density (bits per inch)
Character Configuration (including parity bit)
Information Content (including control characters)
0.110"
1 IATA
210
7 bits per character
SS
FC
PAN
FS
Name
FS
Additional data
Discretionary Data
ES
SS
PAN
FS
Additional data
Discretionary Data
ES
LRC
SS
FC
PAN
FS
USE AND SECURITY DATA
Additional data
ES
LRC
For copies of specifications contact: American National Standards Institute 11 W. 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 212-642-4900
Some or all of the above Discretionary Data fields may be found with the discretionary data
A Field Separator (FS) must be used if an optional field is not used
The track formats used in this document are based on ISO Standards, however, other formats may be used. Contact your card issuer for your exact requirements

79 alphanumeric characters
LRC