How to find the account number on a check

Written by: Anna Baluch
• •2 min read
Young professional man sitting next to window, searching for checking account number on phoneImage: Young professional man sitting next to window, searching for checking account number on phone

In a Nutshell

A check has a few different numbers, including an account number. It’s easy to find, especially once you know where it is and what it looks like.
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Knowing how to find the account number on a check is important information to have if you’re writing, depositing or cashing one.

Checks have different numbers printed on them — including the account number, routing number, and a check number. So if you need to find the account number, it may not be obvious at first glance.

Let’s take a closer look at the different types of information on a check and how you can easily spot your account number.

What is an account number?

Your account number is a series of numbers that’s unique to your account. It tells a bank or credit union where the money is coming from or going to. You can think of it as your fingerprints or customer ID because it’s unique to your specific bank account.

Your account number differs from your routing number, which helps identify your banking institution and the location where you opened your account. If you have multiple checking accounts or a checking and savings account at the same bank, your account numbers will be different while your routing numbers will be the same.

Where to find your account number on a check

There are several numbers located on the bottom of a check. Your checking account number will generally be the second set of numbers from the left, just to the right of the bank routing number. It will likely be anywhere between nine and 12 digits.

Other places to find your account number

You can find your account number even if you don’t have a paper check handy. Here are a few other ways to find out your account number.

  • Log into your online or mobile account. If you like to do your banking digitally, you can most likely access your account information, including your account number, through your online banking account or mobile app.
  • Check your monthly statements. Whether you receive your bank statements in the mail or digitally through email, they’ll typically have your account number printed on them.
  • Visit your bank or credit union. If your bank has a physical location, you can stop by and ask for a bank representative to look up your account information. Be sure to bring your ID with you — you’ll likely need to show it before the bank will share any account information with you.

What’s next?

Remember, account numbers are part of your personal banking information and unique to your account. So it’s important to keep this information private and safe, along with your routing number. To help protect yourself from fraud, never share your account information unless you’re sure who is asking for it and why.

About the author: Anna Baluch is a freelance personal finance writer from Cleveland, Ohio. You can find her work on sites like The Balance, Freedom Debt Relief, LendingTree and RateGenius. Anna has an MBA in marketing from Roosevelt Un… Read more.