Check Bank Routing Numbers Online

Bank routing is used to signify which financial institution a check originates from. This can be important on a number of levels and can be checked online.

What Is A Bank Number?

A bank routing, otherwise referred to as an ABA or a routing transit number, is a nine digit code. The purpose of it is to signify what financial institution a particular account is connected with. They are generally located at the bottom of checks or other financial negotiating equipment. Such routing are used generally in the USA and each financial institution has at least one bank.

What Do The Digits Mean?

All bankfollow a standard format. The first two numbers refer to a US city or state. For instance, 59 would mean that the check comes from Hawaii. The following three digits signify which financial institution the check is from. The next three digits refer to the Federal Reserve Symbol which is an indication as to which Federal Reserve Bank the money originates from. The last number is used by the computer to check that the first eight digits were recognized correctly.

Why Are They Used?

In general, a bank number enables people to write checks as opposed to having to pay with cash. In this sense, the bank, in essence, is the address of where the check originated and the return address of where the money should go. This information can then be used by those sorting and delivering the checks.

Apart from paper checks, a bank can be useful in other instances. For example, if an individual wants money to be drawn directly from their account for their cell phone or cable bill. An ABA

routing number is also used in the case of Fedwire funds which are transferred by the Federal Reserve Banks as well as for the processing of automated transfers, for example, bill payments and direct deposits by the Automated Clearing House.

What can you check for online?

If you use a bank database, it's possible to find a number of pieces of data. For example:

* Institution's Routing Number

* Servicing FRB Number

* Date a Bank was changed

* Routing Transit Number address

* Bank office code

* New Bank Number.

Where can you verify a one online?

Verifying a one over the Internet is the simplest and quickest way. It can be done by using a routing number verification website. These websites are made up of databases from different financial institutions. You can check a number by searching for a bank's name and where they are based or even by using the routing or part of it. A number of these websites offer free service. For others you may have to pay a fee.

Learn to Write a Personal Check

Personal checks were designed to make life easier for you. A check will usually have a check number, a place to write the date, a place to write the name of the payee, a place to write the amount of money you are sending and a place for your signature.

Writing a personal check will require you to date the check, write the amount of the check, write the name of the payee and sign the check.

When you write the amount of the check out in numbers, you generally write for example, one hundred dollars and then the number of cents is written like a fraction. The number of cents followed by a line and then the number 100. If you have no cents, you just write the word no followed by the line and then the number 100.

You will then want to sign the check with your name. When you sign your check, sign it the same way each time to help prevent someone from successfully forging your signature.

There is other information on a personal check that is important for you to know. The first, is a number in the upper right hand side of the check that tells you, the record keeper which check number it is. This will help you if you use your checks in sequential order. It is another way to chronologically keep track of your expenses.

There are also numbers in the lower left side of the check that are called routing numbers. The first numbers are banking numbers that represent the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank's processing center and your local bank. Routing numbers are often required when making online transactions.

The second set of numbers in the lower left hand corner of your personal checks are your bank account numbers. These can be printed on any checks your order through your bank or online.

The third set of numbers in the lower left hand corner is a repetition of the check number itself.

In the lower left side of your check there is usually a blank line and this is generally used for writing yourself a reminder note about why you wrote the check or what you purchased with your check.

In the United States, a personal check is only good for six months after the date it was issued. After that, your check is no longer valid.

Writing a check is easy to do. When writing your personal checks make sure to record the amount of the check in your checkbook so you can track your spending. This helps make managing your money ever so much easier.

Designing Checks

Using the design features of a good check writing program can be a fun way to personalize checks. The font style and color can be customized, personal or business logos can be added as well as background graphics or watermarks.

Check graphics included in a check design should not cover required check information (see list below). Also make sure that background graphics are not too dark; otherwise, written information may be hard to read and although the magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line is printed with magnetic toner so the MICR numbers and symbols can be read through layers of other ink, some low quality toner brands may not print the MICR line with enough magnetic particles for MICR scanners to read with a dark background graphic.

Be selective with a check design; don’t load on graphics just because they’re available. A cluttered check is not attractive and some financial institutions may charge extra processing fees if the check information cannot be easily read.

Below is a list of required check information fields and an example of where the information is usually located on a check:

Check number: Sequential check number that usually appears in the top right corner.

Bank routing number (optional): The Federal Reserve assigns specific states to each Federal Reserve Bank. This number is usually at the top to the left of the check number. The Bank routing number is required in the MICR line.

Date of check

Amount of Check: Numbers with decimals.

Legal amount (optional): the amount spelled out in words. For example: $132.59 would be written: one hundred thirty two and 59/100. The legal amount entry was created to help decipher bad handwriting. Some financial institutions will accept checks without the legal amount entry provided that the check is pre–written by a computer or typewriter and asterisks *** are placed before and after the amount to prevent altering.

Pay to the order of: The name of the person(s), company(s), institution(s), etc. who will receive the check; the payee.

Payor information: The name and address of the person, business, institution, etc. that is legally responsible to honor the check amount.

Payor’s financial institution information: The name and address of the financial institution where the payor’s checking account is located.

Signature line: Located at the bottom right. The payor’s signature gives the payor’s financial institution permission to withdraw or transfer the check amount from the payor’s checking account.

MICR line: Special numbers and symbols printed across the bottom. It is required for all checks and must be printed with magnetic toner. The MICR line contains the check, routing and account number.