Your routing number is a nine-digit code that identifies your bank. You can find it printed on your checks, inside your bank’s mobile app or website, or by searching the Federal Reserve’s online directory. The method you choose depends on what you have handy and what type of transaction you need the number for.
On a Paper Check
The fastest way to find your routing number is to look at the bottom of a personal check. You’ll see three sets of numbers printed in a row. The routing number is the left-most group of nine digits. Your account number comes next, followed by the individual check number. The routing number is typically printed in a special font with bracket-like symbols on either side, making it easy to distinguish from the other numbers.
If you have a checkbook but rarely write checks, any unused check from the book will show the same routing number. Voided checks work too, which is why employers sometimes ask for one when setting up direct deposit.
In Your Bank’s App or Website
If you don’t have checks, your online banking portal almost certainly displays your routing number. The exact path varies by bank, but it generally takes just a few taps. At Chase, for example, you sign in to the mobile app, tap your account tile, and tap “Show details” to see both your routing and account numbers. Most other banks follow a similar pattern: sign in, select your account, and look for a link labeled something like “Account details,” “Account & routing number,” or “Account information.”
This method has the added benefit of showing you the specific routing number your bank has on file for your account, which matters because large banks sometimes assign different routing numbers depending on the state where you opened your account or the type of transaction.
Using the Federal Reserve’s Online Directory
If you don’t have checks or access to online banking, you can look up any bank’s routing number through the Federal Reserve’s E-Payments Routing Directory at frbservices.org. This tool lets you search by bank name, state, city, or routing number. It pulls directly from the Federal Reserve’s own databases and updates daily, so the information is as reliable as it gets.
This directory is especially useful when you need to verify a routing number someone gave you, or when you’re setting up a transfer to another person’s bank and want to confirm the number matches the right institution.
On Your Bank’s Website (Without Logging In)
Many banks publish their routing numbers on a public-facing page you can find with a quick web search. Try searching your bank’s name plus “routing number.” Larger banks that operate in multiple states often list several routing numbers organized by state or region, so make sure you pick the one that matches where your account was opened, not necessarily where you live now.
By Calling Your Bank
Your bank’s customer service line can give you the routing number over the phone. You’ll typically need to verify your identity with your account number, Social Security number, or security questions. This is a good fallback if you’re unsure which of several routing numbers applies to your specific account.
ACH and Wire Routing Numbers Are Not Always the Same
Here’s a detail that trips people up: banks often use different routing numbers for ACH transactions (like direct deposits and online bill payments) and wire transfers. If you’re setting up a direct deposit or paying a bill online, you need the ACH routing number. If you’re sending or receiving a domestic wire transfer, you may need a separate wire routing number.
The number printed on your checks is your ACH routing number. For wire transfers, check your bank’s website or call customer service to confirm. Using the wrong one can delay your transfer or cause it to fail entirely.
What Your Routing Number Actually Does
A routing number, formally called an ABA routing number, identifies the specific financial institution involved in a transaction. The American Bankers Association created the system so that banks could quickly route payments to the right place. Every bank or credit union that handles electronic payments has at least one. You’ll need yours anytime you set up direct deposit, link an external bank account, pay bills electronically, file taxes with direct deposit for your refund, or send a wire transfer.
Your routing number is not sensitive in the way a password is. It identifies your bank, not your individual account. That said, your routing number combined with your account number is enough to initiate certain transactions, so treat the pair with the same care you’d give any financial information.