The routing number is the first set of nine digits printed along the bottom-left edge of a personal check. It sits to the left of your account number and check number, all printed in a single row of numbers known as the MICR line.
Reading the Bottom of a Check
Every check has a strip of numbers printed along the bottom in magnetic ink. This is the MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) line, and it contains three pieces of information, reading left to right:
- Routing number: The first nine digits, starting at the far left. This identifies your bank or credit union.
- Account number: The next group of digits, typically 8 to 12 characters long. This identifies your specific account at that bank.
- Check number: The last short group of digits on the right side. This matches the check number printed in the upper-right corner of the check.
On most personal checks, this left-to-right order holds: routing, then account, then check number. Business checks follow the same layout. The check number also appears separately in the upper-right corner, so if you see the same short number in both places, you know you’re looking at the check number and not the routing or account number.
How to Identify the Routing Number
The simplest way to confirm you’re looking at the routing number is to count the digits. Routing numbers are always exactly nine digits long. If the first group of numbers at the bottom left of your check has nine digits, that’s your routing number. Account numbers vary in length depending on the bank, so they won’t always be nine digits.
Some printed checks also place small symbols (that look like vertical lines or colons) on either side of the routing number to separate it visually from the account number. Not every check uses these symbols, but when they’re present, they make the boundaries obvious.
Finding Your Routing Number Without a Check
If you don’t have a physical check handy, you have a few other options. Log into your bank’s website and look for “account information,” “account summary,” or “account details.” The routing number is usually displayed alongside your account number on that page. Most mobile banking apps show it in the same spot, often under settings, account details, or direct deposit information.
You can also verify any routing number through the American Bankers Association’s official Routing Number Verification tool, available free on the ABA’s website. Entering a nine-digit number there will confirm which bank it belongs to, which is useful if you’re setting up a wire transfer or direct deposit and want to double-check before submitting.
When You’ll Need the Routing Number
You’ll be asked for your routing number whenever money needs to move electronically in or out of your account. Common situations include setting up direct deposit with an employer, linking an external bank account for transfers, paying bills online through ACH (the electronic system banks use to send payments between accounts), and initiating wire transfers. In each case, the routing number tells the system which bank to send the money to, while your account number tells it which account at that bank is yours.
One detail worth knowing: some banks use different routing numbers for wire transfers than they do for ACH payments or direct deposits. If you’re setting up a wire, check with your bank to confirm you’re using the correct one rather than copying the number off a check. The number on your check is your ACH routing number, which works for direct deposit and electronic bill pay but may not be the same number your bank uses for wires.