Swift Code vs. Routing Number: What's the Difference?

By Lyle Daly – Updated Jan 29, 2025 at 11:45 PM

Key Points

SWIFT codes facilitate international money transfers using unique identifiers ranging from eight to 12 characters.
Routing numbers are nine digits that direct domestic U.S. transfers.
The right type of code simply depends on whether you're making a domestic or international transfer.

Ever wondered how financial institutions exchange cash from account to account or even from country to country? The key is the use of specialized codes -- SWIFT codes and routing numbers -- that tell the financial system where and how to send money.

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Hand writing on a blank check. — Image source: Getty Images.

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About the Author

Lyle Daly is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering information technology and cryptocurrency. Lyle has been a contributor at the financial services company since 2018. His work has been featured on USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, Fox Business, and Nasdaq. Before joining The Motley Fool, he wrote for financial brands including Intuit.

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