How to Locate a Bank Account Number & a Bank Identifier on Checks

All U.S. checks list the ABA routing number and account number at the bottom.
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When you send or receive an e-check or electronic funds transfer, you must provide your bank account number. You also must supply your bank identifier number for domestic electronic fund transfers -- this is known as your routing and transit number or ABA routing number. The bank identifier is necessary so the bank that transfers the money knows which bank to transfer it to, and your account number directs your bank to credit the transferred funds to your account. Both of the numbers for your checking account are located at the bottom of each of your paper checks.

Step 1

Examine any check from your regular or money market checking account, or from an investment account that issues checks.

Step 2

Locate the nine-digit number that begins after a vertical line and a colon (|:). It's usually located at the bottom left-hand side of your personal check. This is the ABA routing number, and it ends with a colon and a vertical line (:|). Provide your payor with all nine digits of the number.

Step 3

Locate a number that ends with three boxes in a diagonal pattern. This number is the account number. Provide all of the digits, in order, including any repeated zeros, to your payor.

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