E-Payments Routing Directory Frequently Asked Questions (2024)

Federal Reserve Financial Services is committed to providing the answers and information you need. Answers to many of the most frequently asked questions can be found using the links below.

If your question is not answered by the information provided on the site, the Contact service provides a comprehensive list of service and support contacts who can assist you.

General Information

  1. What is the E-Payments Routing Directory?

    The Federal Reserve Banks’ E-Payments Routing Directory provides basic routing information for Fedwire® Funds Service, Fedwire Securities Service, and FedACH® transactions. This information is synchronized with the Fedwire and FedACH databases daily and is provided to institutions to help them process and settle transactions efficiently. The information contained in the directory may not be sold, relicensed, or otherwise used for commercial gain.

  2. Is access to the E-Payments Routing Directory restricted to users within the United States?

    No, the E-Payments Routing Directory can be accessed by any authorized user in any part of the world. The information contained in the directory may not be sold, relicensed, or otherwise used for commercial gain.

  3. How often is the information in the directory updated?

    Information in the E-Payments Routing Directory is updated daily, generally by 5:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). The effective date of the data is published at the bottom of the search screens.

  4. Is the status of an institution in the directory the same as the status of the institution in the Fedwire and FedACH systems?

    Yes, each institution's status in the directory corresponds directly with its status in the Fedwire and FedACH databases as of the close of business the previous business day. The information in the E-Payments Routing Directory website is derived directly from these databases and reloaded on the website each day.

  5. I want to make changes to my institution's status. How do I do that?

Downloading the Directory

  1. How do I download the directory?
  2. Is there a fee for downloading the E-Payments Routing Directory?

    There is no fee associated with the manual download of the E-Payments Routing Directory accessible via a FedLine Solution. However, there may be a fee associated with use of a download code to automatically download the directory. The Federal Reserve Banks charge a fee to institutions for the use of a download code via a FedLine Solution.

  3. Why are the Federal Reserve Banks removing the public complete E-Payments Routing Directory data file from FRBservices.org in December 2018?

    Due to increased security concerns in the industry and reported misuse of the directory data, the Federal Reserve Banks have decided to secure this data in our FedLine Solution and remove it from our public website.

  4. I am not a financial institution. How do get this data after December 9, 2018?
  5. How do I contact my financial institution to obtain a download code?
  6. How big are the downloaded directory files?

    As text files, the directory of Fedwire Funds Service and Fedwire Securities Service participants is approximately 1 megabyte, while the directory of FedACH Participant RDFIs is approximately 3 megabytes.

  7. Can I download the directory file using FTP (File Transfer Protocol)?

    There is no FTP capability for downloading the E-Payments Routing Directory. The directory can be downloaded in text format via HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol - Secured), a protocol that encrypts the directory's text file in transit. Commencing on December 9, 2018, only institutions with a Fedline Solution will be able to manually download the complete directory.

Related Information

  1. How do I find the telephone number for a FedACH participant?

If you have further questions about the E-Payments Routing Directory, please contact the Support Center.

Please include your institution's name and routing number.

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E-Payments Routing Directory Frequently Asked Questions (2024)

FAQs

Is the Fedwire number the same as the routing number? ›

A bank routing/account number is for your personal account, and a fed wire transfer number is strictly for bank-to-bank transfers. For example, you want to wire someone some money, your bank would take the money out of your account and wire that to the XYZ bank of your choice.

How do I find my routing number for the Federal Reserve? ›

Online banking – You'll be able to get your bank's routing number by logging into online banking. Check or statement – bank-issued check or bank statement. Fedwire – You can look up your routing number on the official website of the Federal Reserve.

What is a fed ACH routing number? ›

The acronym ACH stands for Automated Clearing House , and like ABA routing numbers, ACH routing numbers are nine-digit numbers unique to their respective financial institutions. Unlike ABA routing numbers, ACH routing numbers are used for electronic transactions between financial institutions. 1.

What is routing number payment method? ›

A routing number is a nine-digit bank identification number. Think of it as a numerical address that allows a bank to send and receive money from other financial institutions. The routing number identifies the financial institution responsible for the payment and ensures that funds go to the right place.

