Account Number: Definition & Examples

These are used to generate the balance sheet, which conveys the business’s financial health at that point in time and whether or not it owes money. Revenue and expense accounts are listed next and make up the income statement, which provides insight into a business’s profitability over time. When you look at the front of a check, you’ll see a row of numbers at the bottom. Specifically, you should see three groups of numbers, separated by spaces or special characters. Looking at the bottom of the check, the first group of numbers (labeled “1” in the image below) is the bank routing number. An easy way to tell if it’s your bank routing number is to count the digits and confirm there are nine.

This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. The first four digits of a routing number are called the Federal Reserve Processing Symbol. Accounts that use multi-factor authentication, which adds a second security layer to safeguard an account, are becoming more common. CFI is the official provider of the Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA)™ certification program, designed to transform anyone into a world-class financial analyst. Understanding the structure and components of an account number can help you navigate the world of banking more efficiently. Scientists have high confidence that global temperatures will continue to rise for many decades, mainly due to greenhouse gases produced by human activities.

How To Keep Your Account Number Safe

Each department now has its own account and the total of the three accounts will represent the total wages expense. That doesn’t mean recording every single detail about every single transaction. You don’t need a separate account for every product you sell, and you don’t need a separate account for each utility. Traditionally, each account in the COA is numbered, and accountants can quickly identify its type by the first digit. For example, asset accounts for larger businesses are generally numbered 1000 to 1999 (or 100 to 199), and liabilities are generally numbered 2000 to 2999 (or 200 to 299). Small businesses with fewer than 250 accounts might have a different numbering system.

If you’ve ordered slips for yourself, they may have your account number and other personal information already printed. You can also reach out to your bank or credit union for help finding your account number. You can try to first call the bank’s customer support number and identify yourself with the representative. However, your bank might ask you to visit a local branch and bring photo identification to prove you’re the account holder. Steps vary by bank, so check your financial institution’s website since it likely shows instructions for finding your account number. For example, Bank of America has an interactive demo, Chase provides a video and U.S.

What Is a Routing Number?

It also includes account type definitions along with examples of the types of transactions or subaccounts each may include. Rebecca Lake is a certified educator in personal finance (CEPF) and a banking expert. She’s been writing describe the two parts of an account number about personal finance since 2014, and her work has appeared in numerous publications online. Beyond banking, her expertise covers credit and debt, student loans, investing, home buying, insurance and small business.

Reference the diagrams of a completed check at the top of this story and a blank check below as you read through a detailed explanation of each component. At the end of the year, review all of your accounts and see if there’s an opportunity for consolidation. Here’s how to categorize transactions in QuickBooks Online and navigate the COA. The first six digits are known as the Issuer Identification Number (IIN). → Want to know how SoFi helps members save, spend, and invest smarter? Watch the Powered by Plaid story to learn how SoFi helps customers reach their financial goals.