Savings accounts have routing numbers, but you rarely need them
Yes, your savings account has a routing number. It is the same routing number as your checking account at the same bank. But most of the time you will not use it, because transfers into savings accounts work differently than transfers into checking accounts.
The routing number identifies your bank to the outside financial system. When money moves between banks—a wire transfer, an ACH payment, a direct deposit—the routing number tells the sending bank where to send it. Your savings account sits inside that same bank, so the routing number is the same whether you are moving money to checking or to savings. What changes is the account number you pair it with.
The confusion happens because savings accounts rarely receive external transfers. Most of the time, money moves into savings from your own checking account at the same bank, through your bank's app or website. That transfer stays inside the bank and does not need a routing number at all.
Key Takeaways
- Your savings account routing number is identical to your checking account routing number at the same bank.
- You only need the routing number if someone outside your bank is sending money directly to your savings account.
- Transfers between your own accounts at the same bank do not require a routing number—your bank handles them internally.
- If you give out your savings account routing number and account number together, treat that pair as sensitive as you would a checking account number.
When you actually need a savings account routing number
You need the routing number when an external source is sending money directly into your savings account. The most common scenario is a direct deposit from an employer or government agency. If you want your paycheck or a tax refund deposited into savings instead of checking, you will provide your employer or the IRS with your routing number plus your savings account number.
Another scenario is an ACH transfer from a different bank. If you have a savings account at Bank A and a checking account at Bank B, and you want to move money from Bank B into your Bank A savings account, you will need Bank A's routing number plus your savings account number at Bank A. Your Bank B will use that information to route the transfer correctly.
A third scenario is less common but worth knowing: if someone is paying you directly—a freelance client, a family member, a business partner—and you want the payment to land in savings instead of checking, you give them your savings account routing number and account number. They enter both into their bank's transfer system, and the money arrives in savings.
How to find your savings account routing number
Your bank's routing number appears in several places. The easiest is your bank's website: log in, go to account details or settings, and look for "routing number" or "ABA number." It will be the same number listed for all your accounts at that bank.
You can also call your bank's customer service line and ask for the routing number. Have your account number ready, though the representative will tell you the routing number is the same regardless of which account you are asking about.
If you have paper checks from your checking account, the routing number is printed at the bottom left of the check, a nine-digit number before your account number. That same number works for your savings account.
Some banks print the routing number on statements, though not all do. If you cannot find it online or on a check, a phone call to customer service is the fastest route.
What happens when you give out your savings account routing number
Giving out your routing number alone is safe—it is public information and your bank publishes it. Giving out your routing number plus your account number together is different. That pair is sensitive information, similar to giving someone your checking account number. Someone with both pieces can initiate transfers out of your account.
Only provide your routing number and savings account number together to sources you trust: your employer for direct deposit, government agencies, your own other banks, or people you are doing legitimate business with. Do not post them on social media or give them to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you are worried you gave the information to the wrong person, contact your bank when ready. They can monitor the account and flag unusual activity. Most banks also allow you to set up alerts for transfers out of savings accounts, which can catch unauthorized movement quickly.
Savings accounts versus checking accounts at the same bank
Both have the same routing number because they are both accounts at the same institution. The routing number is not account-specific; it is bank-specific. What makes the accounts different is the account number you pair with the routing number.
The reason this matters: if you are setting up a direct deposit or external transfer, you must provide the correct account number along with the routing number. If you give the routing number but the wrong account number, the money will go to the wrong account—possibly someone else's account at the same bank. Always double-check the account number before confirming a transfer.
Some banks also have different routing numbers for different regions or branches, though this is less common now. If you are unsure whether your bank uses one routing number or more than one, ask customer service. They will tell you which routing number to use for your specific account.
Why internal transfers do not need a routing number
When you move money from your checking account to your savings account using your bank's app or website, no routing number is involved. Your bank already knows both accounts belong to you and are at the same institution. The transfer happens on the bank's internal system, which is faster and does not require the routing and account number pair that external transfers need.
This is why moving money between your own accounts feels when ready or nearly when ready, while a transfer from another bank can take one to three business days. The internal transfer does not have to travel through the ACH network or the wire system. It stays inside the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my savings account routing number for a wire transfer?
Yes. Wire transfers use the same routing number as ACH transfers and direct deposits. Provide your bank's routing number plus your savings account number, and the wire will land in savings. Wire transfers typically arrive the same business day, whereas ACH transfers take one to three days.
What if my bank has multiple routing numbers?
Some large banks use different routing numbers for different regions or for wire transfers versus ACH transfers. Check your bank's website or call customer service to confirm which routing number to use for the type of transfer you are making. Using the wrong one will delay the transfer or send it to the wrong place.
Do I need a routing number to set up automatic savings transfers from checking?
No. Automatic transfers between your own accounts at the same bank happen on the bank's internal system. You set them up through your app or website by selecting the accounts and the amount. No routing number required.
Is my savings account routing number different if I have multiple savings accounts?
No. All accounts at the same bank share the same routing number. What differs is the account number. If you have three savings accounts at the same bank, they all use the same routing number but each has its own account number.
What should I do if I accidentally gave my savings account number to someone I do not trust?
Contact your bank right away. Tell them the account number may be compromised and ask them to monitor for unauthorized transfers. Many banks can flag the account or set up alerts. If unauthorized transfers do occur, report them when ready—your bank has procedures to investigate and reverse fraudulent ACH transfers.