Guides to US bank routing numbers

Routing numbers seem deceptively simple — nine digits, printed on every check, used everywhere. But the rules around when to use them, which one to use, and what type of payment they support have surprising depth. These guides break each topic into plain English, written for ordinary bank customers and small-business owners rather than payments-industry insiders.

Routing numbers for wire transfers How wire-routing numbers differ from ACH numbers, and why getting it right matters most for irreversible Fedwire transfers. ACH credits and debits explained What the Automated Clearing House actually is, how same-day ACH works, and which routing number to give your originator. Setting up direct deposit Step-by-step: finding the routing number for payroll, the IRS, or Social Security; common pitfalls and how to fix them. ABA vs routing number — what's the difference? Spoiler: nothing. But the terminology trips up new customers and international senders constantly. Here's the history. Finding the routing number on a check A guided tour of the MICR line at the bottom of a paper check and how to read the routing, account, and check numbers. Receiving an international wire transfer Why your bank needs both a SWIFT code and an ABA routing number, and what to do when the sender uses an IBAN format. Routing number vs account number They live next to each other on every check, but they identify completely different things. Why both are needed for any transfer. Is it safe to share your routing number? Routing numbers are not secrets, but they're not entirely harmless either. What a fraudster can — and can't — do with one.