What is a bank account number? Learn how to find your bank account numbers online. Plus, check out how to keep your account safe. Show
Need to pay bills online? Or set up direct deposit? You're going to need your bank account number. Your account number is the key to pretty much any bank transaction you need to make. Below, see how to find your bank account number. Plus, see the difference between an account number and a routing number. What is a Bank Account Number?Your account number is a set of digits assigned by your bank to identify your personal account. Each unique account is associated with a different bank account number. Account numbers are usually between 9 and 12 digits long. If you have a checking account and a savings account, for example, each account will have its own number. The account numbers are different even if the accounts are with the same bank. Bank account numbers need to be kept secure. If someone gets their hands on your bank account number, it could make you vulnerable to fraud. Are Account Numbers Unique?Account numbers are the fingerprint of your account. Therefore, they are unique. It's associated with:
Every account you have will have a different account number. If a bank acquires or merges with another bank, your account number might be subject to change. But, you will be notified in case this happens. If it doesn't, you should contact a customer service representative. How to Find Your Bank Account NumberYour account number can be found in many different places. Here's how to quickly find your bank account number: Paper Check The first 9 digits at the bottom left of your check are your routing number. The second set of digits will be your account number. Finally, the last few digits are just the check number. Bank Statement Online Contact Your Bank You might need to provide information like your Social Security number or driver's license as proof. Routing Number vs. Account Number vs. SWIFT CodeYou can find both your routing number and account number on a check. But each number serves different purposes. An account number identifies your specific bank account. Routing numbers, on the other hand, help financial institutions identify each other. Each bank has its own set of routing numbers, and each routing number is 9 digits long. Some banks have separate routing numbers for each state. For example, Chase has one California routing number. All Chase customers in California use that same number. You may need your routing number to do the following:
A SWIFT code, also known as a BIC number, is used to identify banks when you're dealing with international transfers. Each bank has its own 11-digit SWIFT code. The code provides information about the bank, country, and specific location. What is an International Bank Account Number?An international bank account number, or IBAN, identifies a foreign bank account. The number is up to 34 characters long. The IBAN functions in the same way as a regular account number. It gives information about your specific account, bank, and country. Compare this to a SWIFT code, which identifies a bank but not the account details. How to Keep Your Bank Account Number SafeYour bank account number is sensitive information that should be kept private. The last thing you want is for your financial information to get into the wrong hands. Here are a few ways to keep your bank account number safe: Memorize Your Account Number Don't Share Your Information Be Careful on Public Wi-Fi Destroy Checks Before Throwing Away Account Number VulnerabilityAccount numbers are vulnerable to identity theft and fraud. Especially with online banking, hackers are more likely to get their hands on your info. Because of this, banks will usually have multi-factor authentication systems. They are put in place to protect you from hackers. These systems are the reason why you often have to answer annoying questions to get to your account. But, multi-factor authentication can be many things, such as:
Bottom LineIf you need to set up direct deposit, pay bills, make a wire transfer, or link your bank account to an online budgeting tool or money management app, you're going to need your bank account numbers. The best way to keep these important numbers safe is to memorize them. But if you're not able to, you have a lot of options for locating your account number. You can easily find your bank account number on a check or through a bank statement. Looking to open a new bank account? Check out the best current bank promotions here. References
Donna Tang is a content associate at CreditDonkey, a bank comparison and reviews website. Write to Donna Tang at . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts. Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do. Are all account numbers 9 digits?The routing number, account number, and check number are located at the bottom edge of your check. Routing numbers are always 9 digits long. Account numbers may be up to 17 digits long.
Is an account number 10 numbers?It's the left group of numbers. Your Checking account number is the middle group of numbers at the bottom of a check. Be sure to include the 01 when referring to the Checking account, avoiding spaces or hyphens, so the account number is a total of ten digits.
Is account number 8 digits?Your account number is a unique eight-digit code that identifies your personal bank account. You can find it in lots of places, including on your debit card and in the mobile banking app, your bank statements and on printed cheques. Find out more about account numbers below.
How many digits are in a full account number?Bank account number
This is a 7-digit number that's used to refer to one of your unique deposit or Personal Line of Credit accounts.
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