The ABA Routing Number was developed by the American Bankers Association in 1910. It identifies the specific financial institution responsible for the payment of a negotiable instrument:

Originally designed to identify only check processing endpoints, it has evolved to designate participants in automated clearinghouses, electronic funds transfer and online banking. The ABA Routing Number has changed over the years to accommodate the Federal Reserve System, the advent of MICR, and the implementation of the Expedited Funds Availability Act and Check 21.

Who Is Eligible for an ABA Routing Number?

An ABA Routing Number can be issued only to a federal or state chartered financial institution which has been determined to be eligible for a master account by a Federal Reserve Bank. The assignment of a Routing Number does not expand or change in any way the powers of the financial institution as specified in its charter. For more details, see the entire Routing Number Policy. Once in receipt of the assigned Routing Number, the financial institution must actually be granted the master account at one of the twelve Federal Reserve Banks in order to have direct access to the Federal Reserve’s payment systems and to settle transactions with other participants in the central banking system.

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Where is the ABA Routing Number on my checks?

You can find the ABA Routing Number at the bottom of your checks. The ABA Routing Number is the left-most number, followed by your account number, and then by the number of the check.

Obtaining a Routing Number

LexisNexis Risk Solutions is the official registrar of ABA Routing Numbers. A newly organized financial institution must complete and submit an application to LexisNexis Risk Solutions to be assigned its ABA Routing Number. For additional details regarding the application process, contact:

Routing Number Registrar
LexisNexis Risk Solutions
1007 Church Street
Evanston, Illinois 60201
(800) 321-3373
(847) 933-8040 fax
[email protected]

ABA Key to Routing Numbers

In addition to its Registrar duties, LexisNexis Risk Solutions publishes the American Bankers Association's Key to Routing Numbers. Since 1911, this Directory has been providing the industry with the official Routing Number information. The ABA Key to Routing Numbers is published semi-annually to keep pace with the rapid changes in the industry.

Inaccurate, incomplete, or missing Routing Number information can cost you thousands of dollars every month. With the latest ABA Key to Routing Numbers, you will always have the accurate data right at your fingertips. Each new edition covers thousands of updates, including title changes and newly assigned or retired Routing Numbers.

This invaluable resource can help you process checks and return items, initiate wire transfers, pre-authorize drafts, and handle collections. In addition to listings of every active nine-digit Routing Number (approximately 28,000), you also get five years of retired Routing Number information for research purposes.

LexisNexis Risk Solutions offers a full line of payment solutions that includes Routing Numbers, in print, web-based look-up & electronic formats, to facilitate payment processing as well. To order the ABA Key to Routing Numbers publication and other valuable banking products, contact:

LexisNexis Risk Solutions
1007 Church Street
Evanston, Illinois 60201
(800) 321-3373
(847) 933-8101 fax
[email protected]
Visit LexisNexis Risk Solutions at: https://risk.lexisnexis.com