Routing Number on a Check: Diagram and Simple Guide

TL;DR: On a standard U.S. check, the routing number is the first nine-digit group at the bottom left. The account number usually follows it, and the check number is usually last. Use the routing number on a check diagram below to identify each field before you enter banking details for direct deposit, a payment, or an ACH transfer.

A routing number tells a payment system which financial institution holds the account. An account number identifies the customer account at that institution. The small number that often appears at the far right is the check number, which helps the account holder track that individual check. The three groups are easy to confuse when they are printed in a tiny MICR font designed for machines with very good eyesight.

Routing number on a check diagram
What the three numbers mean
When the order can look different
How to find and verify a routing number
Frequently asked questions

Routing number on a check diagram: where to look

Look along the bottom edge of the front of a personal check. The first group on the left is normally the routing number. It has exactly nine digits. The American Bankers Association’s direct-deposit guidance places the routing number in the bottom-left corner and the account number directly to its right.

Bottom line of a typical U.S. personal check
⑆ 123456789 ⑆ Routing number 9 digits; identifies the bank or credit union	9876543210 Account number Identifies the customer account; length varies	1042 Check number Usually matches the number at the upper right

The symbols around or between groups are part of the MICR line—the machine-readable line used for check processing. Do not enter those symbols in a form. Copy only the digits requested. If a form asks for an ABA routing number, it means the nine-digit routing number.

The routing number names the bank; the account number names the account

Routing number: identifies the financial institution responsible for the payment. It is sometimes called an ABA routing number or routing transit number.
Account number: identifies the particular checking account. It is not standardized to nine digits, so do not choose a number merely because it looks long.
Check number: identifies that check within a checkbook. It usually appears in the top-right corner as well as on the MICR line.

These fields matter in different ways. A direct-deposit form needs the routing and account numbers to route funds to the right institution and account; it does not need the check number. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau similarly advises consumers to have the account and routing number ready when arranging a tax refund by direct deposit.

For a business, precise source documents are the beginning of reliable records. That is the same discipline behind recording accounting transactions, completing an account reconciliation, and maintaining a practical month-end close checklist. One transposed digit is not an accounting judgment call; it is simply a preventable exception.

Do not rely on position alone for every check

Personal checks commonly follow the left-to-right pattern in the diagram, but business checks, credit-union checks, and some computer-printed checks can arrange the account and check number differently. The safer test is to find the nine-digit routing number and compare it with your bank’s official information. Never assume a routing number printed for a check is the right number for a wire transfer; banks can use different instructions for different payment types.

Canadian cheques use a different routing arrangement, and international transfers may use SWIFT/BIC or IBAN information instead. This diagram is for a typical U.S. check. When a payment form specifies a country or payment rail, follow the instructions from the receiving institution rather than trying to make the bottom line do international diplomacy.

How to find and verify a routing number without guessing

Start with the bottom-left nine digits on a personal check.
Check your bank or credit union’s authenticated app or website for the account-specific instructions.
For a U.S. ABA routing number, use the ABA Routing Number Lookup to confirm the financial institution.
If the payment is a wire, international transfer, or a business payment, ask the bank which identifier applies before submitting the form.

Do not post a photo of a check online or send the numbers through an unverified request. A routing number identifies a bank, but the account number is still sensitive information. When in doubt, open your bank’s own app or call the number on its official website.

Frequently asked questions

Which number is the routing number on a check?

On a typical U.S. personal check, the routing number is the first nine-digit group on the bottom left. It is often surrounded by MICR symbols that are not part of the number.

Is the account number on the left or right side of a check?

The account number is usually immediately to the right of the routing number, near the bottom center. Check layouts can vary, so use your bank’s account details if you are uncertain.

What is the third number at the bottom of a check?

The third group is usually the check number. It commonly matches the number printed in the upper-right corner and helps identify that particular check.

Can I use the routing number on my check for a wire transfer?

Not always. Banks can use different routing instructions for ACH, direct deposit, domestic wires, and international wires. Confirm the correct instruction with your bank before sending a wire.

How can I find my routing number without a check?

Use your bank or credit union’s authenticated app or online banking portal, or contact the institution directly. The ABA Routing Number Lookup can help confirm a U.S. financial institution when you already have a routing number.

The simple check-reading rule

Read the bottom line from left to right, identify the nine-digit routing number, then confirm the account number with your bank if a payment matters. The diagram provides a fast answer; official account instructions provide the final check. That extra minute is usually less expensive than untangling a misdirected payment.