The fastest way: check your checks or bank's website
Your routing number is printed on the bottom left of every check you have. It is a nine-digit code that tells other banks which bank holds your account. If you have checks, open a box and look at the very first set of numbers on the bottom of any check — that is your routing number.
If you do not have checks or cannot find them, log into your bank's website or mobile app. Most banks display your routing number in the account details or settings section. Look for a tab labeled "Account Information," "Account Details," or "Routing Number." Some banks put it under "Wire Transfer Information" because routing numbers are used for wire transfers.
If you cannot find it online, call your bank's customer service number on the back of your debit card. Have your account number ready, and they will give you the routing number in under a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Your routing number is the nine-digit code printed on the bottom left of your checks, before your account number.
- You can find it by logging into your bank's website or app under Account Information or Account Details.
- Calling your bank's customer service line is the fastest way if you do not have checks or online access.
- Different branches of the same bank sometimes have different routing numbers, so make sure you are looking up the branch where you opened your account.
Why you need your routing number
Your routing number is required whenever money needs to move between banks. If you set up direct deposit for a paycheck, your employer needs your routing number and account number. If you want to transfer money from one bank to another, the receiving bank needs your routing number to know where to pull the money from.
It is also used for automatic bill payments, wire transfers, and ACH transfers — which are electronic transfers that take one to three business days. Without the correct routing number, the transfer will fail or go to the wrong account.
What happens if you give the wrong routing number
If you provide an incorrect routing number, the transfer usually bounces back within a few business days. The sending bank will reject it because the routing number does not match any real bank, or it matches a different bank entirely. Your money returns to the account it came from, though this can take up to a week.
If the wrong routing number happens to belong to a real bank but not your bank, the transfer may go through to that bank's system. The receiving bank will eventually notice the account number does not exist in their system and send the money back. This takes longer — sometimes two to three weeks — so it is worth double-checking before you hit send.
Routing numbers are different from account numbers
Your routing number identifies your bank. Your account number identifies your specific account at that bank. You need both pieces of information for most transfers. The routing number is always nine digits. Your account number is usually between eight and twelve digits, but the length varies by bank.
On a check, the routing number comes first on the bottom line, then your account number, then the check number. If you are filling out a form that asks for both, make sure you are putting each number in the right field. Swapping them will cause the transfer to fail.
Finding the routing number for a different branch
If your bank has multiple branches, each branch may have its own routing number. This matters if you opened your account at one branch but now live near a different one. The routing number that works is the one for the branch where you originally opened the account, not the branch closest to you now.
When you call customer service or look online, make sure you are searching for the routing number of your specific branch. If you are unsure which branch you opened with, check your original account paperwork or call the branch where you opened the account and ask them directly.
Using a routing number lookup tool
If you have lost touch with your bank or cannot remember which branch you used, you can search for your routing number using your bank's name and state. The Federal Reserve maintains a database of routing numbers that you can search on their website, though it requires knowing your exact bank name and location.
Some third-party websites also offer routing number lookups. These are free and usually faster than the Federal Reserve's database, but always verify the number with your bank before using it for a transfer. A wrong number from any source — even an official-looking website — will cause the transfer to fail.
Routing numbers for online banks and credit unions
Online banks and credit unions work the same way as traditional banks — they have routing numbers, and you find them the same way. Log into your account online, call customer service, or check any paperwork from when you opened the account. Online banks often display the routing number more prominently than brick-and-mortar banks because most of their customers cannot walk into a branch to ask.
Credit unions sometimes have multiple routing numbers depending on which credit union network they belong to. If you are a member of a credit union, ask which routing number to use for direct deposit or transfers. They will tell you the one that works for your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my routing number the same as my bank's code or SWIFT code?
No. Your routing number is used for transfers within the United States. A SWIFT code is used for international transfers and is different. If you are sending money outside the US, ask your bank for the SWIFT code, not the routing number.
Can I use someone else's routing number to send them money?
Yes. If you are sending money to someone else's account, you need their routing number and their account number. You do not need your own routing number to send money out — only to receive it.
Do I need my routing number to use my debit card?
No. Your debit card works with just your card number and PIN. You only need your routing number when money is moving between banks electronically — for direct deposit, bill payments, or transfers.
What if my bank merged with another bank?
After a merger, your routing number may change. Your bank will notify you and update your account. If you have automatic payments set up, contact those companies to give them your new routing number. Your old routing number may stop working within a few months.
Can I find my routing number on my debit card?
No. Debit cards do not print routing numbers. You will find it on your checks, in your online banking portal, or by calling customer service.