What’s a routing number?

A routing number is a sequence of nine digits used by U.S. banks to make sure funds are sent to the correct bank within the United States.

It is sometimes called an “ABA routing number”, referring to the American Bankers Association which created these identifiers.

It’s important to remember that your account number and routing number are not the same thing. Routing numbers help institutions identify your bank, and account numbers help your bank identify your individual checking or savings account.