Account number
The number that identifies your individual account at a bank, distinct from the routing number that identifies the bank itself. On a check it is the middle group of digits in the MICR line along the bottom. Together a routing number and account number are all a payer needs to send a direct deposit or set up an ACH transfer, which is why a voided check or a verification letter is commonly used to share them.
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What is a voided check?
A voided check is a check with the word VOID written across the front so it can never be filled in or cashed. It still shows your bank's routing number and your account number, which lets an employer or biller set up direct deposit or automatic payments without you authorizing any money to move.
How to safely share your bank details to get paid
To get paid, you only need to share your routing number and account number — that is enough to receive a deposit, and those numbers cannot pull money out by themselves. Share them through a secure payer portal, not plain email or social media, and never hand over your online-banking login, PIN, or card details.
How to set up direct deposit at a new job
To set up direct deposit at a new job, give payroll a signed direct deposit authorization form with your bank's routing number, account number, and account type, usually backed by a voided check or bank letter. Your first paycheck may still be paper while payroll verifies the account; after that, deposits land automatically each payday.
What is a bank account verification letter?
A bank account verification letter is a document confirming that a specific bank account exists, is active, and belongs to you. It states the account holder's name, the bank, and the routing and account numbers — confirming ownership rather than authorizing payment. Landlords, lenders, employers, and agencies request it as formal proof of an account.