Yes, savings accounts have routing numbers, but you may not need to use yours
Your savings account has a routing number — the same one as your checking account at the same bank. The routing number identifies your bank to the Federal Reserve and other financial institutions. However, most people never use their savings account routing number because direct deposits, bill payments, and transfers almost always go to checking accounts instead.
You will need your savings account routing number only in specific situations: if you want to set up a direct deposit into savings, if you are receiving a wire transfer into savings, or if another person or organization needs to send you money directly to that account. For everyday transfers between your own accounts at the same bank, you typically do not need a routing number at all — the bank's internal system handles it.
The routing number is printed on the bottom left of your checks if you have a checkbook for that account. If you do not have checks, you can find it on your bank's website, by calling customer service, or by logging into your online banking portal.
Key Takeaways
- Savings accounts and checking accounts at the same bank share the same routing number.
- You only need your savings account routing number if someone outside the bank needs to send money directly into that account.
- Direct deposits, payroll, tax refunds, and government payments can be routed to savings accounts if you provide the correct routing and account numbers.
- Transfers between your own accounts at the same bank do not require a routing number — the bank handles them internally.
- Your bank's website, customer service phone line, or online banking login can show you your routing number within minutes.
When you actually need your savings account routing number
The most common reason to use a savings account routing number is setting up a direct deposit into savings instead of checking. Employers, the IRS, and government agencies like Social Security all allow you to choose which account receives your deposit. If you want your paycheck or tax refund to land in savings, you will need to provide both the routing number and your savings account number.
Wire transfers also require a routing number. If someone is sending you money by wire — whether from another bank, another country, or a payment service — you must give them your savings account routing number so the funds reach the right place. The same applies if you are receiving a settlement, insurance payout, or inheritance that the sender is wiring directly to your account.
Some bill payment services and peer-to-peer payment apps also ask for a routing number when you link a savings account. This is less common than it used to be, but it still happens with older banking platforms or when you are setting up automatic transfers to a savings account at a different bank.
How to find your savings account routing number
If you have checks for your savings account, the routing number is the first set of nine digits printed at the bottom left of the check. It appears before your account number. However, many banks no longer issue checks for savings accounts, so this method does not work for everyone.
Your bank's website is the fastest way to find it. Log into your online banking portal, navigate to your savings account details, and look for "routing number" or "ABA number" — both terms mean the same thing. Most banks display it prominently on the account summary page. If you cannot find it online, call your bank's customer service line and provide your account number; they can tell you the routing number in under a minute.
Some banks also print the routing number on statements or deposit slips. Check your most recent savings account statement — it may appear near the top or bottom, often labeled as "routing number," "transit number," or "ABA number."
Routing numbers are the same for all accounts at your bank
Every account you hold at the same bank — checking, savings, money market, or certificate of deposit — uses the same routing number. The routing number identifies the bank and the branch, not the individual account. Your account number is what distinguishes your savings account from your checking account or anyone else's account at that bank.
This means if you already know your checking account routing number, you do not need to look up a different one for savings. However, you must always provide the correct account number along with the routing number so the money reaches the right place. Giving the right routing number with the wrong account number will send your deposit to someone else's account at the same bank.
What happens if you give the wrong routing number
If you provide an incorrect routing number, the transfer or deposit may be rejected before it leaves the sending bank. The sending institution checks the routing number against a database of valid bank routing numbers, and if it does not match, the transaction fails and the money stays with the sender. This is actually a safety feature — it prevents money from going to the wrong bank.
If the routing number is close to correct but not exact, the money might reach a different bank entirely. That bank will then try to match the account number you provided, and if it does not exist there, the funds will be returned to the sender. This process can take several business days, so your money will be delayed but should come back.
The safest approach is to verify your routing number directly with your bank before you give it to an employer, the IRS, or anyone else sending you money. A five-second call to customer service or a quick check of your online banking portal prevents delays and confusion.
Savings account routing numbers and tax refunds
The IRS allows you to direct your tax refund to a savings account instead of a checking account. You will need to provide your routing number and savings account number on your tax return or when you file electronically. The IRS processes direct deposits in batches, so your refund may take longer to arrive than if you used a checking account, but it will reach your savings account if the information is correct.
Some tax software and tax preparation services flag savings accounts as unusual and ask you to confirm. This is not a problem — it just means the software is double-checking that you meant to send the refund there. Proceed with the savings account information if that is what you want.
If you are receiving a state tax refund, the same process applies. State revenue departments accept direct deposits to savings accounts and use the same routing and account number format as the IRS.
Routing numbers for online banks and credit unions
Online banks and credit unions also have routing numbers, and they work the same way as traditional banks. If you hold a savings account at an online bank like Ally, Marcus, or Discover, that account has a routing number you can use for direct deposits and wire transfers. Credit union savings accounts have routing numbers too, often called "transit numbers" in credit union terminology.
The process for finding your routing number is identical: check your online banking portal, look at your statements, or call customer service. Online banks typically display the routing number prominently in the account details section because they do not issue paper checks and want to make the information easy to find.
One difference: some online banks charge fees for wire transfers or incoming wires, so check your fee schedule before you arrange a wire transfer into your savings account. Direct deposits are almost always free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my savings account routing number for a direct deposit from my employer?
Yes. Provide your employer with your savings account routing number and your savings account number, and your paycheck will be deposited directly into savings. Some employers ask why you are using a savings account instead of checking, but there is no rule against it. You may want to keep a small amount in checking for everyday expenses and let the rest accumulate in savings.
Is my savings account routing number different from my checking account routing number?
No. Both accounts at the same bank share the same routing number. The routing number identifies the bank; your account number identifies which specific account receives the money. You must provide both pieces of information for the deposit to reach the right place.
What if I give someone my routing number but not my account number?
The transaction will fail. A routing number alone tells the sending bank which institution to send money to, but not which account within that institution should receive it. The sending bank will reject the transfer and return the money to the sender because the account number is missing.
Do I need a routing number to transfer money between my own accounts at the same bank?
No. Internal transfers between your checking and savings accounts at the same bank do not require a routing number. Your bank's system handles these transfers automatically using just your account numbers. You can set up these transfers through online banking or by calling customer service.
Where do I find my savings account routing number if I do not have checks?
Log into your online banking portal and look for your account details — the routing number is usually displayed there. You can also call your bank's customer service line and ask for your routing number, or check your most recent savings account statement. All three methods take less than five minutes.