Have you ever wondered how your money is transferred to and from your bank account without getting lost in cyberspace? To make sure your money goes where it’s supposed to, your account and your bank are given a unique set of numbers to properly identify them. And part of what makes up this numerical identification is your financial institution number.
What Is A Financial Institution Number?
A financial institution number is a three-digit number that identifies a specific bank. All banks have their own unique institution number. The financial institution number is part of the routing number, along with the five-digit transit number that identifies the bank branch.
Big Banks: Bank Institution Number
| Financial institution | Code |
| Bank of Montreal (BMO) | 001 |
| Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) | 002 |
| Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) | 010 |
| National Bank of Canada (NBC) | 006 |
| Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) | 003 |
| Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank) | 004 |
Other Financial Institutions: Bank Institution Number
| Alberta Treasury Branches | 219 |
| Amex Bank of Canada | 303 |
| B2B Bank (formerly B2B Trust) | 618 |
| Bank of America, National Association | 241 |
| Bank of Canada | 177 |
| Bank of China (Canada) | 308 |
| Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (Canada) | 245 |
| Bank West | 342 |
| Barclay’s Bank PLC Canada Branch | 360 |
| BNP Paribas (Canada) | 250 |
| BofA Canada Bank | 311 |
| Bridgewater Bank | 347 |
| Canadian Tire Bank | 338 |
| Canadian Western Bank | 030 |
| Capital One Bank (Canada Branch) | 323 |
| CIBC Trust Corporation | 548 |
| Citibank Canada | 260 |
| Citibank N.A. | 328 |
| Citizens Bank of Canada | 309 |
| Comerica Bank | 330 |
| Community Trust Company | 507 |
| Concentra Financial Services Association | 853 |
| CS Alterna Bank | 608 |
| CTC Bank of Canada | 315 |
| Deutsche Bank AG | 265 |
| DirectCash Bank | 352 |
| Dundee Bank of Canada | 343 |
| Effort Trust Company | 532 |
| Fifth Third Bank | 345 |
| First Commercial Bank | 332 |
| First Nations Bank of Canada | 310 |
| General Bank of Canada | 344 |
| Habib Canadian Bank | 321 |
| HomEquity Bank | 358 |
| Household Trust Company | 630 |
| ICICI Bank Canada | 340 |
| Industrial Alliance Trust Inc. | 625 |
| Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Canada) | 307 |
| Investors Group Trust Co. Ltd. | 536 |
| J.P. Morgan Bank Canada | 314 |
| Jameson Bank | 354 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank National Association | 270 |
| KOHO | 621 |
| Korea Exchange Bank of Canada | 275 |
| Laurentian Bank of Canada | 039 |
| Laurentian Trust of Canada Inc. | 522 |
| M&T Bank | 357 |
| Manulife Bank of Canada | 540 |
| Manulife Trust Company | 626 |
| Maple Bank | 336 |
| Mega International Commercial Bank (Canada) | 269 |
| Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd. Canada Branch | 277 |
| MonCana Bank of Canada | 361 |
| Montreal Trust Company of Canada | 550 |
| National Trust Company | 590 |
| Neo Financial | 853 |
| Pacific & Western Bank of Canada | 334 |
| Peace Hills Trust Company | 568 |
| Peoples Trust Company | 621 |
| President’s Choice Financial | 326 |
| Rabobank Nederland | 322 |
| ResMor Trust Company | 620 |
| Royal Bank Mortgage Corporation | 592 |
| Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. (Canada Branch) | 240 |
| Royal Trust Company | 570 |
| Royal Trust Corporation of Canada | 580 |
| Scotia Mortgage Corporation | 606 |
| Shinhan Bank Canada | 355 |
| Simplii Financial | 010* |
| Société Générale (Canada Branch) | 292 |
| Société Générale (Canada Branch) Ontario | 346 |
| State Bank of India (Canada) Alberta | 294 |
| State Street | 327 |
| Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation of Canada | 301 |
| Sun Life Financial Trust Inc. | 551 |
| Tangerine | 614 |
| TD Mortgage Corporation | 597 |
| TD Pacific Mortgage Corporation | 603 |
| The Bank of New York Mellon | 242 |
| The Canada Trust Company | 509 |
| The Equitable Trust Company | 623 |
| The Northern Trust Company Canada Branch | 349 |
| U.S. Bank National Association | 318 |
| UBS AG Canada Branch | 339 |
| UBS Bank (Canada) | 290 |
| United Overseas Bank Limited | 335 |
| Walmart Canada Bank | 359 |
| Wealthsimple | 703 |
Credit Unions: Bank Institution Number
| Credit Union | Code |
| Airline Financial Credit Union Limited | 830 |
| All Trans Financial Services Credit Union Limited | 810 |
| Alliance des caisses populaires de l’Ontario Limitée | 890 |
| Alterna Savings and Credit Union | 842 |
| Arnstein Community Credit Union Limited | 808 |
| Atlantic Central | 839 |
| Central 1 Credit Union British Columbia | 809 |
| Central 1 Credit Union Ontario | 828 |
| Communication Technologies Credit Union Limited | 807 |
| Credit Union Central Alberta Limited | 899 |
| Credit Union Central of Manitoba Limited | 879 |
| Credit Union Central of Saskatchewan | 889 |
| Dundalk District Credit Union Limited | 840 |
| Envision Financial | 809 |
| Goderich Community Credit Union Limited | 844 |
| Golden Horseshoe Credit Union Limited | 854 |
| La Confédération des Caisses Populaires et D’Économie Desjardins du Québec | 815 |
| La Fédération des Caisses Populaires Acadiennes Limitée | 865 |
| La Fédération des Caisses Populaires de l’Ontario Inc. | 829 |
| La Fédération des caisses populaires du Manitoba Inc. | 819 |
| Latvian Credit Union Limited | 803 |
| Meridian Credit Union | 837 |
| Ontario Civil Service Credit Union Limited | 846 |
How To Find The Financial Institution Number On A Cheque
The easiest way to find your bank’s financial institution number is to look at the bottom of your cheque. It will be the third string of numbers in the sequence of numbers at the bottom of your cheque:
The image of the cheque below illustrates the different components of your bank account number, broken down into four parts:
- First set: cheque number
- Second set: five-digit transit number (also known as your routing or branch number).
- Third set: financial institution number (every bank has a different 3-digit number)
- Fourth set: bank account number
How Do I Find A Bank Institution Number Without A Cheque?
If you don’t have cheques, you can find your financial institution number by logging into your online banking or by checking your bank statement. Otherwise, you can do a quick online search to find out what your bank’s financial institution number is. You can also find your bank institution number by simply visiting your closest bank branch and asking the teller for the number.
What Is A Bank Institution Number Used For?
In addition to identifying a specific bank, credit union, trust company or any other financial institution, a bank institution number is required when you set up your bank account for direct deposits, wire transfers, and automatic withdrawals.
Do note that when setting up a direct deposit or automatic withdrawal, you’ll need to provide your routing number. This number is represented through your financial institution number and the five-digit transit number that identifies the bank branch.
Final Thoughts
Your bank’s financial institution number ensures that the funds in your bank account can be deposited and withdrawn accurately. It’s part of a longer sequence of numbers that properly identifies your financial institution, bank branch, and bank account. Without it, you won’t be able to move your money.
