Yes, your savings account has a routing number
Your savings account has a routing number, and it works the same way as the routing number on a checking account. The routing number identifies the specific bank branch or institution that holds your account. You need it whenever someone sends money to your savings account—whether that's a direct deposit from your employer, a transfer from another bank, or a payment from a government agency.
The routing number is not unique to you. Thousands of customers at the same bank branch share the same routing number. What makes your account unique is the combination of your routing number plus your account number, which together tell the banking system exactly where your money goes.
Key Takeaways
- Your savings account routing number is the same as your checking account routing number if both are at the same bank—it identifies the bank branch, not the account type.
- You can find your routing number on the bottom left of any check, in your online banking portal, by calling your bank, or by looking it up on your bank's website using your bank name and state.
- The routing number is nine digits and is always the same for your bank; your account number is what changes between accounts at the same institution.
- If you move money between your own accounts at the same bank, you typically do not need the routing number—the bank's internal system handles the transfer.
Where to find your savings account routing number
The easiest place to look is your online banking portal. Log in to your bank's website or app, go to your account details or settings, and the routing number is usually listed there alongside your account number. This works for any bank and takes 30 seconds.
If you do not have online access, call your bank's customer service line. Have your account number ready, and they will give you the routing number over the phone. You can also visit a branch in person and ask a teller.
If you have a checkbook for your savings account, look at the bottom left of any check. The first nine digits are your routing number. The next set of digits is your account number. Not all savings accounts come with checks, so this method only works if your bank issued them to you.
How to look up a routing number without calling the bank
Go to your bank's official website and look for a "routing number" or "bank information" page. Most large banks have a search tool where you enter your state and the bank name, and it returns the routing number when ready. This is free and takes one minute.
The Federal Reserve also maintains a routing number database, but it is designed for banks, not customers. For your purposes, your bank's website is faster and more reliable.
Do not use third-party websites that claim to look up routing numbers for you. Your bank's own site is always the safest source, and it is just as fast.
The difference between routing number and account number
Your routing number identifies your bank. Your account number identifies your specific account within that bank. Together, they form the complete address for your money.
If you have both a checking and a savings account at the same bank, they share the same routing number but have different account numbers. If you move to a different bank, you get a new routing number but keep your account number (though the new bank will assign you a new account number in their system).
When you give someone your banking information to send you money, you give them both numbers. If you give only the routing number, the money will not reach your account because the bank will not know which account to deposit it into.
When you need your savings account routing number
You need your routing number when someone outside your bank sends money to your account. This includes direct deposit from an employer, a government payment (tax refund, benefit payment), a wire transfer from another person, or an automatic payment set up through a third-party service.
You do not need it for transfers between your own accounts at the same bank. The bank's internal system handles those automatically once you log in and request the transfer.
You also do not need it to withdraw money from your savings account, to check your balance, or to close the account. Those are all internal bank transactions.
What to do if you cannot find your routing number
Call your bank. This is the fastest and safest way if you are stuck. Have your account number ready, and they will give you the routing number when ready. Most banks have customer service available during business hours and some offer 24-hour phone lines.
If you are waiting to receive money and you do not have the routing number yet, contact the person or organization sending the money and ask them to wait while you get it. Most transfers can be delayed by a few hours without penalty. Do not guess or use a number you are not sure about—a wrong routing number will send your money to the wrong bank, and it can take days to recover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my savings account routing number different from my checking account routing number?
No. If both accounts are at the same bank, they share the same routing number. The routing number identifies the bank branch, not the account type. Your account number is what distinguishes between the two.
Can I use someone else's routing number to send them money?
Yes. You need their routing number and their account number. The routing number tells the system which bank to send the money to; the account number tells the bank which account within that bank receives it. Both pieces are necessary.
What happens if I give the wrong routing number?
The money will be sent to the wrong bank. The sending bank will eventually catch the error and return the funds to the sender, but this can take several business days. Always double-check the routing number before confirming a transfer, especially for large amounts.
Do I need to memorize my routing number?
No. Write it down, save it in your phone, or keep it in a find document. You will not need it often, and looking it up takes less than a minute when you do.