A routing number, also known as an ABA number, is a nine-digit code that identifies the financial institution where an account is held. For example, the Rockland Trust routing number for accounts held at their main office in Rockland, Massachusetts is 211371592.
Routing numbers are important because they allow financial institutions to transfer funds electronically between each other. They are also used to process checks and other paper-based payments. In 1910, the American Bankers Association (ABA) established the routing number system to facilitate the exchange of checks between banks.
