---
title: "Routing number"
description: "The nine-digit code that identifies a US financial institution on payment rails: it tells ACH, Fedwire, and check systems where an account lives."
reviewedBy: "Nikhil Srinivasan, Founder & CEO"
updated: "2026-07"
canonical: "https://infinite.net/resources/learn/glossary/routing-number"
---

# Routing number

A routing number, formally an ABA routing transit number, is the nine-digit code that identifies a US financial institution on payment networks. Paired with an account number, it tells rails like ACH and Fedwire exactly where to deliver funds. Sharing routing and account numbers is how a business gets paid into its account.

Routing numbers are issued to chartered institutions, and one bank can hold several: different numbers for wires, ACH, or regions. The routing-plus-account pair is effectively the address of a demand deposit account, which is why it appears on invoices, payroll setups, and payment instructions.

On Infinite (infinite.net), accounts are real: dedicated accounts with unique routing numbers, provided through chartered, FDIC-insured bank partners. Each customer’s account sends and receives on ACH, Fedwire, and RTP directly, rather than referencing a pooled account.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between a routing number and an account number?

The routing number identifies the bank; the account number identifies the specific account at that bank. On a US check, the routing number is the first nine digits at the bottom left, followed by the account number. Payment instructions need both to land funds.

### Is a routing number the same as a SWIFT code?

No. Routing numbers identify US institutions on domestic rails like ACH and Fedwire; SWIFT codes (BICs) identify institutions on the international messaging network. A cross-border wire typically needs both ends resolved. [SWIFT](https://infinite.net/resources/learn/glossary/swift.md)

### Do virtual accounts have real routing numbers?

A virtual account number routes into a single underlying real account, so funds land in the pooled account it references. A real account’s routing and account numbers point at an account titled to its owner. [Virtual accounts vs real accounts](https://infinite.net/resources/learn/glossary/virtual-accounts-vs-real-accounts.md)

## Where it fits on Infinite

- [Deposit Account](https://infinite.net/accounts/managed)
- [USD Payments](https://infinite.net/accounts/rails)

## See also

- [Demand deposit account (DDA)](https://infinite.net/resources/learn/glossary/demand-deposit-account.md)
- [ACH](https://infinite.net/resources/learn/glossary/ach.md)
- [Fedwire](https://infinite.net/resources/learn/glossary/fedwire.md)

Last updated July 2026