PAN stands for?

PAN stands for?

• A. Primary Account Number
• B. Personal Access Number
• C. Private Authentication Number
• D. Primary Authorization Number

Answer: (A)

The term PAN refers to the Primary Account Number, which is the unique 15- to 16-digit (up to 19 digits in some cards) number printed on a payment card that identifies the cardholder’s account within the issuer’s system. This number is the main identifier used during authorization and settlement, linking the transaction to the correct account. In PCI DSS, PAN is treated as cardholder data and must be protected—displayed only in masked form, stored securely, and transmitted with proper cryptographic protections. The other options do not reflect the standard terminology used in payment card processing, so they aren’t correct.

The term PAN refers to the Primary Account Number, which is the unique 15- to 16-digit (up to 19 digits in some cards) number printed on a payment card that identifies the cardholder’s account within the issuer’s system. This number is the main identifier used during authorization and settlement, linking the transaction to the correct account. In PCI DSS, PAN is treated as cardholder data and must be protected—displayed only in masked form, stored securely, and transmitted with proper cryptographic protections. The other options do not reflect the standard terminology used in payment card processing, so they aren’t correct.