Your ABA routing number is a nine-digit code that tells the banking system which bank holds your account
When you send money to someone else's account — whether through direct deposit, a wire transfer, or an automatic bill payment — the banking system needs to know which bank to send it to. Your ABA routing number is how it finds the right place. ABA stands for American Bankers Association, the organisation that assigns these numbers to every bank in the United States.
Think of it like a postal code for your bank. Just as the post office uses your zip code to route mail to the right location, the banking system uses your routing number to route money to the right bank. Without it, a transfer could go to the wrong institution or fail entirely.
Every bank has its own routing number — sometimes more than one if the bank operates multiple processing centres. Your routing number stays the same no matter which branch you use or how many accounts you have at that bank.
Key Takeaways
- Your ABA routing number is a nine-digit code specific to your bank, used to direct transfers and deposits to the correct institution.
- You will need your routing number whenever someone sends you money through direct deposit, wire transfer, or automatic payment.
- Your routing number is not secret — it appears on your cheques and is public information that banks share freely.
- Different banks have different routing numbers, and some large banks have multiple routing numbers for different regions or processing centres.
- You can find your routing number on your cheques, through your bank's website, or by calling your bank directly.
Where to find your routing number
The easiest place to look is the bottom left corner of your cheques. The first nine digits printed there are your routing number, followed by your account number and then the cheque number itself. If you do not have cheques or cannot find them, you have other options.
Log into your bank's website or mobile app — most banks display your routing number in the account details or settings section. You can also call your bank's customer service line and ask them directly. Have your account number ready when you call, and they will give you the number in seconds.
Some banks also print the routing number on statements or deposit slips. If you are unsure which number is which, remember: routing numbers are always nine digits, and they come before your account number.
When you actually need to provide it
You will need your routing number whenever someone outside your bank needs to send you money electronically. The most common situation is direct deposit — when your employer deposits your paycheck straight into your account. Your employer's payroll department will ask for both your routing number and your account number.
You also need it for automatic bill payments, where a company you owe money to withdraws the payment directly from your account. If you are setting up a transfer from another bank to yours, you will provide your routing number to that other bank so they know where to send the money.
Wire transfers — faster transfers for larger amounts — also require your routing number. Some government benefits, tax refunds, and insurance payouts are deposited electronically and need your routing number to reach your account.
Why your routing number is not private information
Your routing number is printed on every cheque you write and is available to anyone who asks your bank. It is not like a password or PIN — it is not meant to be secret. Someone who knows your routing number and account number cannot withdraw money from your account or make charges without additional authorisation.
Banks publish routing numbers in directories and share them openly because the system depends on people having this information. Keeping your routing number private would actually make the banking system harder to use, not safer.
What you should keep private is your account number combined with your routing number, especially if you are giving it to someone you do not know well. While the routing number alone is harmless, the combination of both numbers is what someone would need to set up unauthorised transfers. For this reason, be cautious about where you write down or share both pieces of information together.
The difference between routing and account numbers
Your routing number identifies your bank. Your account number identifies your specific account at that bank. Together, they work like an address: the routing number is the street address of the bank building, and the account number is your apartment number inside it.
When you provide information for direct deposit or a transfer, you will almost always need both numbers. The routing number tells the system which bank to go to, and the account number tells it which account within that bank to use. If you give only one, the transaction will not go through.
On a cheque, the routing number comes first (nine digits on the left), then your account number (usually ten to twelve digits), then the cheque number on the right. If you are unsure which is which, your bank can clarify over the phone.
What happens if you give the wrong routing number
If you provide an incorrect routing number, the transfer will either be rejected before it goes anywhere, or it will be sent to the wrong bank. If it goes to the wrong bank, that bank will eventually notice the error and send it back to the originating bank, which then returns it to the sender. This process can take several business days.
The money is not lost — it will come back to whoever sent it — but the delay can be frustrating if you were counting on the funds arriving quickly. For this reason, it is worth double-checking your routing number before you give it to an employer, lender, or anyone else setting up a transfer.
If you are unsure whether you have the right number, contact your bank before providing it. A quick phone call takes less time than waiting for a rejected or misdirected transfer to sort itself out.
Routing numbers for wire transfers and ACH transfers
You may hear the terms wire transfer and ACH transfer used differently, and they sometimes use different routing numbers. A wire transfer is faster and typically used for larger amounts or time-sensitive payments. An ACH transfer (Automated Clearing House) is slower but cheaper and is what most employers use for direct deposit.
Some banks have one routing number that works for both types of transfers. Others have separate routing numbers for wire transfers and ACH transfers. When you are setting up a transfer, the person or organisation asking for your information will tell you which type of transfer they are doing, and you can ask your bank which routing number to provide for that specific type.
If you give an ACH routing number for a wire transfer or vice versa, the transaction may be rejected or delayed. When in doubt, ask your bank which routing number to use for the specific transfer you are making.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my routing number the same at every branch of my bank?
Usually yes — most banks use the same routing number across all their branches. However, some large banks have multiple routing numbers for different regions or processing centres. If you move to a different state or switch branches, ask your bank whether your routing number has changed.
Can someone steal money from my account if they know my routing number?
Not with just the routing number alone. They would need both your routing number and your account number, and even then they would typically need additional authorisation or access to your account. Treat the combination of both numbers as sensitive, but the routing number by itself is safe to share.
What if I cannot find my routing number?
Call your bank's customer service line — they can tell you your routing number in under a minute. You can also log into your online banking portal, where most banks display it in the account details section. If you have old cheques, the routing number is printed on the bottom left.
Do credit unions have routing numbers?
Yes. Credit unions use the same ABA routing number system as banks. You can find your credit union's routing number the same way you would find a bank's — on cheques, through their website, or by calling them directly.
Will my routing number change if I close my account and open a new one?
No. Your routing number is tied to your bank, not to your individual account. If you stay at the same bank and open a new account, your routing number stays the same. Only if you switch to a different bank will you get a new routing number.