 TITLE: Routing Number vs. Account Number: What’s the Difference? CONTENT: Importance of Routing and Account Numbers\n-----------------------------------------\nBanks and credit unions manage tens or hundreds of thousands, and even millions, of accounts. When transferring money to or from your bank account, your routing number and account number are both integral in making sure the money is deposited to or withdrawn from the correct account.\nYou'll probably need to have these numbers on hand when setting up direct deposit, bill pay and other types of bank transfers. Wire transfers, on the other hand, typically use a different number than your routing number, and you can get that number directly from your bank or credit union. END