If you have a job or try to make purchases, then you already know the value of a bank account. It is incredibly hard to function in the world today without a bank account. Most employers send your paychecks directly to a bank. They do not want to send out paper checks. Many loans require to make your payments directly from your bank account. If you make purchases online, you need a debit card or a credit card. Both of which you need a bank account to be able to have.

Routing Number Overview

No matter how you look at it, it is unlikely you can survive today without some type of bank account. While you may know that you need to have a bank account, you may not truly understand how they work, especially when it comes to routing numbers. You may not even realize there is such a thing, but it is incredibly important information. Continue reading to find out more details about the routing number overview.

What Is a Routing Number?

The actual name of a routing number is a routing transit number, or ABA routing number. In this case ABA stands for the American Bankers Association, who is the group that have determined what the routing numbers will be. Routing numbers are nine digit numbers are assigned to all financial institutions that are domestic. These numbers are used to transfer money electronically from bank to bank. Banks that are federally or state chartered are the only financial institutions that are eligible to receive a routing number.

Routing numbers usually differ based on the state in which the bank is operating. If a specific bank has offices, or branches, in different states, then the banks in each state will have their own routing numbers. In some cases, the routing number may be the same even if the bank is in different states. The various routing numbers may be different by region instead of state. Remember the routing number is used for transferring money from one bank to another, so it becomes important when you want your pay check directly deposited into your bank account. It is also important when you want bills to be automatically paid. You should always make sure that you are using the correct routing number for your bank in your state or region. If you are not using the correct number, your money may not make it to your bank account.

Each part of the routing number indicates something about the bank. Remember there are nine digits and they are all part of the ways that your bank is identified as well as showing its exact location. The first four digits tell the exact location where you opened your bank account. The next four digits tell exactly which branch is your bank. The last digit is a safety measure that verifies the money is being transferred to or from the correct place.

How Can I Find The Routing Number?

In this routing number overview, I am going to provide a chart of the top bank routing numbers in the US, so you should be able to find the number you need listed below. However, you should always verify that your bank branch is not using a different routing number. It is possible that your branch routing number is not the same as the national routing number for that bank. If your bank is not on this list, or you just want to verify the routing number, there are a couple of ways you can find the routing number.

You should find your check book and look at a check. When you look at your check, you will see numbers along the bottom of the check on the left side. You will see two sets of numbers that are separated by a symbol. The first set of numbers, that is 9 digits long is the routing number of your bank. The second set of numbers, which is about 10 to 12 digits is your account number. So, the first set of numbers starting from the left is the routing number that you will need.

If you do not have access to a check, you can find the routing number in your online banking account. Once you are in your online account, you should look for a section that says account details, or account information and once you navigate there, you should see your routing number listed in your account information. If your bank account has a mobile account, you may be able to find your routing number listed on the mobile application. You may also be able to find the routing number on a bank statement. The worst case scenario if you cannot find your routing number anywhere else, you can always contact the bank to verify the routing number of your bank account.

Top Bank Routing Numbers

Here is a chart with a routing number overview of the some of the top banks in the US. Remember each bank has a different routing number for each state, so I am going to highlight as many states per bank as I can.

Bank Name	State	Routing Number
Bank of America
	California	121000358
	Delaware	031202084
	District of Columbia	054001204
	Florida	063100277
	Maryland	052001633
	New York	021000322
	Pennsylvania	031202084
	Texas	111000025
BB&T
	Alabama	062203984
	District of Columbia	054001547
	Florida	263191387
	Georgia	061113415
	Indiana	083974289
	Kentucky	083900680
	Maryland	055003308
	New Jersey	031204710
	North Carolina	053101121
	Ohio	042102267
	Pennsylvania	031309123
Chase Bank
	Alabama	065400137
	Arizona	122100024
	Arkansas	044000037
	California	322271627
	Colorado	102001017
	Connecticut	021100361
	Delaware	083000137
	Florida	267084131
	Georgia	061092387
	Idaho	325070760
	Illinois	071000013
	Indiana	074000010
	Iowa	075000019
	Kansas	103000648
	Kentucky	083000137
	Louisiana	065400137
	Maine	083000137
	Maryland	044000037
	Massachusetts	021000021
	Michigan	072000326
	Minnesota	075000019
	Mississippi	044000037
	New Jersey	021202337
	New Mexico	044000037
	New York – Downstate	021000021
	New York – Upstate	022300173
	North Carolina	072000326
HSBC		022000020

M&T Bank
	New York, New Jersey and Connecticut	022000046
	Pennsylvania and Delaware	031302955
	Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington DC	052000113
Santander
	10 digit accounts	231372691
	11 digit accounts	011075150
TD Bank
	Connecticut	011103093
	Florida	067014822
	Maine	211274450
	Massachusetts/Rhode Island	211370545
	Metro DC/Maryland/Virginia	054001725
	New Hampshire	011400071
	New Jersey/Delaware	031201360
	New York – Metro NYC or former Commerce customers	026013673
	New York – Upstate NY or former Banknorth customers	021302567
	North Carolina/South Carolina	053902197
	Pennsylvania	036001808
	Vermont	011600033

Routing Number vs Account Number

A routing number identifies a specific bank and allows that bank to make transfers to and from other banks. Another important piece of information that is needed for transfers between banks is your account number. The account number identifies you just as the routing number identifies your bank. Your account number is assigned to you when you open your account, at the same time the routing number is assigned to you. Your account number is also prominently displayed on your checks. You need this number any time you set up direct deposit for a paycheck or when you set up direct debt for a loan, or other regular payment. Your account number becomes your ID for your accounts. Each account that you have, even if they are at the same bank, have different account numbers.

