Updated March 2026 · 10 min read
A "routing number" in Canada refers to the combination of your bank's transit number and institution number — a 9-digit identifier used primarily for cross-border transfers and some payment systems. Here's everything you need to know about routing numbers in Canada.
KOHO displays your full banking coordinates — transit, institution, and account number — in the app the moment you sign up.
Open KOHO — Code 45ET55JSYACanada doesn't use the US-style 9-digit ABA routing number for domestic transactions. Instead, Canadian banks use separate transit numbers (5 digits) and institution numbers (3 digits). However, when a Canadian bank account number is needed for US payment systems or international wires, a 9-digit Canadian routing number is used, formatted as:
0 [Institution Number (3 digits)] [Transit Number (5 digits)]
Example: TD Canada Trust, branch transit 04562 → Routing number: 000404562
Routing numbers vary by branch (because the transit number is branch-specific). The table below shows institution numbers — your specific routing number depends on your branch's transit number.
| Bank | Institution Number | Routing # Format | Example (head office branch) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMO Bank of Montreal | 001 | 0001TTTTT | 000100152 (Toronto main) |
| Scotiabank | 002 | 0002TTTTT | 000240770 (Toronto head office) |
| RBC Royal Bank | 003 | 0003TTTTT | 000300003 (Montreal main) |
| TD Canada Trust | 004 | 0004TTTTT | 000401153 (Toronto King St) |
| National Bank | 006 | 0006TTTTT | Varies by branch |
| CIBC | 010 | 0010TTTTT | 001010950 (Toronto main) |
| HSBC Canada | 016 | 0016TTTTT | Varies by branch |
| EQ Bank (Equitable Bank) | 623 | 0623TTTTT | Shown in EQ app |
| Tangerine | 614 | 0614TTTTT | 061400152 |
| Simplii (CIBC) | 010 | 0010TTTTT | Same as CIBC |
| ATB Financial | 219 | 0219TTTTT | Shown in ATB app |
| Desjardins | 815 | 0815TTTTT | Varies by caisse |
| Meridian CU | 837 | 0837TTTTT | Shown in Meridian app |
Log into your bank's online portal, navigate to your chequing account details, and look for "direct deposit information" or "account details." Most banks display transit and institution numbers here. Construct the routing number as 0 + institution + transit.
The bottom of a Canadian cheque shows your numbers. The sequence reads: cheque number, then transit+institution in brackets [transit/institution], then account number. Example bottom line: 001234 56789004 1234567 where 56789 = transit, 004 = TD institution.
Each bank's website has a branch locator that displays the transit number for each branch. If you know which branch holds your account, you can look up its transit number online.
Simply call the number on the back of your debit card and ask for your branch's transit number and the institution number. Any agent can provide this — it's not considered sensitive security information.
| Identifier | Format | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Routing Number | 9 digits (0+institution+transit) | US ACH transfers, some domestic |
| SWIFT/BIC Code | 8–11 characters | International wire transfers |
| IBAN | Up to 34 characters | European transfers (Canada doesn't use IBAN) |
| Transit Number | 5 digits | Domestic Canadian payments |
| Institution Number | 3 digits | Identifies the bank domestically |
Canada does not use IBAN numbers. For international wires sent to Canadian accounts, the sender needs: SWIFT code, transit number, institution number, and account number (or just SWIFT + account number depending on the sending bank's requirements).
| Bank | SWIFT Code |
|---|---|
| TD Canada Trust | TDOMCATTTOR |
| RBC Royal Bank | ROYCCAT2 |
| Scotiabank | NOSCCATT |
| BMO | BOFMCAM2 |
| CIBC | CIBCCATT |
| National Bank | BNDCCAMMINT |
KOHO displays your transit number, institution number, and account number in the app on day one. Set up direct deposit in minutes.
Open KOHO — Code 45ET55JSYA