Bank identifiers explained
A single bank is tracked under several different ID numbers: one from the Federal Reserve, one from the FDIC, others from the SEC, GLEIF, and the payments system. This guide explains what each identifier is, how they differ, and where to look one up. A bank's BankRegReports profile lists the identifiers it has on file.
The identifiers at a glance
| Identifier | Issued by | Identifies | Look it up |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSSD ID | Federal Reserve (NIC) | Any bank, credit union, or holding company | FFIEC National Information Center |
| FDIC certificate # | FDIC | An insured depository institution | FDIC BankFind |
| LEI | GLEIF (ISO 17442) | A legal entity in financial markets | GLEIF search |
| SEC CIK | SEC | An EDGAR filer (usually the holding company) | SEC EDGAR company search |
| ABA routing # | ABA / Federal Reserve | A bank, for wires and ACH | Federal Reserve E-Payments Routing Directory |
| DUNS | Dun & Bradstreet | A business, for commercial credit | Dun & Bradstreet (not a regulatory ID) |
Which routing number to use, and how to confirm it
The public FFIEC National Information Center record holds one primary ABA routing number per bank. A bank can also use numbers assigned by state, kept from a past merger or reserved for wires, and it publishes those itself.
ACH and direct deposit: use the number printed on your checks or shown in your online banking. If it differs from the primary number, use the bank's number. Wires: ask the bank for its wire instructions, because many banks use a separate number for domestic wires. An international wire also needs the bank's SWIFT code.
To confirm a routing number before you send money:
- Read the first nine digits at the bottom left of a check.
- Open the account details in online or mobile banking.
- Search the Federal Reserve's E-Payments Routing Directory, which lists the numbers that can receive ACH and Fedwire payments.
- Call the bank before a large or first-time transfer.
What is a DUNS number?
A DUNS number (Data Universal Numbering System) is a unique nine-digit identifier assigned by Dun & Bradstreet to a business. It underpins business credit files and was long required for US federal contracting. A DUNS number is not a bank regulatory identifier: it does not appear on FFIEC call reports, and it is not how the Fed, FDIC, or SEC track a bank. A bank's regulatory identity is its RSSD ID and FDIC certificate number.
Because DUNS is proprietary Dun & Bradstreet data rather than public regulatory data, BankRegReports does not publish DUNS numbers. To find a company's DUNS, use Dun & Bradstreet directly; a business can look up or request its own DUNS on the D&B website, generally for free. For a bank's public identifiers (RSSD, FDIC certificate, LEI, and SEC CIK), open its profile, where they are listed together. The LEI and CIK link to the GLEIF and SEC records, and the bank's detail pages link to its FDIC BankFind and FFIEC NIC records.
RSSD ID vs. FDIC certificate number
The RSSD ID is the Federal Reserve's identifier in the National Information Center; every bank, credit union, and holding company the Fed tracks has one, and it ties a bank's call reports, ownership structure, and regulatory history together. The FDIC certificate number is the FDIC's identifier for an insured depository institution. A bank has both; a holding company has an RSSD but no FDIC certificate, because the holding company itself is not FDIC-insured.
LEI and SEC CIK
The LEI (Legal Entity Identifier) is a 20-character ISO 17442 code from the Global LEI Foundation used to identify a legal entity in financial transactions worldwide. The SEC CIK (Central Index Key) identifies an entity that files with SEC EDGAR, and since banks themselves generally do not file with the SEC, a bank's SEC filings sit under its publicly traded holding company's CIK. On a BankRegReports profile the CIK is labeled with the entity that actually files, so you always know whose 10-K or 8-K you are reading.
Frequently asked questions
What is a DUNS number?
A DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number is a unique nine-digit identifier assigned by Dun & Bradstreet to a business. It is used for business credit files and, historically, for U.S. federal contracting. It is not a bank regulatory identifier and does not appear on FFIEC call reports, a bank's regulatory identity is its RSSD ID and FDIC certificate number instead.
How do I find a company's DUNS number?
DUNS numbers are issued and looked up through Dun & Bradstreet, which operates the DUNS registry; a business can request or look up its own DUNS on the D&B website, usually for free. Because DUNS is proprietary D&B data rather than public regulatory data, BankRegReports does not publish DUNS numbers: for a bank we show its RSSD ID, FDIC certificate, LEI, and (where it files) SEC CIK.
What is an RSSD ID?
The RSSD ID is the Federal Reserve's unique identifier for a financial institution in the National Information Center. Every bank, credit union, and holding company the Fed tracks has one, and it is the key that ties a bank's call reports, structure, and regulatory history together. BankRegReports shows the RSSD ID on every bank profile.
What is the difference between an RSSD ID and an FDIC certificate number?
The RSSD ID is assigned by the Federal Reserve and covers banks, credit unions, and holding companies. The FDIC certificate number is assigned by the FDIC and identifies an insured depository institution. A bank has both; a holding company has an RSSD but no FDIC certificate. Both appear on a bank's profile so you can cross-reference it in either regulator's system.
What is an LEI?
The Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) is a 20-character ISO 17442 code from the Global LEI Foundation (GLEIF) that identifies a legal entity in financial transactions worldwide. Many banks and their holding companies have an LEI; where one exists, BankRegReports shows it on the bank profile and links to the entity's GLEIF record.
What is a SEC CIK, and why do banks share their holding company's?
The Central Index Key (CIK) is the SEC's identifier for an entity that files with EDGAR. Banks themselves generally do not file with the SEC, their publicly traded holding company does. So a bank's SEC filings live under the holding company's CIK. BankRegReports resolves this automatically and, on the bank profile, labels the CIK with the entity that actually files (for example, a bank's filings shown under its parent holding company).
Where can I look up all of a bank's identifiers at once?
Open any bank's profile on BankRegReports: the identity panel lists its RSSD ID and FDIC certificate number (each with a copy button), its LEI and SEC CIK where it has them (each linked to the GLEIF or SEC record), and its ABA routing number (linked to the bank's routing-number page). The bank's detail pages link to its FDIC BankFind and FFIEC NIC records. Together they let you cross-reference a bank across the Fed, FDIC, SEC, and GLEIF systems.
Look up any bank's identifiers
A bank profile lists its RSSD ID and FDIC certificate (each with a copy button), its LEI and SEC CIK where it has them (each linked to the GLEIF or SEC record), and its ABA routing number (linked to the bank's routing-number page).