Routing Number: What It Is And How To Find Yours | Bankrate (2024)

Routing Number: What It Is And How To Find Yours | Bankrate (1)

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Routine banking transactions like online bill payments, check processing and wire transfers require a bank routing number. Here’s an explanation of what a routing number is and how it works.

What is a routing number?

A routing number is a nine-digit bank identification number. Think of it as a numerical address that allows a bank to send and receive money from other financial institutions. The routing number identifies the financial institution responsible for the payment and ensures that funds go to the right place.

Routing numbers were developed by the American Bankers Association in 1910 for processing checks. They’re also known as ABA routing numbers or routing transit numbers. Today, routing numbers are used in numerous banking transactions, such as direct deposits, wire transfers, peer-to-peer payments like Venmo transactions, payments made by phone and more.

Each routing number is unique to one financial institution and helps avoid confusion. Routing numbers ensure that checks intended for Citibank don’t go to CIT Bank, for example.

A bank or credit union may have more than one routing number. This is often the case with big banks such as Bank of America and Chase Bank, which have two routing numbers in some states.

Banks also can have separate routing numbers for different types of transactions — one for processing paper checks and another for wire transfers, for example.

How to find a routing number

Because bank routing numbers are used for so many transactions, you should know how to find your bank’s.

How to find a routing number with a check

If you have a paper check, you can find the routing number easily. It appears in the bottom left corner of your check. It’s the first set of nine numbers and begins with a 0, 1, 2 or 3.

The second set of numbers is your account number, and the third set is the check number. These sets of numbers are clearly separated.

How to find a routing number without a check

Fewer bank customers use paper checks these days. Let’s say you want to pay your electric bill by phone or set up direct deposit of your paycheck but don’t have a paper check to refer to. There are other ways to get a bank routing number.

Unlike personal account numbers, a routing number is not private information, so your bank has to share it with you. Some banks make it easy to find routing numbers; with other banks, it can take a little more effort.

  • Go online: Your bank may post its routing number online via its website or mobile banking app. Sign in to your bank account and go to “account information” or “account summary.” The routing number should be listed. Some banks post the routing number on the home page of their website or elsewhere on the site. It might be in the FAQs. You can also do an internet search of your bank’s name and the phrase “routing number.”
  • Bank statement: You might find the routing number on your monthly paper or electronic bank statement, although not all banks include it.
  • Call the bank: You can ask a customer service representative to give you the routing number or confirm the one you found online.
  • Visit a branch: Some banks display the routing number in the lobby for customers’ convenience. If not, ask a teller to give it to you.

When you’ll need your routing number

By knowing what a routing number is and where to find it, you’ll be able to complete a variety of banking transactions with ease.

Routing numbers are used for lots of everyday banking tasks, including:

  • Setting up direct deposit of your paycheck through your employer
  • Setting up direct deposit of Social Security or other government benefits
  • Setting up automatic online bill payment
  • Check processing
  • Sending and receiving wire transfers
  • Getting set up with peer-to-peer payment services such as Venmo or PayPal
  • Initiating transfers between accounts you have with different banks
  • Making payments from your bank account by telephone
  • Reordering checks
  • Linking a budgeting app to your bank account

Bank of America routing numbers

StateRouting Number
Alabama051000017
Alaska051000017
Arizona122101706
Arkansas082000073
California121000358
Colorado123103716
Connecticut011900254
Delaware031202084
District of Columbia054001204
Florida063100277
Georgia061000052
Hawaii051000017
Idaho123103716
Illinois (northern)071000505
Illinois (southern)081904808
Indiana071214579
Iowa073000176
Kansas101100045
Kentucky064000020
Louisiana051000017
Maine011200365
Maryland052001633
Massachusetts011000138
Michigan072000805
Minnesota071214579
Mississippi051000017
Missouri081000032
Montana051000017
Nebraska123103716
Nevada122400724
New Hampshire011400495
New Jersey021200339
New Mexico107000327
New York021000322
North Carolina053000196
North Dakota051000017
Ohio071214579
Oklahoma103000017
Oregon323070380
Pennsylvania031202084
Rhode Island011500010
South Carolina053904483
South Dakota051000017
Tennessee064000020
Texas111000025
Utah123103716
Vermont051000017
Virginia051000017
Washington125000024
West Virginia051000017
Wisconsin123103716
Wyoming051000017

Source: Bank of America

Chase Bank routing numbers

StateRouting Number
Alabama065400137
Arizona122100024
Arkansas065400137
California322271627
Colorado102001017
Connecticut021100361
Delaware083000137
District of Columbia044000037
Florida267084131
Georgia061092387
Idaho123271978
Illinois071000013
Indiana074000010
Iowa075000019
Kansas103000648
Kentucky083000137
Louisiana065400137
Maine083000137
Maryland044000037
Massachusetts021000021
Michigan072000326
Minnesota075000019
Mississippi065400137
Missouri103000648
Montana102001017
Nebraska103000648
Nevada322271627
New Hampshire083000137
New Jersey021202337
New Mexico102001017
New York (upstate)022300173
New York (downstate)021000021
North Carolina072000326
North Dakota103000648
Ohio044000037
Oklahoma103000648
Oregon325070760
Pennsylvania083000137
Rhode Island083000137
South Carolina072000326
South Dakota103000648
Tennessee065400137
Texas111000614
Utah124001545
Vermont083000137
Virginia044000037
Washington325070760
West Virginia051900366
Wisconsin075000019
Wyoming102001017

Source: Chase Bank

Note: For states not listed, check with a local branch, call Chase to confirm your routing number, or refer to a check or the Chase mobile app.

Wells Fargo Bank routing numbers

StateRouting Number
Alabama062000080
Alaska125200057
Arizona122105278
Arkansas111900659
California121042882
Colorado102000076
Connecticut021101108
Delaware031100869
District of Columbia054001220
Florida063107513
Georgia061000227
Hawaii121042882
Idaho124103799
Illinois071101307
Indiana074900275
Iowa073000228
Kansas101089292
Kentucky121042882
Louisiana121042882
Maine121042882
Maryland055003201
Massachusetts121042882
Michigan091101455
Minnesota091000019
Mississippi062203751
Missouri113105449
Montana092905278
Nebraska104000058
Nevada321270742
New Hampshire121042882
New Jersey021200025
New Mexico107002192
New York026012881
North Carolina053000219
North Dakota091300010
Ohio041215537
Oklahoma121042882
Oregon123006800
Pennsylvania031000503
Rhode Island121042882
South Carolina053207766
South Dakota091400046
Tennessee064003768
Texas111900659
Texas (El Paso)112000066
Utah124002971
Vermont121042882
Virginia051400549
Washington125008547
West Virginia121042882
Wisconsin075911988
Wyoming102301092

Source: Wells Fargo

Bottom line

A routing number is a nine-digit bank identification number. You’ll need to know that number for tasks such as reordering checks, setting up direct deposit to your checking account, or sending or receiving wire transfers. It’s easy to find your routing number by looking at one of your paper checks, or it may be available when you log on to your bank account online.

Routing Number: What It Is And How To Find Yours | Bankrate (2024)

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