Editing ABA routing transit number (section)

{{short description|Code used in U.S. check transactions}}
{{redirect|Routing transit number|the Canadian bank routing number system|Routing number (Canada)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}
In the [[United States]], an '''ABA routing transit number''' ('''ABA RTN''') is a nine-digit [[code]] printed on the bottom of [[cheque|checks]] to identify the [[financial institution]] on which it was drawn. The [[American Bankers Association]] (ABA) developed the system in 1910<ref name="bo04">{{harvnb|''Bankers' Hotline''|2004}}</ref> to facilitate the sorting, bundling, and delivering of paper checks to the drawer's (check writer's) bank for debit to the drawer's account.

Newer electronic payment methods continue to rely on ABA RTNs to identify the paying bank or other financial institution. The [[Federal Reserve Bank]] uses ABA RTNs in processing [[Fedwire]] funds transfers. The [[ACH Network]] also uses ABA RTNs in processing [[direct deposit]]s, bill payments, and other automated money transfers.