A routing number, sometimes called an ABA routing number, is a nine-digit code assigned to US banks and credit unions. It identifies the financial institution involved in a transfer so money reaches the correct bank.
Every US bank has at least one routing number. Larger banks may have several, often based on the state where you opened your account. That is why it is worth confirming the exact number for your account rather than assuming.
Routing numbers are used for domestic movements of money, including direct deposit, bill payments, and ACH transfers. For sending money to a bank in another country, a different identifier is usually needed, which you can read about in SWIFT vs IBAN.
There are several reliable places to find your routing number, and it helps to double-check it before any transfer.
If you are unsure which number applies to your account, contact your bank directly. Entering the wrong routing number can delay or misdirect a transfer.
A routing number works together with your account number to move money accurately.
The routing number identifies the bank, and the account number identifies your specific account within it. Both are needed for the money to arrive in the right place.
When you receive money into a US bank account, the sender or provider uses your routing and account numbers to deposit the funds. When you send money to family abroad, the details depend on the destination and delivery method. To understand the full picture of sending internationally, read what is a remittance.
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It is the first set of nine digits printed along the bottom left of the check. Reading left to right, the order is usually the routing number, then your account number, then the check number. If you do not have checks, you can find the routing number in your banking app or on your bank's website.
No. A routing number identifies your bank and is the same for many customers at that institution. Your account number is unique to you. A transfer needs both: the routing number to find the bank, and the account number to find your specific account.
Not always. Routing numbers are used for transfers within the United States. To send money to a bank in another country, you usually need an international identifier such as a SWIFT code or an IBAN. The exact details depend on the destination country and how your recipient receives the money.
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