December 8, 2022
Summary: You can quickly and easily find your bank routing number by checking the nine-digit code in the bottom-left corner of your personal checks.
If you ever need to transfer money between banks or set up direct deposit with a new employer, you’ll have to provide your bank’s unique routing number alongside other information about your bank account.
However, finding your bank’s routing number can be tricky if you don’t know where to look.
In this article, we’ll outline a few strategies for finding your bank’s routing number. Note, however, that getting your bank’s routing number correct is critical for ensuring your money goes to the right place.
For this reason, it’s always wise to double-check you have the correct routing number before performing any transactions.
What is a bank routing number?
A bank routing number is a unique nine-digit number that acts as the address for your bank. In the financial world, routing numbers are used to identify different banks, typically during transactions and tasks such as cashing checks or filling out direct deposit information.
All banks have routing numbers assigned to them by the American Bankers Association (ABA). These numbers are based on the location of the specific bank, usually at the state- or region-level.
This means, for example, that banks operating in Florida will often have a different routing number than banks operating in California, even if the banks in each state operate under the same name. However, banks operating under the same name in a specific state or region will usually share routing numbers.
Since Associated Bank primarily operates in a specific geographic region within the Midwest— Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin—we use the same routing number for all our banks: 075900575.
Note, however, that you should always verify this number using one of the strategies below to ensure that it’s the number you need for your specific situation.
What’s the difference between a routing number and an account number?
A routing or “transit” number refers to the specific bank the account is with. This is the nine-digit number assigned to your bank by the American Bankers Association and used to identify your bank during financial transactions.
Your account number is unique to your checking or savings account, and is not publicly accessible except on your physical checks.
A good way of thinking about the difference is to think of the routing number as a ZIP code and the account number as a street address. Many people will live in a particular ZIP code, and you may share a ZIP code with everyone on your street. However, your home address is unique to you.
Where can I find my routing number?
The easiest way to find your bank’s routing number is to look at the first nine digits in the bottom-left corner of your physical checks.
If you look along the bottom of your checks, you’ll usually see three different numbers aligned in a row. From left to right, the first is the routing number for your bank. The second is your unique checking account number. The last is the number for the specific check you’re holding.
If you need your routing number for a task such as filling in direct deposit information, it may be helpful to use a check as reference since it lists your routing and checking account number in an easily accessible location.
This is why some employers will require a voided check when they set up the direct deposit for your payroll, as your checks will list the routing and account numbers along the bottom.
How to find your routing number without a physical check
If you don’t have access to a physical check, you can find your bank’s routing number in a few other places:
- Your Bank’s Online Portal or App — Outside of looking at your checks, the quickest and easiest way to find your bank’s routing number is to check your account information through your bank’s online portal or mobile app.
- Bank Statements — You can usually find your routing number somewhere on your monthly bank statement. Often, it will be somewhere close to your account number, usually in an upper corner of the statement.
- On Your Bank’s Public Website — Banks will often post their routing numbers on their public websites, so you could also search for your bank’s routing number there.
- In-Person or Over the Phone — Finally, remember that your bank likely has a wealth of resources to help you in the event you can’t find your routing number. If you’re unsure about which number to use, visit your local branch or give your bank a call to speak with a representative.
Know the importance of your account information
Routing numbers are essentially financial ZIP codes that identify particular banks in specific regions or states. When processing transactions, banks will use routing numbers to identify the bank they need to send money to or retrieve money from.
You can quickly and easily find your bank’s routing number by looking for the nine-digit number in the bottom-left corner of your physical checks. If you don’t have any checks, you could also check your bank’s online portal or mobile app, as well as any account statements you may have access to.
If you have any further questions on routing numbers—or if you’d like to learn more about personal checking in general—schedule an appointment to speak with a local banker who can help set you up for financial success.
