The fastest way to find your routing number
Your routing number is printed on the bottom left of every check you have from that bank. Look at the first set of nine digits on the left side of the bottom line — that is your routing number. If you do not have checks, you can find it in three other places without leaving your house: your bank's website, your online banking login, or by calling the bank's customer service line.
The routing number is specific to the branch or processing center where your account is held, not to you personally. This means all customers at the same bank location share the same routing number. You need it when setting up direct deposit, arranging wire transfers, or authorizing automatic payments.
Key Takeaways
- Your routing number appears on the bottom left of your checks as the first nine-digit sequence.
- You can find your routing number on your bank's website, in your online banking portal, or by calling customer service.
- The Federal Reserve maintains a searchable database of routing numbers by bank name and state if you need to verify one.
- Your routing number is not secret — it is printed on every check and is safe to share for direct deposit or bill payments.
Finding your routing number through online banking
Log into your bank's website or mobile app and look for account details or account information. Most banks display the routing number alongside your account number on the main account summary page. Some banks hide it under a tab labeled "Account Details," "Account Information," or "Routing and Transit Numbers."
If you cannot find it in the obvious places, use the search function within the app or website and search for "routing number." You should see it within seconds. Write down both your routing number and account number together — you will need both for most transactions.
Calling your bank to get the number
The customer service number is on the back of your debit card or on your bank statements. Call and tell the representative you need your routing number. They will give it to you immediately — this is one of the fastest phone calls you will make to a bank.
Have your account number or the phone number associated with your account ready when you call. The representative may ask for one of these to pull up your account, though many banks will give you the routing number without verification since it is not sensitive information.
Using the Federal Reserve's routing number database
The Federal Reserve maintains a free, searchable database of all U.S. bank routing numbers at frbservices.org. Go to the Fedwire Participant Search tool, enter your bank name and the state where your branch is located, and the database will return the routing number.
This method works if you have switched banks, lost your checks, or want to double-check a routing number someone gave you. The database is updated regularly and is the official source that banks themselves use. If a routing number does not appear in the Federal Reserve database, it is not valid.
What to do if you have multiple accounts at the same bank
If you have a checking account and a savings account at the same bank branch, they share the same routing number. The routing number identifies the bank location, not the individual account. Your account number is what distinguishes one account from another.
However, if you have accounts at different branches of the same bank — for example, one at a downtown location and one at a suburban location — the routing numbers may be different. Check each account separately to be sure. This is most common with larger regional or national banks that process accounts through different centers.
Routing numbers for credit unions and online banks
Credit unions have routing numbers just like traditional banks. You can find yours the same way: check your statements, log into online banking, call the credit union, or search the Federal Reserve database by credit union name and state.
Online banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Chime also have routing numbers. These are often harder to find on the website because online banks do not issue paper checks as a standard product. Log into your account and look under account details, or call customer service. The Federal Reserve database will have the routing number if you search by the bank's legal name.
Why you should not worry about sharing your routing number
Your routing number is not a secret. It is printed on every check you write and is public information. Someone who has your routing number alone cannot access your account, withdraw money, or harm your finances. They need both your routing number and your account number to do anything, and even then, most transactions require additional authorization.
It is safe to give your routing number to your employer for direct deposit, to a utility company for automatic bill payment, or to anyone else who needs to send money to your account. You should never give out your account number to someone you do not trust, but the routing number by itself is harmless to share.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my routing number the same as my bank code or transit number?
Yes. Routing number, bank code, and transit number all refer to the same nine-digit identifier in the United States. Other countries use different terms — Canada calls it a transit number, for example — but within the U.S. banking system, these terms are interchangeable.
Can I use any routing number from my bank, or does it have to be from my specific branch?
It depends on the transaction. For direct deposit and most automatic payments, you need the routing number for the specific branch or processing center where your account is held. Using a different branch's routing number may cause the transaction to fail or be delayed. Always use the routing number associated with your account.
What if the routing number I found does not match the one on my checks?
Check your checks again — the routing number is the first nine digits on the bottom left line. If it still does not match what you found online, call your bank to confirm. Routing numbers can change if your bank merges with another bank or restructures its processing centers, so an older check might have an outdated number.
Do I need a routing number to transfer money between my own accounts at the same bank?
No. Internal transfers between your own accounts at the same bank usually only require your account numbers. You only need a routing number when sending money to an account at a different bank or when setting up direct deposit from an employer or government agency.