Setting up direct deposit, paying a bill, or linking an account often requires two numbers: your routing number and your account number. If you are not sure where to find them or what each one does, you are not alone. Locating them is simple once you know where to look. This guide from The Finance Reveal explains how to find your routing and account number, part of our Banking section. This is general education, not financial advice, and details can vary by bank and country.

What These Two Numbers Are

Your routing number and account number work together to direct money to the right place. The routing number identifies your specific bank or financial institution, essentially the address of your bank within the wider banking system. Your account number identifies your individual account at that bank. Together, they tell an electronic payment exactly which bank to reach and which account within it to credit or debit, which is why both are needed to set up transfers, direct deposits, and automatic payments.

Because these numbers route money to and from your account, they are sensitive and worth protecting, though they are less dangerous on their own than, say, a full card number with security code. Still, you should only share them with trusted, legitimate parties, such as your employer for direct deposit or a biller you are setting up, part of handling your everyday banking safely. Terms and formats vary by country, but the concept of a number identifying the bank and another identifying your account is widely similar.

Where to Find Them

There are several reliable places to locate your routing and account numbers. The table below summarizes them.

If you have paper checks, the easiest place is along the bottom of a check, where a series of numbers is printed: typically the routing number comes first, followed by your account number, and then the check number. The exact order can vary, so it helps to confirm which is which. If you do not have checks, your online banking website or mobile app is usually the quickest route, where your account details, including these numbers, appear in the account information or settings area. Your bank statement often lists them too, and you can always contact your bank directly to confirm. Between these options, you can almost always find the numbers within a minute or two.

Using and Protecting Them

Once you have your numbers, using them is straightforward: enter the routing number and account number where requested when setting up a direct deposit, linking an external account, or arranging an automatic payment. Double-check each digit, since a single wrong number can misdirect a payment or cause it to fail. If you are providing them for direct deposit, a voided check is a common way to supply them, the approach our guide to voiding a check explains.

On the safety side, treat these numbers with reasonable care. Share them only with parties you trust and have initiated contact with, such as a known employer or biller, and be cautious if someone unexpectedly asks for them, which can be a sign of a scam. While these numbers alone are less risky than full card details, protecting them reduces the chance of unauthorized transactions or fraud attempts. Knowing where to find your routing and account numbers, and using them carefully, makes setting up deposits, payments, and transfers quick and trouble-free. For related basics, see our guide to writing a check, and explore the full Banking section.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my routing and account number?

The easiest places are along the bottom of a check, where both numbers are printed, or in your online banking website or mobile app under account details. Your bank statement often shows them too, and you can ask your bank directly. On a check, the routing number typically comes first, then your account number, then the check number, though it is worth confirming which is which.

What is the difference between a routing and account number?

The routing number identifies your bank or financial institution within the banking system, like your bank’s address, while the account number identifies your specific account at that bank. Both are needed together to direct a payment: the routing number points to the right bank, and the account number points to the right account within it. That is why transfers and direct deposits require both.

Where are the numbers on a check?

They are printed along the bottom of the check in a line of numbers. Typically the routing number appears first, followed by your account number, and then the check number, though the exact arrangement can vary. Because the order is not always obvious, it is worth confirming which group of digits is the routing number and which is the account number before using them.

Is it safe to share my account and routing number?

They are needed for legitimate purposes like direct deposit and payments, so sharing them with trusted parties, such as your employer or a biller you are setting up, is normal. They are less risky alone than full card details, but you should still protect them: share only with parties you trust and initiated contact with, and be cautious if someone unexpectedly requests them, as that can signal a scam.

The Bottom Line

Your routing and account numbers work as a pair to direct money to the right place: the routing number identifies your bank within the banking system, and the account number identifies your specific account at that bank, which is why both are required to set up direct deposits, transfers, and automatic payments. Finding them is easy. If you have paper checks, both are printed along the bottom, usually the routing number first, then the account number, then the check number, though it is worth confirming the order. Without checks, your online banking site or mobile app is typically the fastest source, showing the numbers in your account details, and they often appear on your bank statement or can be confirmed by contacting your bank directly. When using them, enter each digit carefully, since one wrong number can misdirect or fail a payment, and a voided check is a common way to supply them for direct deposit. Protect them sensibly: share only with trusted parties you have contacted, and be wary of unexpected requests, which can indicate a scam. Know where to look and handle them with care, and setting up deposits and payments becomes quick and worry-free. For related guides, see our articles on writing a check, voiding a check, and wire transfer versus ACH, and explore the full Banking section. This article is general information, not personalized financial advice, and details vary by bank and country.