A 71 checking account is a standard personal checking account with a routing number that starts with 071

The "71" refers to the first two digits of your bank's routing number — a nine-digit code that identifies which financial institution holds your account. When you see "71 checking account" in banking materials or online, it simply means the account belongs to a bank whose routing number begins with those digits. This is not a special account type; it is a way to categorize accounts by their issuing bank's Federal Reserve district.

The routing number matters when you set up direct deposit, make wire transfers, or arrange automatic bill payments. Your bank prints it on the bottom left of your checks, and you can also find it on your bank's website or by calling customer service. The first two digits tell the Federal Reserve which region processes that bank's transactions.

If you have a checking account and have never heard the term "71 checking account," your account may still be one — you just know it by your bank's name instead. The 71 designation is mostly used by banks, employers, and payroll processors when they need to sort accounts by routing number prefix.

Key Takeaways

  • A 71 checking account is any personal checking account issued by a bank whose routing number starts with 071.
  • The routing number is a nine-digit code that identifies your bank and its Federal Reserve district, not the account type itself.
  • You need your routing number to set up direct deposit, wire transfers, and automatic bill payments.
  • Your routing number appears on the bottom left of your checks and on your bank's website.

Where the 71 prefix comes from

The Federal Reserve divides the country into 12 districts, and each district has a range of routing numbers assigned to banks within it. The first two digits of a routing number correspond to the Federal Reserve district where that bank is located or processes transactions. A routing number starting with 071 belongs to a bank in a specific Federal Reserve region.

This system has been in place since the Federal Reserve was created in 1913, though the routing number format itself was standardized later. Banks do not choose their routing number prefix — it is assigned based on their location and the Federal Reserve district they operate in. If your bank merges with another bank or moves its processing center, the routing number may change, but most banks keep the same routing number for decades.

The 71 prefix does not tell you anything about the account's features, fees, or interest rate. It is purely a technical identifier used by the banking system to route transactions correctly.

When you need to use your routing number

You will need your full routing number (all nine digits, including the 71 prefix) in several common situations. The most frequent is setting up direct deposit — when your employer or a government agency sends your paycheck or benefit payment directly to your bank account. Your employer's payroll department will ask for your routing number and account number.

You also need it for wire transfers, whether you are sending money to another bank or receiving a wire. If you set up automatic bill payments through your bank's website, the system uses your routing number to process the payment. Some online payment services and peer-to-peer money transfer apps also ask for your routing number when you link a bank account.

If you are receiving a tax refund by direct deposit, the IRS will ask for your routing number and account number on your tax return. The same applies to stimulus payments, unemployment benefits, and most other government payments sent directly to your bank.

How to find your routing number

The easiest place to find your routing number is on a check from your account. Look at the bottom left corner — you will see nine digits printed there. The first two digits are the 71 prefix (if that is your bank's routing number), and the full nine-digit number is your routing number.

If you do not have checks, log into your bank's website or mobile app. Most banks display your routing number in the account details or settings section. You can also call your bank's customer service line — the number is usually on the back of your debit card — and ask for your routing number. Have your account number ready when you call.

Some banks print the routing number on statements or deposit slips as well. If you are unsure whether you have the right number, ask your bank to confirm it before you use it for direct deposit or a wire transfer — using the wrong routing number can delay or misdirect your payment.

71 checking accounts and direct deposit setup

Direct deposit is the most common reason you will need to provide your 71 routing number. When your employer sets up direct deposit, they enter your routing number and account number into their payroll system. On payday, the payroll processor uses that information to send your paycheck to the correct bank and account.

The process usually takes one to two pay periods to activate after you submit your information. Your employer may ask you to provide a voided check (a check you have marked "void" across the front) or to fill out a direct deposit authorization form with your routing and account numbers written in. Either method works — the voided check is just proof that you own the account.

If you change banks, you will need to update your routing number and account number with your employer. Failing to do so means your paycheck will go to your old account even after you close it, which can create problems with your old bank and delay access to your money.

What happens if you use the wrong routing number

If you accidentally provide an incorrect routing number, the payment may be delayed or sent to the wrong bank. The Federal Reserve's system will try to match the routing number to a bank, and if it cannot find a match, the transaction may bounce back to the sender. This can take several business days, during which you will not have access to your money.

If the routing number is close to correct but belongs to a different bank, your payment might go to that bank's account instead. You would then have to contact both banks to trace the payment and request a reversal. This is why it is important to double-check your routing number before submitting it for direct deposit or a wire transfer.

For tax refunds and government payments, using the wrong routing number is particularly serious because the IRS and other agencies process millions of payments on a set schedule. If your refund goes to the wrong account, you may have to wait weeks or months for it to be returned and reissued to the correct account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a 71 routing number mean my bank is in a specific state?

Not necessarily. The 71 prefix corresponds to a Federal Reserve district, which covers multiple states. A bank in that district will have a routing number starting with 071, but you cannot determine the exact state from the first two digits alone. You would need to look up the full nine-digit routing number to find the specific bank and its location.

Can I change my routing number if I do not like the 71 prefix?

No. Your routing number is assigned by the Federal Reserve based on your bank's location and is not something you can change. If you want a different routing number, you would have to open an account at a different bank in a different Federal Reserve district, which is not a practical solution.

Is a 71 checking account different from a savings account?

The 71 prefix applies to any account at that bank — checking, savings, or money market. It is not specific to checking accounts. The routing number identifies the bank, not the type of account. Your savings account at the same bank would use the same routing number as your checking account.

What if my direct deposit keeps going to the wrong account even though I provided the correct routing number?

Contact your bank and your employer's payroll department. Ask your bank to confirm your account number is correct and that there are no duplicate accounts under your name. Ask your employer to verify they entered both your routing number and account number correctly in their system. Sometimes a typo in the account number (even one digit) will send the payment to a different account at the same bank.

Do I need to provide my routing number for online purchases or credit card payments?

No. You only need your routing number when linking a bank account to another service — like setting up direct deposit, making a wire transfer, or authorizing automatic bill payments. For regular online shopping or credit card payments, you do not need your routing number.