Chase Bank’s routing number depends on the state where you opened your account. Chase uses multiple routing numbers across its branch network, so two Chase customers in different states may have different nine-digit codes. For domestic wire transfers specifically, Chase uses a single nationwide routing number: 021000021.
How to Find Your Chase Routing Number
The fastest way to find your specific routing number is to log into your Chase account online or through the Chase mobile app. Your routing number appears on the account details page for each checking or savings account you hold. You can also find it printed on your checks: it’s the first nine-digit number on the bottom left, before your account number.
If you don’t have checks and can’t access your online account, you can call the number on the back of your debit card or visit a branch. A Chase representative can confirm the routing number tied to your account.
Why Chase Has Multiple Routing Numbers
Routing numbers were originally assigned to banks by geographic region, and as Chase expanded through mergers and acquisitions over the decades, it inherited routing numbers from the banks it absorbed. Rather than consolidating every customer onto a single number, Chase kept the regional routing numbers in place. That means your routing number is typically based on the state where you first opened your account, not where you live now. If you opened an account in one state and later moved, your routing number likely stayed the same.
Routing Numbers for ACH and Direct Deposit
When you set up direct deposit with an employer, send money through an ACH transfer, or link your Chase account to an external app or brokerage, you need your state-specific routing number. This is the same number printed on your checks and shown in your online account details. Using the wrong routing number can delay or misdirect a transfer, so always verify it through your own account rather than relying on a list you found online.
Common transactions that require your ACH routing number include payroll direct deposits, automatic bill payments, tax refunds via direct deposit, and transfers to or from accounts at other banks.
Wire Transfer Routing Number
Wire transfers work differently from ACH transactions, and Chase uses a single routing number for all domestic incoming wires: 021000021. This number applies regardless of which state your account is in. If someone is sending you a domestic wire, give them this routing number along with your account number.
For international incoming wires, the sender will typically need Chase’s SWIFT code instead of (or in addition to) a routing number. The SWIFT code identifies Chase within the global banking network. You can find Chase’s SWIFT code through your online account or by contacting Chase directly.
What a Routing Number Actually Does
A routing number is a nine-digit code that identifies a specific bank or credit union within the U.S. financial system. Think of it like a zip code for banks. When you send or receive money electronically, the routing number tells the payment network which institution should receive the funds, and your account number tells that institution which account to credit or debit. Every bank or credit union in the U.S. has at least one routing number, and large banks like Chase have several.
Routing numbers are used by the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network, which handles most everyday electronic payments, and by the Fedwire system, which handles wire transfers. That’s why you sometimes need different routing numbers for different types of transactions at the same bank.
When to Double-Check Your Number
Any time you’re setting up a new direct deposit, linking an external account, or receiving a wire, take a moment to verify your routing number directly from your Chase account. The most reliable sources are your Chase online banking portal, the Chase mobile app, or a physical check. Entering even one wrong digit can send money to the wrong place, and recovering misdirected funds can take days or weeks depending on the type of transfer.