After you’ve found and applied for a life insurance policy or opened an investment account, you may be asked for your bank routing number by your insurer. But what exactly is a routing number in Canada, and how and where do you find your transit and institution codes? Whether you’re filling out a direct deposit form or setting up an automatic withdrawal, having the right numbers matters.

In this guide, you’ll discover the difference between routing, transit, and institution numbers, how to locate them on a cheque or through your bank — and why correct formatting matters when applying for insurance or managing your finances.

What is a routing number?

A routing number in Canada is a unique code made up of 8 or 9 digits. It’s used to identify both your financial institution and the specific branch tied to your account. It includes:
the 5-digit branch number (also called the transit number) and a 3-digit institution number.

To read or generate your Canadian routing number, combine your transit number with your institution number. For example, TD’s branch at 394 Bay Street in Toronto has a transit number of 12162 and an institution number of 004. The full routing number is 12162-004.

Not sure where to find these numbers? We’ve broken it all down for you below. You’ll learn how to read your cheque, find your bank’s numbers online, and avoid mistakes when setting up insurance or automatic premium withdrawals.

Routing number vs Transit number vs Account number

In Canada, your bank routing number combines two key pieces of information: your transit number and your financial institution number. The transit number identifies your specific branch location, while the institution number identifies your bank. You can find your transit number by searching your bank branch online or by checking the bottom of a cheque.

Your account number is different. It’s a unique 7- to 12-digit number tied specifically to your bank account. This number directs where funds go when money is deposited or withdrawn, and it’s required for any type of automatic withdrawal or insurance premium payment. For example, insurance companies use both your routing number and account number to ensure they’re accessing the correct account when setting up automated premium payments.

When do I use my routing number?

When you apply for life insurance, you’ll often be asked to provide your routing number and account number as part of the delivery receipt process. This typically happens once your policy is approved and you’re ready to accept the offer.

At that point, you’ll complete a Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD) or Pre-Authorized Cheque (PAC) form. These are both types of Automated Funds Transfers (AFTs) that rely on your routing number to correctly identify your bank and branch. This ensures that monthly insurance premiums are withdrawn from the right account without interruption.

How to find your routing number using a cheque

Even if you haven’t heard the term routing number before, you’ve likely seen it printed on your cheques. Along the bottom of every Canadian cheque, you’ll find your routing number and account number — displayed in a special font for machine reading.

These numbers are separated by symbols that help differentiate each code.

From left to right, the numbers on a cheque usually appear in this order:

• The cheque number
• The transit (branch) number
• The institution number
• Your account number

If you’re unsure which number is which, knowing your bank’s institution number can help. It allows you to spot where the transit number ends and where the account number begins. Even if the numbers are separated by routing symbols, the institution number usually appears closely grouped with the transit number.

How to find your routing number if you don’t have a cheque

If you don’t have access to a physical cheque, don’t worry. There are still several reliable ways to locate your Canadian routing number through your bank’s digital tools. Most major banks and credit unions provide this information in your online banking portal or mobile app.

The fastest option is to download a void cheque or direct deposit form from your online banking account. These documents will show your transit number, institution number, and account number, which together make up your routing details. Look for this under “Account Details,” “Direct Deposit Info,” or similar headings.

Some banks list the full routing number directly in your account summary without needing to generate a form. This is often available in mobile apps or under profile settings. If you’re unsure where to look, visit your bank’s support page or search “void cheque” followed by your bank’s name.

In the next section, we’ll walk through how to locate routing numbers at Canada’s major financial institutions: TD, RBC, Scotiabank, CIBC, BMO, National Bank, and Tangerine.

Scotiabank Routing Number

You can find your Scotiabank routing number through online banking or the mobile app. This number combines the 5-digit transit number (branch) and the 3-digit institution number (002).

Online banking (desktop):

1. Log in to your Scotiabank online banking account.
2. From the Accounts page, select your chequing account.
3. Click Show account number and details to view your transit, institution, and account numbers.

To view a void cheque:

• Go to your chequing account.
• Select Direct Deposits & Payments.
• Click View/Print under Void Cheque.

Scotia mobile app:

1. Open the Scotia mobile app and tap your chequing account from the Home screen.
2. Select Manage, then tap Direct deposit / void cheque info.
3. Tap Void cheque to view or save a copy.

Scotiabank’s institution number is always 002. Your transit number appears before it. Together, your routing number will look like 01552-002.

TD Routing Number

You can find your TD routing number through EasyWeb online banking or the TD mobile app. This number combines your 5-digit transit number and your 3-digit institution number (004).

On desktop (EasyWeb):

1. Log in to your EasyWeb account.
2. Select Accounts from the menu.
3. Click your chequing account.
4. Choose the Direct deposit form (PDF) link. This will display a form with your branch and institution numbers.

