Your routing number is the first set of numbers on the bottom left of a check, and it is always exactly nine digits long. It sits alongside two other numbers on that bottom line, so knowing which is which saves you from entering the wrong one when setting up direct deposit, paying a bill online, or wiring money.
Where to Find It on a Check
Flip your check over so you’re looking at the front, then look at the string of numbers printed along the bottom edge. You’ll see three groups of numbers separated by small symbols. Reading from left to right:
- First group (9 digits): This is your routing number. It identifies your bank or credit union within the banking system.
- Second group (typically 10 to 14 digits): This is your account number. It identifies your specific checking account at that bank.
- Third group (usually 4 digits): This is the check number, the same one printed in the upper-right corner of the check.
The numbers are printed in a special font called MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) so machines can read them during check processing. Between each group you’ll notice tiny symbols that look like vertical lines paired with colons or small squares. Those symbols are delimiters that help scanning equipment tell where one number ends and the next begins. You can ignore them when reading the numbers yourself.
A Quick Way to Confirm You Have the Right One
Count the digits. A routing number is always nine digits, no more, no fewer. If the number you’re looking at has more than nine digits, you’re probably reading the account number instead. The check number is the shortest group, usually just three or four digits, so that one is easy to rule out.
If you still aren’t sure, compare the first nine digits on your check to the routing number listed on your bank’s website or mobile app. Most banks display the routing number prominently on your account details page once you log in.
Your Check Routing Number May Not Work for Every Transaction
Banks can use different routing numbers for different types of transactions. The nine-digit number printed on your check is specifically a check-clearing routing number. Many banks also have a separate routing number for ACH transfers (direct deposits, online bill pay, automatic payments) and yet another for domestic wire transfers. All three may be the same at some banks, but at others they are not.
If you’re setting up a direct deposit with your employer, you typically need the ACH routing number. For a domestic wire transfer, you need the wire routing number. These are often, but not always, identical to the number on your check. Before using the number from your check for anything other than ordering new checks, verify with your bank which routing number applies to the transaction you’re completing. Your bank’s website, mobile app, or a quick phone call will give you the right one.
How to Find Your Routing Number Without a Check
If you don’t have a checkbook handy, there are several ways to look up your routing number.
- Online banking: Log in to your bank’s website, click on your checking account, and look for account details or an option labeled something like “Account & routing number.”
- Mobile app: Sign in, tap your checking account, and look for a “Show details” or similar link. The routing number is usually displayed alongside your account number.
- Bank’s website (no login needed): Many banks publish their routing numbers on a public page you can find by searching the bank’s name plus “routing number.”
- Bank statement: Some monthly statements include the routing number near the top where your account information is listed.
If you bank at a large institution with branches in multiple regions, make sure you’re using the routing number tied to the state or region where you opened your account. Some banks assign different routing numbers based on geography, and using the wrong one can delay or reject a transaction.
What the Routing Number Actually Does
A routing number works like an address for your bank. When money moves between financial institutions, whether through a check, a direct deposit, or an online payment, the routing number tells the system which bank should receive or send the funds. Your account number then pinpoints the exact account within that bank. Together, the two numbers ensure money lands in the right place.
The system dates back to 1910 and is managed by the American Bankers Association, which is why routing numbers are sometimes called ABA routing numbers or ABA transit numbers. Every bank and credit union that processes payments in the United States has at least one.