Identify Card Type
As a Payment Processor, I need to quickly identify the type of credit card based on its number. Specifically, I need to check the first digit of the card number (e.g., 4 for Visa, 5 for Mastercard, 3 for American Express) to route transactions correctly or for fraud detection purposes.
=LEFT(A2,1) How it works: The LEFT function extracts a specified number of characters from the beginning (left side) of a text string. In this scenario, `LEFT(A2,1)` tells Excel to look at the value in cell A2 and return only the first character from the left, which corresponds to the first digit of the credit card number. This digit is crucial for identifying the card type (e.g., 4 for Visa, 5 for Mastercard, 3 for American Express).
Data Setup
| Card Number | Transaction ID |
|---|---|
| 4123456789012345 | T1001 |
| 5123456789012345 | T1002 |
| 3123456789012345 | T1003 |
| 6123456789012345 | T1004 |
Step-by-Step Guide
Select the cell where you want the extracted first digit to appear (e.g., B2).
Enter the formula `=LEFT(A2,1)` into the selected cell, assuming the credit card number is in cell A2.
Press Enter. The first digit of the card number will be displayed.
Drag the fill handle down to apply the formula to other card numbers in your list.