Yes, savings accounts have routing numbers — the same one as your checking account
Your savings account uses the same routing number as your checking account at the same bank. The routing number identifies the bank itself, not the type of account. When you need to receive a transfer, direct deposit, or wire into your savings account, you give the sender your routing number plus your savings account number — not a separate routing number for savings.
This trips up a lot of people because they think different account types need different routing numbers. They do not. One routing number per bank, used for all accounts you hold there.
Key Takeaways
- Your savings account shares the routing number with your checking account; banks use one routing number for all account types.
- You need both the routing number and your specific savings account number when receiving transfers or direct deposits into savings.
- Your bank statement, online banking portal, or a call to customer service will show you your routing number in under a minute.
- If you have accounts at multiple banks, each bank has its own routing number, but all your accounts at one bank share that single number.
Where to find your savings account routing number
The easiest place is your bank statement. Look at the bottom left corner of any check or the header of your statement — the routing number is usually printed there as a nine-digit code. If you have online banking, log in and look for account details or account information; most banks display the routing number right next to the account number.
You can also call your bank's customer service line and ask for your routing number. Have your account number ready, and they will give it to you in seconds. Some banks also print it on their website if you search "[your bank name] routing number" — but verify it against your statement or call to be sure, since scam sites sometimes rank high in search results.
Routing number versus account number: what each one does
The routing number tells the banking system which bank to send money to. Think of it as the bank's address. The account number tells the bank which specific account within that bank — yours, not someone else's at the same bank. You need both pieces of information for any transfer to land in the right place.
When you set up direct deposit for your paycheck into savings, for example, you give your employer both numbers. Your employer's payroll system uses the routing number to find your bank, then uses the account number to find your savings account within that bank. If you give the right routing number but the wrong account number, the money goes to the wrong account at the correct bank. If you give the wrong routing number, the money may bounce back or land at a different bank entirely.
What happens if you give the wrong routing number
If you provide an incorrect routing number, the transfer usually fails and bounces back to the sender within one to three business days. The sender's bank will reject it because the routing number does not match any real bank in the system. You will not lose the money — it returns to the sender's account.
The exception is if you accidentally give a real routing number that belongs to a different bank. In that case, the money reaches that bank, but the account number you provided will not match any account there, and it bounces back the same way. Intentionally sending money to the wrong bank is fraud, but honest mistakes are caught by the system before the money leaves your sender's bank.
Routing numbers for online banks and credit unions
Online banks and credit unions have routing numbers just like traditional banks. Online banks like Ally, Marcus, or Discover each have their own routing number. Credit unions have routing numbers too — sometimes called ACH routing numbers — and they work the same way. The process for finding your routing number is identical: check your statement, log into online banking, or call customer service.
If you have accounts at multiple institutions, each one has a different routing number. Your savings account at Bank A and your savings account at Bank B will have different routing numbers because they belong to different banks. But your checking and savings accounts at Bank A share Bank A's routing number.
Using your routing number for different types of transfers
Your routing number works for ACH transfers (the standard electronic transfer between banks), wire transfers, direct deposit, and automatic bill payments. When you set up any of these, you will be asked for your routing number and account number. The routing number stays the same regardless of the transfer type — it is always your bank's identifier.
Wire transfers sometimes ask for a different code called a SWIFT code if the money is going to another country, but for domestic transfers within the United States, the routing number is what you need. Some banks also use an ABA number, but that is the same thing as a routing number — ABA stands for American Bankers Association, the organization that assigns routing numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a different routing number if I have multiple savings accounts at the same bank?
No. All your accounts at one bank — whether you have two savings accounts, a checking account, and a money market account — share the same routing number. The account number is what distinguishes one account from another within that bank.
What if my bank merged with another bank?
Your routing number may change after a merger. Your bank will notify you and update your account information. Check your most recent statement or log into online banking to confirm your current routing number, especially if you set up automatic transfers before the merger.
Can someone steal money from my savings account if they have my routing number?
Not with just the routing number alone. They would need both your routing number and your account number to transfer money out. Even then, most banks require additional verification for large transfers. Never share your account number with anyone you do not trust, but the routing number by itself is not sensitive information — it is printed on your checks and statements.
Is the routing number on my debit card the same as my bank's routing number?
Your debit card does not show a routing number. If you need your routing number, use your statement, online banking, or call your bank. The card itself only displays the card number and expiration date.