Free Routing Number Lookup For US Banks And Credit Unions

Frequently Asked Questions About Routing Numbers Of Your Bank

• What Is A Routing Number?

  A Routing Number, also known as an ABA RTN (Routing Transit Number), is a unique 9-digit bank identification code used in the United States to facilitate the routing and processing of financial transactions. ABA stands for American Bankers Association which created the ABA specification and format back in 1910 to uniquely identify banks across the US.

• What Is The Format Of A Routing Number?

  As per Routing Number guidelines published by the American Bankers Association (ABA), Routing Numbers in the US are always 9-digit long, and are made up of the following sub-parts:

  • The first 4 digits represent the Federal Reserve Routing Symbol.
  • The next 4 digits represent the ABA Institution Identifier with the Federal Reserve Bank.
  • The last and 9^th digit is a validation digit to ensure the accuracy of a Routing Number by making use of a validation algorithm.

• Can A Bank Or Financial Institution Have More Than One Routing Number?

  The same bank or financial institution can have multiple Routing Numbers.

  In fact, the ABA allows up to 9 additional ABA Routing Numbers to be assigned to a bank or financial institution if the latter requests them. The Routing Number Administrative Board of the ABA is the approving authority for banks or financial institutions requesting multiple ABA Routing Numbers.

• What Is A Routing Number Used For?

  Routing Numbers are very helpful anytime money needs to be routed between bank accounts held at various banks and financial institutions. This lends ABA Routing Numbers highly useful for many types of financial transactions; some of these include the below:

  • Electronic Payments
  • Direct Deposits
  • Merchant Payments
  • Online Banking
  • Payment Gateways

• How Can I Find A Routing Number?

  There are several quick and easy ways to find the Routing Number for your bank or credit union. Some of these include looking at your checks or visiting your bank's website or mobile app.

• Where is the Routing Number on a Check?

  Since Routing Numbers in the US follow the guidelines specified by the American Bankers Association (ABA), they are always printed in a standard format on checks issued by various banks, credit unions and financial institutions in the country.

  As per the standard banking guidelines in the US, Routing Numbers (also called ABA Routing Numbers) are the first 9 digits printed on the bottom left of a check.

• How to find your Routing Number without a Check?

  Finding your bank's Routing Number is simple and easy using your check, but what if you do not have access to your checkbook and need to find your Routing Number quickly? The good news is that there are many other easy ways to find Routing Numbers.

  Here are some other ways to find a Routing Number:

  • Use your bank's online banking portal or mobile apps to access your Routing Number.
  • Call your bank's customer service and ask about your Routing Number.
  • Visit your bank's local branch to find out this information.
  • Use this page to see if your bank is listed; if it is, simply click on your bank's name to see the requisite Routing Numbers.

• Is a Routing Number the same as a Bank Account Number?

  A Routing Number is not the same as a bank account number as the 2 numbers represent different concepts.

  If you have a US bank account, your bank will have a 9-digit Routing Number that helps to identify your bank in the country's banking ecosystem. Your account number, on the other hand, is specific and personal information for just your account.

• Is a Routing Number the same as a SWIFT Code?

  Routing Numbers and SWIFT Codes are both used in financial transactions, but they serve different purposes and operate in different systems. Here is a quick comparison between ABA Routing Numbers and SWIFT Codes:

  ABA Routing Numbers:

  • Used primarily in the United States for domestic transactions.
  • Consist of 9 digits and are unique to each bank or financial institution.
  • Identify the specific bank or financial institution within the US.
  • Used for various transactions such as direct deposits, wire transfers, electronic payments and check processing within the US banking system.
  • Ensure accurate routing and processing of funds within the US.

  
  

  SWIFT Codes:

  • Used internationally for cross-border transactions.
  • Also known as Bank Identifier Codes (BICs).
  • Consist of a combination of 8 or 11 alphanumeric characters.
  • Identify the bank and branch involved in international financial transactions.
  • Used for international wire transfers, foreign currency exchange and communication between financial institutions globally.
  • Facilitate secure and standardized transactions across different countries and currencies.

• Is it Safe to Share a Routing Number?

  If you are a bank account holder in the United States, your bank or credit union will have a Routing Number. Routing Numbers are specific to banks and are public information. In that sense, it is safe to share a Routing Number.

• Are Routing Numbers used outside of the US?

  The Routing Number specification was developed by the ABA for use within the US banking ecosystem to uniquely identify banks and financial institutions participating in financial transactions within the country.

  Given this, Routing Numbers are not used outside of the US. You may still hear of them outside the US as international transactions may finally get cleared by local US banks that might use a recipient's bank's Routing Number to move the money into their account.