What is an issue number and CVV?

Knowing what these details are and where to find them can help you feel more confident when making online transactions.

If you have an older card, it may also show an issue number.

These credit card details help the retailer verify your identity and approve your purchase. They also add more security to your transactions to protect you from fraud. 

Your credit card number is the long number on your card. It’s linked to your card account and helps us recognise your card when you pay online, by phone or using a wallet app.

Most credit card numbers are 16 digits, but this can vary. The first digits show the card network and the bank. The remaining digits are unique to your card account.

Your credit card number is printed on your physical card. Depending on the card design, it may appear on the front or back. 

A card security code (CVV) is a short code on your card. You may be asked for it when you pay online or by phone.

CVV stands for Card Verification Value. It helps a business check you have your card with you when making some payments. 

Your CVV is separate from your card number and expiry date. It’s not the same as your PIN.

The CVV is a 3-digit security code you can find on both older and newer credit cards. 

A CVV adds more credit card protection when you make online purchases. Unlike your long credit card number, CVVs aren’t usually printed on receipts or stored in databases. This makes it harder for fraudsters to know your CVV and helps you verify your identity as the cardholder. 

There are 2 types of verification codes found on credit cards:

The CVV1 is encoded on the magnetic strip of your credit card. When you use your card at a point-of-sale terminal, the card reader will read the CVV1 to authenticate your card. 

The CVV2 is the 3-digit code on your credit card. This is the CVV you’ll be asked for when making online purchases. 

On most HSBC credit cards, your CVV is the 3-digit number printed on, or near, the signature strip on the back of your card. 

You can also view your CVV by logging into the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app. After logging in, select 'Cards' from the menu at the top and then select 'Card details'.

Your credit card expiry date shows the month and year your card is valid to. You may be asked for it when you pay online, by phone or set up a recurring payment.

The expiry date is printed on your card, usually in a month/year format, such as 05/29. This means you can use the card until the end of May 2029.

We’ll usually send you a replacement card before your current one expires. Once you’ve received and activated it:

An issue number is a short number printed on your credit card. Issue numbers are not widely used today but were used to show how many times your card had been reissued or replaced.

All new credit cards would have an issue number of 1. When the card expires, the replacement card will have an issue number of 2, a new CVV, and a new credit card expiry date.

Issue numbers were a way to tell the difference between an old and a new card. 

As well as your card number, CVV and expiry date, you may need other details to manage your credit card or make a payment. These details are not usually printed on your card.

An issue number is a 1 or 2-digit number shown on some older debit and credit cards. It helped distinguish between different versions of the same card, for example if your card was replaced.

Most newer cards don’t have an issue number. If a payment form asks for one but your card doesn’t show it:

Your credit card account number identifies your credit card account. It is different from the long card number printed on your physical card. 

A sort code identifies a UK bank or building society branch. It is generally associated with a current or savings account, rather than a credit card. 

Explore more about account numbers and sort codes.

This article was last updated:19/10/2026, 04:23