Yes, savings accounts have routing numbers
Your savings account has a routing number. It is the same routing number as your checking account if both are held at the same bank or credit union. The routing number identifies the financial institution itself, not the type of account you hold there.
When you need to receive money into your savings account—a direct deposit, a wire transfer, or a payment from someone else—you provide both your routing number and your account number. The routing number tells the sending bank where to send the money. Your account number tells that bank which specific account at your institution should receive it.
The routing number does not change based on whether the account is for savings, checking, money market, or any other product. One bank has one routing number (or sometimes a few, depending on how they organize their branches or divisions). All accounts at that bank use the same routing number.
Key Takeaways
- Savings accounts have routing numbers because the routing number identifies the bank or credit union, not the account type.
- Your savings account routing number is the same as your checking account routing number if both are at the same institution.
- You need both the routing number and the account number to receive transfers or direct deposits into a savings account.
- The routing number is a nine-digit code specific to your financial institution and does not change between account types.
Where to find your savings account routing number
Your routing number appears in three places. The easiest is usually your bank's website—log in, go to account details or settings, and look for "routing number" or "ABA number." Most banks display it alongside your account number.
The second place is a check, if you have one. The routing number is the first nine digits printed at the bottom left of the check, before your account number. This works for checking accounts; if you do not have checks for your savings account, this method will not help.
The third place is to call your bank or credit union directly. Have your account number ready, and ask for the routing number. They will give it to you in seconds. If you are at a branch in person, any teller can write it down for you.
Why banks use the same routing number for all account types
The routing number is a piece of infrastructure, not a product label. It is assigned to a bank by the Federal Reserve and identifies that specific bank in the payment system. When money moves between banks, the routing number is how the Federal Reserve and other banks know where to send it.
Your account number is what distinguishes your savings account from your checking account from your money market account—all at the same bank. The routing number gets the money to the bank. The account number gets it to you.
This separation exists because the payment system moves money between institutions, not between account types. The system does not care whether you are receiving money into savings or checking. It only cares that it reaches the right bank and the right account within that bank.
What happens when you provide a routing number for a savings account
When you give someone your routing number and savings account number so they can send you money, the sending bank uses the routing number to locate your bank in the Federal Reserve system. It then sends the funds with your account number attached so your bank knows which account to credit.
The receiving bank (yours) processes the incoming transfer and deposits the money into your savings account. The routing number has done its job—it delivered the payment to the correct institution. Your account number ensured it went into the right account.
This process is the same whether you are receiving a direct deposit, a wire transfer, an ACH transfer, or a payment from another customer. The routing number and account number work together every time.
Routing numbers for online banks and credit unions
Online banks and credit unions have routing numbers just like brick-and-branch banks do. If your savings account is with an online bank like Ally or Marcus, that bank has a routing number assigned by the Federal Reserve. You can find it on the bank's website or by calling customer service.
Credit unions also have routing numbers. If you have a savings account at a credit union, the routing number identifies that specific credit union. Some large credit unions have multiple routing numbers if they operate across different regions, but most have one.
The process for finding and using the routing number is identical whether your bank has physical branches or operates only online.
Common mistakes when using a savings account routing number
The most common mistake is confusing the routing number with the account number. They are printed together on checks and displayed together online, but they are different nine-digit codes. The routing number identifies the bank. The account number identifies your specific account. You need both.
A second mistake is assuming you need a different routing number for savings versus checking. You do not. If you have both account types at the same bank, they share the same routing number.
A third mistake is using an old routing number after a bank merger. When two banks merge, the routing numbers may change. If you have an old routing number written down from before a merger, check your bank's website or call to confirm it is still current before using it for a transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my savings account routing number to set up direct deposit?
Yes. You can direct deposit paychecks, tax refunds, or other regular payments into your savings account using the routing number and account number. Your employer or the organization sending the payment will ask for both numbers.
What if I give someone the wrong routing number for my savings account?
The transfer will likely be rejected or sent to the wrong bank. The sending bank uses the routing number to locate the destination institution. If the number is incorrect, the payment will not reach your account. Ask the sender to verify the routing number before they send the money.
Is the routing number the same for all savings accounts at my bank?
Yes. All accounts at the same bank—savings, checking, money market, or any other type—use the same routing number. The account number is what distinguishes one account from another.
Do I need a routing number to transfer money out of my savings account?
No. You only need a routing number when someone else is sending money to your account. When you initiate a transfer from your own savings account to another account, your bank handles the routing internally or you provide the receiving account details directly.