Typically, the account number is anywhere between 8 to 12 digits and identifies a specific account. You need to use your account number for any transaction that you want to occur, even if it is cashing a check. When you cash a check at your bank and you want all of the money, the bank still wants your account number. Remember this number identifies you to your bank, so you should keep your account number safe, just as you would with your personal identification number. Your account number combined with the routing number gives endless access to your bank information. You do not want it in the wrong hands.

Why Would I Need A Routing Number?

As part of this routing number overview, I want to make sure you understand why you actually need a routing number. A routing number is only important to you in a few instances but those are incredibly important. You need a routing number to deposit your pay check into your bank account. Most employers do not want to write you a check. They want to deposit money into your account. Honestly, this is a benefit for you, too. It means you are going to get your money faster. Also, if you want to pay your bills electronically, you are going to need your routing number to do that. The primary goal of a routing number is to transfer money from one bank to another. That is what happens when you get your pay check and when you pay your bills. Often times, when you get a loan, the lender wants to take the money directly from your bank account. The lender needs a routing number to do that. These are the most important purposes of a bank routing number.

How Do I Pick The Right Bank?

Money management articles say that you need to have bank accounts in order to put yourself on the right financial path. Before I get into the routing number overview, I want to talk about the fact that there are many different banks and bank accounts available to you. It can be a but overwhelming when you see all the different bank options, but if you keep your goals in mind, it does not have to be that scary. Before you look at the various accounts, you should determine what are your needs when it comes to banking?

Are you looking for a bank that provides both check and saving accounts? Are you interested in a savings account that can give you the best interest rate possible? First you should think about your financial goals to determine the direction in which you should move. A routing number overview is not as important until you are able to understand your goals. If you want your money to grow and accrue as much interest as possible, you want to put it in a savings account.

Here are some savings account suggestions. Try to find one that fits best to your financials:

Are There Online Banks?

Yes, there are many online banks and many of them are reputable and well known. If you are interested in an online bank, you should make sure that you are familiar with the one you want to choose. Even the most well known banks have way to bank online and handle your business. Today's world is one of convenience and as a result you can handle most of your business online. It was not long ago when the only way you could save money was to walk into your local corner bank and open a bank account. You could only access your account by going to that bank to handle business with a teller. Today, you are able to transfer money in and out of your account online. When you are interested in an online bank, it is important to know in this routing number overview that it does not matter if the bank is online or an actual building, it should have the same routing number. The routing number may be based upon the state in which you are living.

FAQs

Are routing numbers always 9 digits?

Yes, routing numbers are always 9 digits. The first four digits are the numbers for the Federal Reserve Routing Symbol. The next four digits are the ABA Institution Identifier and the last number is the check digit. The routing number acts as a digital address for the bank.

How do I look up a routing number?

The routing number for many banks is included in this article. If you cannot find your bank listed here, the routing number is located on your checks. It is the first set of numbers. If you do not have a check, you can often find it on your online banking account summary. If you are not able to find it there, you can always contact your bank branch and they can give you the number.

Can a bank routing number be 8 digits?

All banks in the US have 9 digit routing numbers, however there are Canadian banks that have 8 digit routing numbers. Some banks have a routing number that starts with a zero, so if you are seeing an eight digit routing number typed somewhere, it could be that the application dropped the first digit because it was a zero. If you have any doubt about the routing number of your bank, you should contact the bank.

Is the ABA number the routing number?

Yes, the American Bankers Association (ABA) number is the same as the routing number for your bank.

Does it matter what routing number you use?

Yes, absolutely it matters. If you want money to go into your account, then you must use the correct routing number. You should know that if you want to wire money, especially internationally, the wire routing number is most likely going to be different from the regular routing number.

Do routing numbers change?

Yes, routing numbers can change. If a bank is bought out by another bank, or two banks merge together, the routing number is going to change. The bank should give you enough notice when they are going to change the routing number. Most of the time when there is a new routing number, the old one stays active for quite a while so that everyone can get everything switched. Routing number are different from state to state. If you move to a different state, but keep the same bank, your routing number may change.

What happens if routing number is wrong?

If you use the wrong routing number, the deposit or withdrawal will be rejected. If you want something deposited into your account, it will not go and it gets sent bank to the person attempting to deposit the money. If you want to have money take out of your account, the money will not be remove.

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Conclusion

I have provided you with a large subset of routing numbers in this routing number overview to assist you with your financial management tools. There are many more banks in the US that are not listed here in this routing number overview. There may even be branches missing for the branches that are not listed here. If you do not see your bank or the state in which your bank is operating in this routing number overview, the next best way to find the routing number on a check or to contact the bank directly.

Routing Number Overview for the Top US Banks