On the TD mobile app:

1. Open the app and sign in.
2. Tap your chequing account.
3. Select More or the three dots (•••).
4. Tap Direct deposit / void cheque info to view your routing number and account details.

If you have trouble finding it, you can also call TD customer service for help.

BMO Routing Number

You can find your BMO routing number by logging into BMO Online Banking or using the BMO mobile app. This number includes your 5-digit transit number and your institution number (001).

Online banking (desktop):

1. Log in to your BMO online banking account.
2. Click the My Accounts tab at the top of the page.
3. From the left-hand menu, select the chequing account you need details for.
4. Your branch (transit) number and institution number will appear in the blue summary box at the top of the page.

You can also download a void cheque by clicking the Void cheque link. This PDF will show your full routing number and account details.

On the BMO mobile app:

1. Open the app and sign in.
2. Select your chequing account.
3. Tap the Account Details or Direct Deposit Info option (may appear under Manage).
4. Choose View Void Cheque to download your routing number and account info.

BMO’s institution number is always 001. Your routing number will appear in the format XXXXX-001, where XXXXX is your branch transit number.

RBC Routing Number

You can find your RBC routing number through RBC Online Banking or the RBC mobile app. This number is a combination of your 5-digit transit number and RBC’s 3-digit institution number (003).

Online banking (desktop):

1. Log in to your RBC Online Banking account.
2. Select one of your chequing accounts from the accounts list.
3. In the right-side menu, choose View and Print Payroll Direct Deposit Form.
4. Your account details will display, including the transit and institution numbers.
5. Click View and Print to open a pre-filled direct deposit form with your routing number.

On the RBC mobile app:

1. Open the app and sign in.
2. Tap your chequing account from the home screen.
3. Look for an option like Account Info or Direct Deposit Info.
4. Tap to view or download your void cheque or account details, including your routing number.

Your routing number will be formatted as XXXXX-003, where XXXXX is your transit number. On a cheque, these numbers appear immediately after the 3-digit cheque number at the bottom.

CIBC Routing Number

You can find your CIBC routing number through CIBC Online Banking or the CIBC mobile app. Your routing number includes your 5-digit transit number and CIBC’s institution number (010).

Online banking (desktop):

1. Log in to your CIBC Online Banking account.
2. From the My Accounts page, select your chequing account.
3. Look for the number formatted as XXXXX-YY-YYYYY. The first 5 digits are your transit number. The last 7 digits represent your account number.
4. You can also check your CIBC e-statements for the same number breakdown.

To download a void cheque, go to your chequing account, select Manage My Account, then click Void Cheque / Direct Deposit Info under Deposit Account Details. Choose Print to save the form.

On the CIBC mobile app:

1. Open the app and sign in to your chequing account.
2. Tap Account Info or Account Details.
3. Select Direct Deposit / Void Cheque to download your routing number and account information.

Your final routing number will appear as XXXXX-010, where XXXXX is your transit number.

Tangerine Routing Number

You can find your Tangerine routing number using Tangerine Online Banking or the Tangerine mobile app. Since Tangerine is a digital-only bank, all clients use the same routing number: 00152-614.

Online banking (desktop):

1. Log in to your Tangerine online banking account.
2. Select the chequing account you want details for.
3. Click Account Info or Download Void Cheque.
4. The PDF will display your account number, transit number (00152), and institution number (614).

On the Tangerine mobile app:

1. Open the Tangerine app and log in.
2. Select your chequing account from the dashboard.
3. Tap the settings or options menu (three dots or gear icon).
4. Select Direct Deposit Info or Void Cheque to view or download your routing details.

The Tangerine routing number format is always the same: 00152-614. This includes the 5-digit transit number (00152) and the 3-digit institution number (614).

How to find your routing number using your branch address

Payments Canada maintains the Financial Institution Branch Directory, an official and regularly updated database of Canadian bank branch addresses and routing numbers. This is the most accurate source for confirming your transit and institution numbers when you don’t have a cheque handy.

To look up your routing number based on your branch address:

1. Visit the Financial Institution Branch Directory on Payments Canada’s website.
2. Enter your branch’s address, city, or postal code in the search field.
3. Select your specific branch from the search results.
4. The listing will show your five-digit transit number and three-digit institution number.

This directory is widely used by the banking industry to verify routing numbers for direct deposits, insurance withdrawals, and other electronic transactions. Payments Canada updates it regularly to ensure nationwide accuracy.

Routing Number Directory by Payments Canada

Payments Canada maintains the official directory of routing numbers for all Canadian banks and credit unions. This resource is updated regularly and helps ensure your transit and institution codes are accurate when setting up direct deposits or automated withdrawals.

To search for your routing number, visit the Payments Canada Routing Number Directory. You can search by:

• Bank or financial institution name
• Transit number or branch code
• Institution number
• Location or postal code

This is especially useful if your account was opened online or through a centralized branch. For accuracy, use both your transit and institution numbers together when filling out insurance or investment forms.

