Your routing number is printed at the bottom-left corner of any personal check, and it’s always exactly nine digits long. If you don’t have checks handy, you can also find it through your bank’s website, mobile app, or by calling your bank directly. Here’s how each method works and when you might need a different number than the standard one.
Find It on a Personal Check
The fastest way to find your routing number is to grab a check from your checkbook and look at the string of numbers printed along the bottom. You’ll see three separate groups of numbers. The first group, on the far left, is your nine-digit routing number. The middle group is your account number, and the short number on the right is the check number. On business checks, the order can sometimes differ, so look for the nine-digit group specifically.
The routing number identifies your bank or credit union within the U.S. financial system. Every bank has at least one, and large banks that operate across many regions often have several. That means your routing number may depend on where you opened your account, not just which bank you use.
Find It in Online Banking or a Mobile App
If you don’t use paper checks, your routing number is almost certainly available in your bank’s digital tools. The exact steps vary by bank, but the pattern is consistent: log in, select the specific checking or savings account, and look for a link or menu option labeled something like “Account and Routing Numbers” or “View Account/Routing Number.” It’s typically found on the account details or account summary screen.
Some banks display the routing number only after you tap a “show details” link, since it’s considered sensitive information. If you don’t see it immediately, look for a dropdown or expandable section near the top of the account page. Both the mobile app and the desktop website should show the same number.
Look It Up on Your Bank’s Website
Most banks publish their routing numbers on a public help page, no login required. Search your bank’s name plus “routing number” and you’ll usually land on an official page listing the number (or numbers, if the bank uses different ones by state or region). Double-check that you’re picking the routing number tied to where your account was opened, not just the bank’s headquarters.
You can also verify any routing number through the American Bankers Association, which maintains the official registry of all U.S. routing numbers. The ABA offers a free online lookup tool at aba.com where you can confirm that a nine-digit number is valid and see which bank it belongs to. This is especially useful if someone gives you a routing number and you want to make sure it’s legitimate before sending money.
Call Your Bank Directly
If the digital options aren’t working or you want to be absolutely sure you have the right number, call the customer service line on the back of your debit card or on your bank’s website. A representative can confirm your routing number in seconds. This is worth doing when you’re setting up something important like a direct deposit or a large transfer and want to avoid delays from entering the wrong number.
Wire Transfers May Use a Different Number
Here’s a detail that trips people up: the routing number you use for direct deposits and ACH payments (like autopay for bills) is not always the same one you need for a domestic wire transfer. Many banks have a separate wire transfer routing number. If you’re sending or receiving a wire, ask your bank specifically for the wire routing number rather than assuming the one on your checks will work.
The difference matters because ACH transfers and wire transfers move through different payment networks. Using the wrong routing number won’t send your money to a stranger, but it can cause the transfer to fail or get delayed while the bank sorts it out.
International Transfers Need a SWIFT Code
Routing numbers only work for domestic transfers within the United States. If you’re sending or receiving money internationally, the system uses SWIFT codes instead. A SWIFT code is an eight- to eleven-character alphanumeric code that identifies a specific bank across borders. It includes a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code, a two-character location code, and sometimes a three-digit branch code.
Your bank can provide its SWIFT code through the same channels you’d use to find a routing number: online banking, the bank’s website, or a phone call. If someone abroad is sending you money, they’ll need both your SWIFT code and your account number. You won’t give them a routing number for that transaction.
Where You’ll Need Your Routing Number
You’ll be asked for your routing number any time money needs to flow electronically into or out of your bank account. The most common situations include setting up direct deposit with an employer, linking a bank account to a payment app or brokerage, scheduling automatic bill payments, filing your tax return for a direct deposit refund, and sending ACH transfers to other people. In each case, you’ll provide both the nine-digit routing number and your account number so the system knows exactly where to move the funds.