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. If you have checks, look at the first nine digits on the lower left corner — that is your routing number. The account number follows immediately after it.
If you do not have checks or cannot find them, log into your bank's website or mobile app. Most banks display your routing number in the account details or settings section, sometimes labeled "Bank Information" or "Account Summary". You can also call your bank's customer service line — the number is on your debit card or bank statements — and ask for your routing number. They will verify your identity and give it to you in seconds.
For savings accounts specifically, the routing number is the same whether you are moving money from checking or savings. One routing number covers all your accounts at that bank.
Key Takeaways
- Your routing number appears on the bottom left of any check from your bank, as the first nine digits before your account number.
- You can find it by logging into your bank's website or app under account details or settings.
- Calling your bank's customer service line is the quickest way if you do not have checks or online access.
- The routing number is the same for all your accounts at that bank, including savings and checking.
- Different banks have different routing numbers, so confirm you are using the number for the specific bank holding your savings account.
Online banking portals and mobile apps
Most banks make routing numbers easy to find in their digital platforms. Log in to your account on the bank's website or open the mobile app, then look for a section called "Account Details," "Account Information," "Bank Details," or "Settings." The routing number is usually displayed alongside your account number.
Some banks bury it one level deeper — you may need to click on your specific savings account first, then select "View Details" or "Account Information." If you cannot find it after a few clicks, use the search function within the app or website and type "routing number." Most platforms will take you directly to the right page.
If your bank's website is down or you are having trouble logging in, do not wait — call customer service instead. Banks keep phone lines open specifically for this kind of request.
Calling your bank directly
The phone number for customer service is printed on your debit card, on your bank statements, or on the bank's website. When you call, have your account number or the phone number associated with your account ready. The representative will ask you to verify your identity — usually by providing your Social Security number, date of birth, or answers to security questions you set up when you opened the account.
Once verified, they will read your routing number to you. Ask them to spell it out or repeat it so you can write it down correctly — a single digit wrong will cause transfers to fail. Some banks will also email or text you the routing number after the call if you ask.
Finding the routing number on paper statements
If you receive paper statements in the mail, your routing number is printed at the bottom of the first page, usually in the top right corner near your account number. The format is always the same: nine digits, no letters or dashes.
Older statements may have the routing number in a slightly different location depending on your bank, but it will always be grouped with your account information. If you have statements from the past year, any of them will work — the routing number does not change unless you switch banks.
Using the Federal Reserve's routing number database
The Federal Reserve maintains a public database of routing numbers by bank name and state. You can search it at frbservices.org by entering your bank's name and the state where you opened your account. The search will return your bank's routing number along with other banks that may have the same name in different states.
This method works if you have lost your checks and cannot access online banking, but it requires you to know your bank's exact legal name. Community banks and credit unions sometimes operate under names different from what appears on your debit card. If the search does not return your bank, call the bank directly — they will confirm the correct name to search.
What to do if your bank has multiple routing numbers
Large national banks sometimes have more than one routing number. This happens when they have acquired other banks and kept their routing numbers separate, or when they operate different divisions. If you see multiple routing numbers listed for your bank, use the one associated with the specific branch or account type where you opened your savings account.
Your bank's website will usually show you which routing number applies to your account. If you are unsure, call customer service and tell them you want the routing number for your savings account at the specific branch where you opened it. They will give you the correct one.
Using the wrong routing number will not send money to the wrong person — the transfer will simply fail and bounce back to your account. But it wastes time, so confirm you have the right one before you initiate any transfer.
Routing numbers for online banks and credit unions
Online banks and credit unions work the same way as traditional banks. Log into your account and look for account details, or call their customer service line. The routing number will be displayed or provided in the same format — nine digits with no letters or dashes.
Credit unions sometimes have routing numbers that are harder to find online because their websites are smaller. If you cannot locate it on their website, call the number on your debit card or the number listed on their main website. Credit union customer service representatives are usually quick with this information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my routing number the same for wire transfers and ACH transfers?
Yes. The same routing number works for wire transfers, ACH transfers, direct deposit, and any other electronic transfer method. You do not need different routing numbers for different transfer types.
Can I use someone else's routing number to send them money?
Yes. The routing number identifies the bank, not the account holder. You need the recipient's routing number and their account number to send them money. The routing number alone does not tell the bank whose account to deposit into.
What if I give someone the wrong routing number?
The transfer will fail and the money will return to your account, usually within one to three business days. No money will go to the wrong person because the routing number and account number work together to identify the correct destination.
Do I need a routing number to withdraw money from my savings account?
No. You only need a routing number when you are sending money electronically to another bank or account. For in-person withdrawals, transfers between your own accounts, or payments from your bank's website, you do not need it.
Will my routing number change if I move to a different state?
No. Your routing number is tied to the bank and the branch where you opened your account, not to where you live now. If you move, your routing number stays the same unless you close the account and open a new one at a different bank.