Many insurance brokers also rely on this directory when confirming bank details for automated premium withdrawals. Verifying early helps avoid missed payments or claim delays.

How to find your transit number, account number, and institution number

While many Canadian cheques follow a similar layout, they don’t all look the same. Some banks separate routing numbers with unique symbols, while others present them as a continuous sequence of 8 or 9 digits.

Your transit number is a 5-digit code that identifies your bank branch. The institution number is a 3-digit code that represents your financial institution. Together, these form your routing number.

Your account number is usually 7 to 12 digits long and unique to your personal account. It’s used to deposit or withdraw funds into the right account  especially for insurance premium payments or direct deposit setups.

Below, we’ve broken down sample cheques from Canada’s major banks including BMO, Scotiabank, RBC, TD, and CIBC to show exactly where to find each number on your own.

BMO Transit and Account Number

On a BMO cheque, your transit number and institution number appear in the center — right after the cheque number, which is usually the first three digits. Your account number is the final numeric sequence, split into groups and separated by routing symbols.

Scotiabank Transit and Account Number

On a Scotiabank cheque, your transit number and institution number appear directly after the cheque number, which is typically the first three digits on the left. Your account number follows after the routing symbols and is split into two grouped sequences.

RBC Transit and Account Number

On an RBC cheque, your transit number and institution number appear immediately after the cheque number, which is typically the first three digits. Your account number follows, usually broken into three segments separated by MICR routing symbols.

TD Transit and Account Number

On a TD cheque, your transit number and institution number are located in the middle of the cheque, directly following the cheque number (typically the first three digits). A destination number may follow, and your account number appears as the final set, separated by MICR routing symbols.

CIBC Transit and Account Number

On a CIBC cheque, your transit number and institution number are located in the center, directly following the cheque number. Your account number appears as the final two groups of digits, divided by routing symbols along the MICR line.

Simplii Financial Transit and Account Number

Simplii Financial is a branchless bank and uses a shared transit number across all customers. Your transit number is 30800 and your institution number is 010. Your account number follows these and is the final sequence, separated by MICR routing symbols on your cheque.

1. Log in to Simplii’s online banking via web or mobile app.
2. Go to “Account Details” or “Direct Deposit / Void Cheque.”
3. Select the account you need details for.
4. You’ll see a pre‑filled void cheque or form showing your transit (30800), institution (010), and account numbers.
5. For mobile app: tap the account, then tap “Account Info” to view the same details.

Tangerine Transit and Account Number

On a Tangerine cheque, the transit number is a 5-digit code and the institution number is a 3-digit code, both found near the bottom of the cheque. Your account number follows these and is the final sequence, separated by MICR routing symbols.

Routing Number Formats (MICR vs. ETF)

In Canada, routing numbers are formatted differently depending on the payment method being used. Understanding the difference between MICR and ETF formats helps ensure your banking details are submitted correctly, especially for automatic withdrawals or deposits.

The MICR format (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) is commonly used for paper cheques. It appears as a string printed along the bottom of the cheque and looks something like this:
00012-003
In this example, 00012 is the transit number and 003 is the institution number.

The ETF format (Electronic Funds Transfer) is used for direct deposits and electronic payments. It combines the same numbers, but without the dash:
300012000
This format starts with the institution number (3-digit) followed by the transit number (5-digit).

If you’re submitting your routing details for insurance premiums, investment transfers, or any kind of automated payment, make sure you’re using the right format for the type of form. Most pre-authorized debit forms use the ETF version.

Routing Numbers for International Transfers (SWIFT and IBAN)

Canadian banks do not use IBANs (International Bank Account Numbers), but instead rely on SWIFT codes for international wire transfers. A SWIFT code is an 8 or 11-character identifier for banks and is required when receiving money from overseas.

Each bank has a specific SWIFT code. For example:

• TD Canada Trust: TDOMCATTTOR
• RBC: ROYCCAT2
• Scotiabank: NOSCCATT
• BMO: BOFMCAM2
• CIBC: CIBCCATT

To receive a wire transfer internationally, you’ll typically need:

• Your full name and address
• Your bank account number
• Your bank’s SWIFT code
• Your bank’s full name and address

Always verify this information with your financial institution before initiating a transfer. If any detail is incorrect, the transfer could be delayed or rejected.

Routing Info on Direct Deposit & Government Forms

Many Canadian institutions, including employers, insurance providers, and government agencies like the CRA, require your banking details to process direct deposits or automatic withdrawals. These forms typically ask for:

• Your bank’s routing number (institution + transit number)
• Your account number
• Sometimes the name and address of your financial institution

You can usually download a void cheque or direct deposit form from your online banking account. This ensures you enter accurate details and helps prevent missed payments or delays.

If you’re filling out a government form like the T1-DD – Direct Deposit Request, attach your void cheque or complete the banking section using the numbers from your cheque or bank portal.