Bank Account Number on Check

If you are planning to open up a checking account with one of the banks or the credit unions offering their financial services, it is important that you first take the time to learn more about checking accounts. Checking accounts are one of many other types of bank accounts that these financial institutions offer to consumers. Checking accounts, as you can already infer, are bank accounts that make use of checks. Some of the most important things that you need to learn more about before opening this kind of account is the role as well as the importance of the bank account number on check.

What is a Bank Account Number? A Brief Overview on Bank Account Numbers

The bank account number on check, in a nutshell, is your unique account number with the financial institution where you have opened your account with. The account number is assigned by the bank to a savings account or to a checking account holder. This is also the primary identifier for the ownership of a particular financial account, whether it is a loan account, a brokerage account, a checking account, a savings account, a vendor account, etc.

In this case however, since we are focused on the “bank account number on check,” we are referring to the identifying set of numbers unique to each bank account holder. The bank account number that you will be able to find in checks are a set of numbers used to associate the checks with the banks and the accounts that they originated from. These account numbers also enable the bank account holders to perform direct bank deposits as well as access their bank accounts through the World Wide Web (given that their banks also operate online), via telephone or mobile banking, and also through ATMs.

How to Distinguish the Bank Account Number on Check from the Other Series of Numbers

Now that we have a covered the basics about bank account numbers, you now may be wondering as to how you will be able to distinguish this specific set of numbers from the other series of numbers you see printed on your bank checks. Before we proceed, we need to first discuss what these other “series of numbers” are so that you can come to a better understanding of what to expect when you make use of your bank checks. Below is a brief description of the two other set of numbers that you will find aside from the bank account number on check.

• The Bank Routing Number – The bank routing number, also referred to as the routing number, the ABA number, or the bank routing transit number, is a series of numbers comprised of 9 digits. Each of these 9 digits represent unique purposes and meanings, and is always the first set of numbers to appear in the sequence of numbers you will see on your bank checks. The routing number will always appear before the bank account number on check.

• The Check Number – The check number is most often situated right after the bank account number on check. This is a series of numbers that exactly matches the number that you will also see printed on the upper right hand corner of the check itself. Make sure that while they are printed on different areas of the check, they should always match.

So now that you know more about what the other series of numbers printed aside from the bank account number on check stand for, you will now be able to easily determine which is which. If you are still having a bit of trouble distinguishing which is the routing number, the check number, or the bank account number, keep in mind the following tips that will make it easier for you:

• The Acronym RAC – Some people who have a hard time remembering which of the series of numbers stands for the routing number, the check number, or the bank account number on check, they use the acronym RAC. RAC stands for Routing number, Account number, Check number. This is always often helpful as most checks follow this sequence. However, keep in mind that there are still some financial institutions that print out checks wherein the bank account number is preceded by the check number.

• The Number of Digits in the Sequence of Numbers – This might be a bit confusing, so to make it a lot easier for you to understand, what we are referring to is the set of numbers comprised of 9 digits. Always keep in mind that the bank routing transit number (ABA or routing number for short) is always comprised of 9 digits, no more, no less. This sequence of numbers is also always the first set of numbers to appear, so if you are confused as to whether this is the account number or not, if it is 9 digits and it appears first, you can already eliminate this as the bank account number on check.

• The Check Number Appears Twice – Last, but not the least, is to keep in mind the fact that the check number always appears twice. The check number will appear in the Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) line, together with the bank routing transit number and the bank account number on check. It will also be printed on the upper right hand corner of the check. So if you are still confused, check if this series of numbers on the MICR line is printed again on the upper right hand. If yes, then this is the check number and not the bank account number.