An ABA routing number is a nine-digit code that identifies financial institutions in the United States. If you’re sending or receiving money from a US bank account, you’ll need one alongside the account number, so it’s worth understanding exactly how they work, where to find one, and when you’ll be asked for one instead of a SWIFT code.
A US routing number is assigned to each financial institution in the United States, and shows that the bank holds an account with the Federal Reserve. More practically, it plays a key part in making sure your money arrives in the right place. When you enter it alongside a payee’s account number, it identifies the exact bank account for a money transfer. Larger banks can have multiple routing numbers, so the one you need depends on the state the account was opened in and sometimes the type of transfer you’re making, while smaller financial institutions typically have just one.
Key takeaways
- ABA stands for the American Bankers Association, the organisation that created the routing number system in 1910 to help sort paper cheques between banks. ABA routing number, routing number and routing transit number (RTN) all mean the same thing.
- A routing number has three parts: the first four digits identify the Federal Reserve district, the next four identify the specific bank, and the ninth is a check digit used to validate the whole number.
- You only need a SWIFT code and an account number for a SWIFT payment. A routing number is required for domestic US payments and for ACH transfers specifically, and different transfer types at the same bank can use different routing numbers.
- Even as instant payment rails like FedNow grow, routing numbers haven’t gone away. FedNow identifies its 1,400-plus participating banks and credit unions by their routing numbers, the same as older payment rails do.
- WorldFirst can send both ACH and SWIFT/wire payments to the US, so it’s worth knowing which type your recipient can accept, since that can affect which routing number they give you.
What is an ABA routing number?
ABA stands for the American Bankers Association, which created the routing number system in 1910 to make it easier to sort, bundle and route paper cheques between banks. The industry formally adopted the numbering system in 1911, and it’s been the backbone of US payment processing ever since. Because of that history, a routing number is sometimes called an ABA routing number, or a routing transit number (RTN). Whichever term you see used, it refers to the same nine-digit code, and if you’re sending money to the United States, it makes no practical difference which name your bank or payment provider uses.
A routing number is made up of three parts:
- The first four digits identify the Federal Reserve district and processing centre associated with the bank.
- The next four digits identify the specific financial institution.
- The ninth digit is a check digit, a mathematical checksum calculated from the first eight digits, used to catch typos and invalid numbers before a payment is processed.
Only a small fraction of US payments are still made by paper cheque today, with most transaction volume having shifted to electronic transfers, but the routing number system built for cheques in 1910 still underpins the vast majority of that electronic activity, including ACH transfers, wire transfers and online banking.
Do you need a routing number for a US money transfer?
It depends on the payment method. You don’t need an ABA routing number and a SWIFT code together to make a SWIFT payment; you only need a SWIFT code and an account number. But whether it’s a domestic US payment or an international transfer into a US bank account, a routing number is generally required alongside the account number, because it locates the specific bank and processing centre that needs to handle the payment.
As mentioned above, the routing number for a financial institution can vary between states, and it can also differ depending on the type of transfer you’re making. Banks commonly use different routing numbers for wire transfers and ACH (Automated Clearing House) transfers. Wire transfers tend to be the default for larger or time-sensitive payments, but some banks and smaller credit unions only accept ACH. It’s worth double-checking the correct routing number with the payee or their bank before you send a payment, since using the wrong one for the transfer type can cause delays or a returned payment.
How routing numbers fit into today’s faster US payments
Routing numbers might be over a century old, but they haven’t been replaced by newer, faster payment rails, they’ve simply been built into them. The Federal Reserve’s FedNow Service, a real-time payment system that settles transfers within seconds, 24 hours a day, launched in July 2023 and had grown to more than 1,400 participating banks and credit unions by its second anniversary. FedNow identifies each participating institution by its routing number, in exactly the same way as older ACH and wire systems do, alongside The Clearing House’s separate RTP network, which serves a similar purpose for a smaller set of larger banks.
For a business sending or receiving US payments, this matters practically: even as more of your counterparties adopt instant payment options, you’ll still need the correct routing number to identify their bank, so it’s worth confirming both the routing number and which payment rails your recipient’s bank actually supports.
Where to find a routing number
If you have a US bank account, you’ll usually find the routing number printed at the bottom of your cheques, in the numbers on the bottom left-hand side, with the account number typically printed next to it. If you’re the one receiving a transfer, you can usually find your own routing number by logging into your online banking platform, or checking a recent bank statement. Routing numbers aren’t confidential information, so as well as a cheque, you can often find a bank’s routing number published directly on its website, or through the American Bankers Association’s own routing number lookup tool.
Send US payments with WorldFirst
At WorldFirst, we can make both ACH and SWIFT/wire payments to the United States, so it’s worth knowing which type of transfer your recipient can accept, since this can affect which routing number they give you. If you’re sending money to the USA with a World Account, all you need is an account number together with either a SWIFT code or an ABA routing number, and the account holder’s name. There’s no transfer limit or cap on the amount you can send.
If you’re regularly paying US suppliers, contractors or marketplaces, it’s also worth considering a USD receiving account rather than converting every payment individually. With a World Account, you can:
- Open 20+ local currency accounts, including USD, and get paid like a local in each one
- Pay suppliers, partners and staff worldwide in 100+ currencies
- Collect payments for free from 130+ marketplaces and payment gateways, including Amazon, Etsy, PayPal and Shopify
- Get competitive exchange rates on currency conversions and transfers
- Lock in exchange rates for up to 24 months for cash flow certainty
WorldFirst isn’t a bank; in the UK it’s authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as an Electronic Money Institution, and customer funds are safeguarded in line with regulatory requirements.
If you regularly deal with US clients or marketplaces that request a routing number and account number rather than a SWIFT payment, it’s usually because their own systems are built around domestic payment rails, and settling that way is faster and cheaper for them than processing an international wire. Holding your own USD account details lets you hand over exactly what they’re expecting, and helps you avoid the delays and extra charges that an international wire transfer can bring. Read more: how to avoid international wire transfer fees and international business payment methods.
Open a World Account for free to get started.
FAQs
1. Is an ABA routing number the same as a routing number?
Yes. ABA routing number, routing number and routing transit number (RTN) all refer to the same nine-digit code used to identify a US financial institution. The ABA name comes from the American Bankers Association, which created the system in 1910.
2. Do I need a routing number to send an international wire to the US?
Not if you’re sending via SWIFT. A SWIFT payment only needs a SWIFT code and an account number. A routing number is needed for domestic US payments and for ACH transfers specifically, so which one you need depends on how the payment is being sent.
3. Can a bank have more than one routing number?
Yes. Larger US banks often have multiple routing numbers, which can vary depending on the state the account was opened in, and some banks also use different routing numbers for different transaction types, such as wires versus ACH transfers.
4. Are routing numbers still used with instant payment services like FedNow?
Yes. FedNow identifies its participating banks and credit unions by their routing numbers, the same as older ACH and wire systems, so routing numbers remain essential even as faster payment rails become more common.
5. Is a routing number confidential?
No. Routing numbers aren’t sensitive information. You can find them on a cheque, in online banking, on a bank’s website, or through the American Bankers Association’s routing number lookup tool.
6. Does WorldFirst charge a fee to send money to a US bank account?
WorldFirst lets you send both ACH and SWIFT/wire payments to the US with no transfer limit or cap, and offers competitive exchange rates on any currency conversion involved. Exact costs depend on the transfer method and currencies involved, so check current pricing before you send.
