Your Bank of America ABA routing number identifies which Bank of America location processes your account
An ABA routing number is a nine-digit code that tells other banks and payment systems which specific Bank of America branch or processing center handles your account. When you send money out of your account—through a wire transfer, direct deposit setup, or automatic bill payment—the sending institution uses this number to find the right place to pull the funds from.
Bank of America uses different routing numbers depending on which state your account is based in. If your account is in California, you use a different routing number than someone with an account in New York. The routing number does not change based on which branch you visit or which Bank of America location you opened the account at—it is tied to the state where your account is registered.
The term "ABA" comes from the American Bankers Association, the organization that created and maintains the routing number system in the 1910s. Every bank in the United States has at least one ABA routing number, and some have many.
Key Takeaways
- Bank of America routing numbers are nine digits and vary by state, not by branch location.
- You need your routing number whenever you set up direct deposit, make a wire transfer, or authorize automatic bill payments.
- Your routing number appears on the bottom left of your checks, or you can find it through your Bank of America online account or by calling customer service.
- Using the wrong routing number will delay or reject the transaction, but will not send money to the wrong person.
How to find your Bank of America routing number
The fastest way is to look at a check from your checking account. The routing number is the first nine digits printed on the bottom left of the check, before your account number. If you do not have checks, log into your Bank of America online account or mobile app, go to the account details or settings section, and the routing number will be listed there.
You can also call Bank of America customer service at 1-800-432-1000 and give them your account number. They will read your routing number to you over the phone. If you are at a Bank of America branch in person, any teller can write it down for you.
Do not confuse your routing number with your account number. Your account number is longer (usually 10 to 12 digits) and appears to the right of the routing number on your check. Both are necessary for most transactions, but they do different jobs: the routing number finds your bank, and the account number finds your specific account within that bank.
Bank of America routing numbers by state
| State | Routing Number |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 061000052 |
| Alaska | 125008082 |
| Arizona | 122105278 |
| Arkansas | 061000052 |
| California | 121000248 |
| Colorado | 102000076 |
| Connecticut | 021101108 |
| Delaware | 031000503 |
| Florida | 061000052 |
| Georgia | 061000052 |
| Hawaii | 125008082 |
| Idaho | 125008082 |
| Illinois | 071101307 |
| Indiana | 074900783 |
| Iowa | 073000228 |
| Kansas | 101000187 |
| Kentucky | 061000052 |
| Louisiana | 061000052 |
| Maine | 021101108 |
| Maryland | 031000503 |
| Massachusetts | 021101108 |
| Michigan | 072000096 |
| Minnesota | 091000019 |
| Mississippi | 061000052 |
| Missouri | 081000210 |
| Montana | 102000076 |
| Nebraska | 101000187 |
| Nevada | 121000248 |
| New Hampshire | 021101108 |
| New Jersey | 021101108 |
| New Mexico | 122105278 |
| New York | 021101108 |
| North Carolina | 061000052 |
| North Dakota | 091000019 |
| Ohio | 044000037 |
| Oklahoma | 103000648 |
| Oregon | 125008082 |
| Pennsylvania | 031000503 |
| Rhode Island | 021101108 |
| South Carolina | 061000052 |
| South Dakota | 091000019 |
| Tennessee | 061000052 |
| Texas | 111000025 |
| Utah | 125008082 |
| Vermont | 021101108 |
| Virginia | 061000052 |
| Washington | 125008082 |
| West Virginia | 061000052 |
| Wisconsin | 075911525 |
| Wyoming | 102000076 |
Find the state where your Bank of America account is registered. If you opened your account in California but moved to Texas, you still use the California routing number unless you formally transferred the account to a Texas branch. The routing number is tied to where the account was opened, not where you live now.
When you need your routing number
You need your routing number whenever another financial institution or employer needs to send money into your Bank of America account. The most common situations are setting up direct deposit for your paycheck, having a bill paid automatically from your account each month, or receiving a wire transfer from another person or business.
You also need it if you are sending money out of your Bank of America account through certain channels. Some payment platforms ask for your routing number and account number together to pull funds directly from your bank account, rather than charging a credit card. This is called an ACH transfer (Automated Clearing House), and it is how most bill payments and payroll deposits work behind the scenes.
You do not need your routing number for everyday transactions like using your debit card, writing a check to someone, or transferring money between your own Bank of America accounts. You only need it when a third party is initiating the movement of money.
What happens if you give the wrong routing number
If you provide an incorrect routing number, the transaction will usually be rejected or delayed. The sending bank will try to deliver the funds to the routing number you gave them, and if that number does not match any real bank or processing center, the payment will bounce back to the sender within a few business days. The money returns to the original account, and you will not receive it.
If you give a routing number that belongs to a real bank but is not your bank, the receiving bank will eventually reject it because the account number will not match their system. Again, the funds return to the sender. You cannot accidentally send money to the wrong person by using the wrong routing number—the system is designed to prevent that.
The delay is usually three to five business days while the payment travels through the banking system and then gets sent back. This is why it is important to double-check your routing number before you submit a direct deposit form or authorize an automatic payment, especially with a new employer or service.
Routing numbers versus SWIFT codes and other identifiers
An ABA routing number only works for transfers within the United States. If someone outside the country is sending you money, they will need a different identifier called a SWIFT code (also called a BIC code). Bank of America's SWIFT code is BOFAUS3N, and it works in combination with your account number for international wire transfers.
For transfers between Bank of America accounts only—moving money from one of your accounts to another, or sending money to someone else who banks at Bank of America—you may not need a routing number at all. You can often do this through the Bank of America app or website using just the recipient's account number or username.
If you are sending a wire transfer to another U.S. bank, you will need that bank's routing number, not your own. Your routing number is only used when money is coming into your Bank of America account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a different routing number for my savings account versus my checking account?
No. Bank of America uses the same routing number for both checking and savings accounts within the same state. The routing number identifies the bank and the state; your account number identifies which specific account the money should go into. When you provide both numbers together, the system knows whether it is a checking or savings account based on your account number.
Can I use an old routing number if Bank of America changed it?
Bank of America routing numbers have remained stable for many years and are unlikely to change. If you are concerned that a routing number you have is outdated, check your most recent check or log into your online account to confirm. If the number has changed, you will need to update any automatic payments or direct deposit forms with the new number.
What if I set up direct deposit with the wrong routing number?
Contact your employer's payroll department or the service that processes payroll when ready. They can update your direct deposit information before your next paycheck is processed. If a paycheck has already been sent to the wrong routing number, it will be returned to your employer, and they will reissue it with the correct information. This usually takes an extra pay cycle.
Is my routing number the same at every Bank of America branch?
Yes. All Bank of America branches in the same state share the same routing number. You can visit any Bank of America branch in your state and conduct business on that account. The routing number does not change based on which physical location you use.
Can someone access my account if they have my routing number?
No. Your routing number is public information—it appears on every check you write. Someone would need both your routing number and your account number to initiate a transfer, and even then, most transactions require additional verification. Your routing number alone cannot be used to withdraw money or access your account.