Bank Routing Numbers: What Is a Routing Number and How To Find Yours

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In today’s world of electronic banking, knowing how to find your bank’s routing number is important. You need this number along with your account number or check number for things like:

• Direct deposit forms
• Setting up a money transfer from one bank to another
• Depositing funds into a CD account

The routing number serves as an identifier that distinguishes a particular bank from all others. Large banks may have a different routing number for each state in which they have a branch, and some may even have routing numbers unique to specific transaction types.

What Is the Nine-Digit ABA Routing Code?

The American Bankers Association routing number, or ABA routing number, is a nine-digit code used to identify U.S. federal- or state-chartered banks. This numbering system was started in the U.S. in 1910, evolving over time to incorporate changes in the banking industry — like the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913. The first four numbers in the code represent the Federal Reserve routing symbol. The next four digits are the ABA institution identifier followed by the check digit.

What Is an Example of an ABA Routing Number?

To understand the structure of an ABA routing number, consider the following example. TD Bank has multiple routing numbers. The routing number for branches in Connecticut is 011103093, and the routing number for branches in Florida is 067014822. Connecticut is in the first Federal Reserve district, which is why the routing number starts with 0111. Florida is in the sixth district, denoted by the numbers 0670.

What Is Another Name for Routing Number?

Although the term routing number is used commonly, you may hear other names to refer to a bank’s identifying number, including:

• ABA routing number
• Routing transit number
• ABA number

What Is My Routing Number For?

Routing numbers are unique identifiers for the banks involved in any financial transaction. They’re essential because they enable the U.S. banking system to clear a financial transaction by matching up the appropriate financial institutions, ensuring money is coming out of and going into the right bank accounts. American banks and credit unions use these numbers for transactions such as ACH transactions, direct deposit and online bill pay, wire transfers, setting up recurring automatic payments, transferring money between banks, processing checks and ordering checks online.

Some banks have designated routing numbers for specific transaction types, such as wire transfers and ACH transactions. Look-up tools often allow users to search by state and transaction type or display routing numbers for each transaction type. If you’re not sure which routing number to use, check with your bank.

How Do I Find My Bank’s Routing Number?

Your bank should provide the routing number when you open an account. You also can find your bank’s routing number on the bottom left corner of one of your checks or on a deposit slip. However, if you bank electronically and don’t use checks, you can locate the routing number in other places.

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How To Find Your Routing Number on a Check

If you have paper checks, you can find the routing number at the bottom of each check. Find the three groups of numbers on the bottom left side. The routing number is the first group of numbers on the far left, followed by the account number and check number.

How To Find Your Routing Number in Online Banking

You can locate your routing number on your bank’s online banking site. Log in to the site using your account credentials. Choose your account and find the link to account information. Depending on your bank, this may be labeled “account information,” “account numbers,” “details,” or something similar.

How To Find Your Routing Number in a Mobile App

To find your routing number in your bank’s mobile app, sign in to the app and choose your account. Look for a section called “account and routing numbers,” “account info,” “details,” or similar terms.

How To Find Your Routing Number on Your Bank Statement

Whether you receive paper or electronic bank statements, you may be able to find your routing number printed on it. Most banks include this at the top of the bank statement in the same spot where it prints the last few digits of your account number.

Big Bank Routing Numbers in Each State

The American Bankers Association allows banks to have up to 10 routing numbers, and large financial institutions often have different routing numbers for each state. Some even have more than one for some types of transactions, such as wire transfers.

Chase, Wells Fargo and Bank of America account holders can find state-specific routing numbers in the following tables. The numbers below are specifically routing numbers for electronic payments and paper transactions, such as ordering checks. Wire transfers require different routing numbers.

Wells Fargo Routing Numbers for Other US Territories

Online Bank and Credit Union Check Routing Numbers

Credit unions and online banks also have routing numbers, and you still need to know this number to transfer money to or from your account. Below are a few examples of popular online bank and credit union routing numbers. 

What Is the Difference Between a Routing Number, Account Number and Check Number?

A bank routing number, account number and check number play different roles in banking transactions, but they all direct money to where it’s supposed to go.

The bottom line of any kind of check — personal or business — is preprinted with a sequence of numbers and symbols below the memo and signature lines. This sequence contains the following important information that the bank uses to process the check:

• Routing number: The first nine-digit number in the sequence, starting from the left, is the routing number for the appropriate financial institution and transaction.
• Account number: The next string of numbers is the account number. This number identifies the specific checking account associated with the issued check or savings account associated with a deposit slip. 
• Check number: The last string of numbers is the check number. It’s used to determine which checks have been processed by the bank.

The Numbers You Need To Know on Your Checks

Your bank account check is a wealth of information if you know what you’re looking for. You should see a series of numbers printed along the bottom edge of the check. Here’s a quick explanation of what each of these numbers are and what they mean. 

Bank Routing Number

Banks use routing numbers to process several types of transactions, including paper and digital checks, direct deposits and bill payments. The nine-digit routing number is like an address identifying the bank or financial institution and its location. It’s based on the state where you opened your account.

Bank Account Number

While your bank routing number identifies your financial institution and its location, your bank account number identifies your personal savings or checking account at that institution. It tells the bank where to withdraw or deposit money when making transactions. 

It’s the second set of numbers along the bottom of your check, directly following the routing number. It may be longer or shorter than the routing number. Most bank account numbers are between eight and 12 digits, although yours could be as long as 17 digits.

Check Number

To the right of the account number is the check number, which should be different on each check. You can also find the check number located at the top-right corner of the check. The check number is primarily for your own benefit, to help you balance your checkbook and keep track of your checks and spending.

Final Take To GO

Routing numbers are essential to the U.S. banking system to ensure money is moving out of and into the right banks for every transaction, whether it’s a bill payment, direct deposit or other exchange. Now that people are banking electronically, you may find that you need to provide your routing number more often than you did when paper checks were more common. When looking up a bank routing number, use a trusted source — such as your bank’s mobile app or website — to ensure you’re using the correct number for your account. Using the wrong routing number can lead to transaction delays or errors.

Nicole Valentine, Virginia Anderson and Andrea Norris contributed to the reporting for this article.

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