Bank account numbers can have dashes, but most banks do not use them
Your bank account number itself—the core digits that identify your account—does not contain dashes. However, the way your bank displays or formats that number on statements, checks, or online banking may include dashes for readability. A dashed format like 123-456-789 and the undashed version 123456789 refer to the same account. When you need to provide your account number for a transfer, bill payment, or direct deposit, the dashes are optional—the receiving bank will process it correctly either way.
The confusion often arises because different banks and documents present account numbers differently. Your check might print it as 123-456-789, your statement might show 123456789, and your online banking portal might display it as 123-456-789. None of these variations change which account the money goes to.
Key Takeaways
- Dashes in a bank account number are formatting only and do not change the account itself—123-456-789 and 123456789 are the same account.
- When you enter your account number for a wire transfer, ACH payment, or direct deposit, you can include or omit the dashes without affecting the transaction.
- Your routing number and account number together identify your account, and dashes in either one are also optional during data entry.
- Some banks use dashes on printed checks and statements for clarity, while others do not—check your specific bank's format.
Where dashes appear and where they do not
Dashes most commonly show up on printed checks and bank statements because they make long strings of numbers easier to read. A 10-digit account number broken into groups (like 123-456-789) is less error-prone when someone is reading it aloud or copying it by hand. Banks choose their own formatting standard, so one bank might always use dashes while another never does.
Online banking platforms vary widely. Some display your account number with dashes in your account summary, others without. Mobile banking apps may show it one way on the main screen and another way when you tap to copy it. The underlying account number remains unchanged regardless of how it appears on screen.
Entering account numbers for transfers and payments
When you initiate a wire transfer, set up a bill payment, or authorize a direct deposit, the system you are using will accept your account number with or without dashes. Most online banking platforms and payment processors automatically strip out dashes and spaces before sending the data to the receiving bank. If you paste a number that includes dashes, the system handles it.
That said, some older or specialized systems may have trouble with dashes. If a form rejects your entry and you included dashes, try entering the number without them. The reverse is also true: if a form seems to expect dashes and you entered the number without them, add them in the format your bank uses. A quick call to your bank's customer service can confirm the exact format they prefer for that particular transaction type.
Routing numbers and dashes
Your routing number—the nine-digit code that identifies your bank—can also appear with dashes on checks and statements, typically formatted as 123-456-789. Like your account number, the dashes are optional when you enter it into a system. The routing number itself is always nine digits with no dashes in the actual code.
When you provide both your routing number and account number together (as you do for direct deposit or wire transfers), you can include dashes in both, neither, or just one. The receiving bank's system will parse the numbers correctly. However, if a form has separate fields for routing and account number, make sure you put the correct number in the correct field—the dashes do not matter, but the numbers themselves do.
What happens if you include dashes by mistake
If you enter your account number with dashes into a system that does not expect them, one of three things usually happens. Most modern systems automatically remove the dashes before processing. Some systems accept the dashes and process the transaction normally. Occasionally, a form will reject the entry and ask you to re-enter without dashes.
A rejected entry is not a sign that something is wrong with your account—it is just a formatting requirement of that particular form. Re-enter the number without dashes and the transaction will go through. If a system repeatedly rejects your account number even without dashes, the problem is likely that you have entered the wrong number, not that the format is incorrect.
Checking your account number format
The easiest way to see how your bank formats your account number is to look at a recent check or your latest bank statement. Your account number appears on both, and you will see whether your bank uses dashes. You can also log into your online banking and look at your account summary—most banks display it there as well.
If you need to provide your account number to someone else (an employer for direct deposit, a creditor for a payment arrangement, or a service provider), you can give it in whatever format is most convenient. Write it with dashes if that is how it appears on your check, or without dashes if you prefer. The person receiving it will understand either way, and their system will process it correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use dashes when I set up direct deposit?
Yes. Your employer's payroll system will accept your account number with or without dashes. Most systems automatically remove dashes before sending the information to your bank. If the form rejects your entry, try entering the number without dashes.
Does it matter if I write my account number with dashes on a check?
No. The check itself is processed by the bank's machines, which read the magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line at the bottom—not the handwritten numbers. How you write the account number in the memo line or elsewhere on the check does not affect processing.
What if the form asks for my account number and I only have it with dashes?
Enter it with the dashes. If the system rejects it, remove the dashes and try again. Most modern systems handle both formats, but older or specialized forms may require one or the other.
Are dashes part of my actual account number?
No. Your account number is only the digits. Dashes are added by your bank for readability on statements and checks. The actual account number is the same whether it displays as 123-456-789 or 123456789.