An ABA number, also known as a routing number or routing transfer number, is a sequence of nine numeric characters used by banks to identify specific financial institutions responsible for the payment of a negotiable instrument. The ABA Routing Number was developed by the American Bankers Association in 1910 and has evolved to designate participants in automated clearinghouses, electronic funds transfer, and online banking. The ABA Routing Number is the left-most number at the bottom of a check, followed by the account number, and then by the number of the check.
There are several ways to find your banks routing number, including:
-
On a check: The routing number is located at the bottom left corner of a check, followed by the account number and check number.
-
Online banking: Log into your online banking account, select the desired account, and click on Account Numbers & More or Account Information to find the routing number.
-
Mobile app: Log into your banks mobile app, select your account, and select the Summary tab. Then select Account Numbers & More to find the routing number.
-
Bank statement: You can use the third and fourth digits of your account number to determine your routing number. You can find your account number in the top of the right column of a bank statement.
ABA routing numbers are used for electronic bank-to-bank account transfers, including paper and electronic checks, direct deposits, automatic bill payments, online vendor payments, other B2B payments, and person-to-person payments. Routing numbers are important because they identify financial institutions for processing payments and making direct deposits.