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What is an
ABA Routing Number?
An American Bankers
Association (ABA) Routing Number is
a unique nine-digit number assigned
to each banking institution, used to identify the
financial institution it is
drawn upon. This code is also used by the Automated Clearing House to
process direct deposits and other automated transfers. This system is
named after the American Bankers Association, which designed it in 1910. The ABA routing number is usually found at the
bottom of a personal or business check.
Accuity, a SourceMedia
company, is responsible for assigning new ABA numbers. They publish the
list of ABA routing numbers in the American Bankers Association Key to
Routing Numbers semi-annual publication. There are approximately 30,000 ABA numbers
currently in use.
The first two digits of
the nine digit ABA number must be in the ranges 00 through 12, 21 through
32, 61 through 72, or 80.
The digits in the ABA
routing number are assigned as
follows:
-
00 is used by the
United States Government
-
01 through 12 are the
"normal" routing numbers
-
21 through 32 were
assigned only to thrift institutions through 1985, but now may be
used by any bank (but are primarily used by credit unions)
-
61 through 72 are used
for electronic transactions
-
80 is used for
traveler's checks
The first two digits in the
ABA Routing Number
correspond to the 12 Federal Reserve Banks as follows:
|
Primary |
Thrift |
Electronic |
Federal Reserve Bank |
|
01 |
21 |
61 |
Boston |
|
02 |
22 |
62 |
New York |
|
03 |
23 |
63 |
Philadelphia |
|
04 |
24 |
64 |
Cleveland |
|
05 |
25 |
65 |
Richmond |
|
06 |
26 |
66 |
Atlanta |
|
07 |
27 |
67 |
Chicago |
|
08 |
28 |
68 |
St. Louis |
|
09 |
29 |
69 |
Minneapolis |
|
10 |
30 |
70 |
Kansas City |
|
11 |
31 |
71 |
Dallas |
|
12 |
32 |
72 |
San Francisco |
Following are resources for
learning more about ABA routing numbers: |