What happens if you use a wire routing number instead of an ACH? ›

know that banks have two separate routing numbers. One for wire transfers and one for ACH transfers. If you used your banks wire transfer number it will still go to your bank but the banks computer systems will not know where to put the money and there is a good chance they will reject it.

How to know if routing number is ACH or wire? ›

ACH routing numbers are different from ABA routing numbers since they're used specifically for electronic transactions. The first two digits of ACH routing numbers typically range from 61 to 72, whereas the first two digits of ABA routing numbers range between 00 and 12.

Is my social security number a federal reserve bank account? ›

The claim that numbers on a Social Security card can be used as a routing and account number to make purchases is FALSE, based on our research. The Fed has debunked the claim on numerous occasions. It is not possible for an individual to have a bank account with the Fed.

Who uses Fedwire? ›

Key Takeaways. Fedwire is a real-time gross settlement system of central bank money used by Federal Reserve (Fed) banks to transfer funds electronically between member institutions. Banks, businesses, and government agencies use Fedwire for large, same-day transactions.

How to find the routing number for your bank account without a check? ›

Your Bank's Online Portal or App — Outside of looking at your checks, the quickest and easiest way to find your bank's routing number is to check your account information through your bank's online portal or mobile app. Bank Statements — You can usually find your routing number somewhere on your monthly bank statement.

Is there a different routing number for ACH payments? ›

For some banks, the ACH and ABA routing numbers are the same, but other banks have separate numbers specifically for ACH transactions. This differentiation helps institutions to route the transactions through the correct processing systems—whether for direct deposit, bill payment, or other automated transfers.

What is the routing number for the treasury account? ›

TreasuryDirect's Routing Number 051736158; Your ten-digit TreasuryDirect account number, without hyphens, followed by the letter "P" (Example: A123456789P); The amount of your allotment/direct deposit; and. Your TreasuryDirect account can be marked as a type 22 (checking) or 32 (savings).

Can you verify a bank routing number? ›

Confirm the bank routing number provided on the ABA Routing Number Lookup website. Note that many scams involve use of valid routing numbers; therefore results provided by this website should not be taken as confirmation that a payee is legitimate.

What is the payment routing method? ›

In principle, the concept behind payment routing is straightforward: merchants select which processor to send an authorization request to when a customer initiates the payment process. However, beneath this simplicity lies a realm of intricate logic, strategic decision-making, and complex data flows.

Which routing number to use to receive money? ›

Whether you're setting up a direct deposit, making an electronic payment, or initiating a wire transfer, you'll use the same ABA routing number for your bank. It's important to note that the ABA routing number is specific to your bank or credit union and serves as a unique identifier.

What is another name for a routing number? ›

There are a few terms that are synonymous with "routing transit number," including "routing number," "transit number" and "ABA number." ABA is an acronym for the American Bankers Association, which established these numbers in 1910. 1 The terms "routing," "transit," and "ABA" are often used interchangeably.

Is wire transfer number same as routing number? ›

Not necessarily. Both transactions require a 9-digit number, but you will have to verify with the financial institution where you are sending the funds, if the ABA number for ACH or wires are the same, or which routing number should be used for a wire transfer and for the ACH.

What is a federal wire number? ›

What is a FedWire IMAD/OMAD number? IMAD/OMAD means Input/Output Message Accountability Data and it is a unique number given to each FedWire payment when using the Federal Reserve Bank Service and can be used to investigate and track wire transfers. This reference number is generated by your wire transfer for tracking.

What is FedWire also known as? ›

Fedwire (formerly known as the Federal Reserve Wire Network) is a real-time gross settlement funds transfer system operated by the United States Federal Reserve Banks that allows financial institutions to electronically transfer funds between its more than 9,289 participants (as of March 19, 2009).

How do I find my FedWire reference number? ›

The receipt for the wire transfer will include a section labeled "Fed Reference" or "Federal Reference." This is where you will find a unique series of numbers that you can use to investigate and track the electronic wire transfer from the initiating bank to the receiving bank.

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