Breaking Down the ABA Number

If you’ve ever signed up for direct deposit, set up an online bill payment, or wired money, you’ve probably been asked for a nine-digit number from your bank. That’s the ABA Number—sometimes called a routing number—and it’s what tells the payment system exactly where to send your money.

The idea dates back to 1910, when the American Bankers Association created a standardized way for banks to recognize one another. Before that, moving money between institutions could be slow and error-prone. These days, the number appears at the bottom left of a paper check, right before your account number.

Think of it like a GPS pin for your bank. Payroll deposits, mortgage payments, tax refunds—any of these can fail or bounce back if the wrong number is used. That’s why both people and businesses double-check it before sending funds.

Keep Your Money on Course

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Related Keywords / Synonyms

• Routing Number
• Routing Transit Number (RTN)
• Bank Routing Code
• Check Routing Number
• Transit Code