Coinepay | Canadian Transit and Institution Number: What It Is and How to Use It

If you are sending money to someone in Canada, or receiving an international transfer into a Canadian account, you will almost always be asked for a transit number and an institution number. These short codes tell the payment network which financial institution and which branch should receive the money. This guide explains what each number is, what it looks like, where to find it and the common mistakes that cause a payment to fail, plus how the details are used when you send a transfer with Coinepay Global Remittance.

What the transit and institution numbers are

In Canada, the official terms are precise. The five-digit branch number, commonly called the transit number, identifies the specific branch where the account is held. The three-digit financial institution number identifies the institution itself. Together they route a payment to the correct institution and branch. A separate account number then identifies the individual account to credit.

Think of it as an address in three parts: the institution number is the company, the transit number is the branch location, and the account number is the specific recipient. All three are needed to deposit money into the right place.

What they look like: format and an example

There are two formats you may encounter, and mixing them up is a frequent cause of errors.

Paper (cheque) format: Canadian cheque-routing information is written as five-digit transit, a hyphen, then three-digit institution — the pattern NNNNN-FFF. For example, a fictional cheque might show 45678-123.
Electronic format: For an institution that has a three-digit institution number, the nine-digit electronic routing number (the Direct Payment Routing Number, or DPRN) is a leading 0, then the three-digit institution number, then the five-digit branch number. So the example above becomes 012345678 — institution 123, branch 45678.

Always preserve leading zeroes. One important exception: Payments Canada may issue a nine-digit DPRN to an eligible institution that does not have an allocated three-digit institution number, so you cannot assume every nine-digit routing number splits neatly into the usual three- and five-digit fields. A DPRN is an electronic code only and must never be printed on a cheque or other paper payment item.

How these codes compare to other routing details

Code	Length / format	What it identifies
Institution number	3 digits	The financial institution
Transit (branch) number	5 digits	The branch where the account is held
DPRN (electronic routing)	9 digits (often 0 + institution + branch)	Branch and institution combined, for electronic payments
Account number	Varies by institution	The individual account to credit or debit
SWIFT/BIC	8 or 11 characters	The institution for international wires

There is no single nationwide account-number length that applies to every Canadian institution, so use exactly what the receiving institution provides rather than padding or trimming the number yourself.

Where to find the numbers

The most reliable sources are:

A cheque. On the government's sample cheque layout, the order along the bottom is cheque number, five-digit branch number, three-digit institution number, then the account number. The cheque number is not part of your routing details.
An electronic void cheque downloaded from online banking, which shows the same branch, institution and account numbers.
Your financial institution directly. If no cheque is available, ask the institution for the account's banking details rather than guessing from a branch name or copying another account.

If you want to confirm a routing number is current, Payments Canada publishes a Financial Institutions Branch Directory that lists both the electronic and paper formats and is updated weekly from member-supplied information.

When they are needed and when they are not

For a domestic direct deposit, forms typically ask for the branch number, institution number and account number in separate fields — always for the specific receiving account.

For an international wire into Canada, the recipient may also need to supply their name, account number, branch name and address, the institution and transit numbers, and the institution's SWIFT/BIC if it has one. The sending institution decides exactly which format it requires, so follow its instructions rather than assuming.

Note that simply providing direct-deposit information does not authorize anyone to withdraw from the account — a pre-authorized debit (PAD) requires a separate agreement. Consumers generally have 90 days from an incorrect or unauthorized PAD withdrawal to report it to their financial institution, subject to the PAD type and applicable recourse rules.

Common mistakes and what happens if a number is wrong

Using the cheque number by mistake. The cheque number is not the transit or account number and is not needed for a deposit.
Entering paper-order numbers into an electronic field. If a field asks for a nine-digit electronic routing number, do not type the NNNNN-FFF paper pattern into it.
Dropping leading zeroes. The leading 0 in a DPRN and any zeroes in the branch or account number matter.
Reusing another account's details. Each account has its own branch, institution and account numbers.

If details are wrong, a payment may be rejected or returned. As an illustration of how one payer handles this: for CRA benefits and credits, if a payment cannot be deposited the CRA says it will mail a cheque, and an account change can take up to a month to appear in payments. If you change accounts, update direct deposits and pre-authorized debits with each payer and biller separately — changing one record does not update another — and do not close the old account until payments have moved over.

A note on recent rule changes: Payments Canada amended its ACSS rules in 2026 to reflect expanded membership (including registered payment service providers and qualifying credit unions). This is a membership change, not a replacement of the familiar branch and institution-number fields. A separate phase-out of paper pre-authorized debits is scheduled for December 1, 2028 and is not yet in effect.

Using these numbers to send money with Coinepay

With Coinepay Global Remittance you can send a cross-border transfer to a Canadian recipient using their bank details. Coinepay supports common local payout methods including bank account deposit, mobile wallets and cash pickup; for a bank deposit to Canada you will typically enter the recipient's branch (transit) number, institution number and account number, and the app will tell you if a SWIFT/BIC is also required.

Download the Coinepay app from the App Store or Google Play, or open the online dashboard, and register.
Complete identity verification (KYC) before sending.
Choose Canada and a bank-deposit payout, then enter the recipient's name and account details exactly as the institution provided them.
Review the exchange rate and fees, which are shown clearly before you confirm, then send and track the transfer's status in the app.

Transfers are subject to identity verification, sanctions screening and local regulations, and Coinepay may ask for supporting documents such as the purpose or source of funds. Coinepay sends to every country and region except those under comprehensive sanctions. Enter real, accurate recipient details — never guess a number — and if you are unsure which field needs the paper or electronic format, ask the recipient's institution or contact Coinepay support before you confirm.

Get your Coinepay virtual card: Sign up · App Store · Google Play · Customer support

FAQ

What is the difference between a transit number and an institution number in Canada?

The five-digit transit (branch) number identifies the specific branch where an account is held. The three-digit institution number identifies the financial institution itself. Together they route a payment, while a separate account number identifies the account to credit.

Why does my routing number sometimes have nine digits?

That is the electronic Direct Payment Routing Number (DPRN). For an institution with a three-digit institution number, it is usually a leading 0, then the institution number, then the five-digit branch number. Some eligible institutions receive a nine-digit DPRN that does not split into the usual three- and five-digit fields, so do not assume it always does.

Where do I find my transit and institution numbers?

They appear on a cheque (branch number first, then institution number, then account number) and on an electronic void cheque in online banking. If you have no cheque, ask your financial institution directly rather than guessing from a branch name.

What happens if I enter the wrong number on a transfer?

The payment may be rejected or returned. For example, when a government benefit cannot be deposited the CRA mails a cheque instead, and account changes can take up to a month to appear. Always confirm the details with the receiving institution before sending.

Can I use these numbers to send money to Canada with Coinepay?

Yes. For a bank-deposit payout to Canada, enter the recipient's transit number, institution number and account number in the Coinepay app; it will tell you if a SWIFT/BIC is also needed. The rate and fees are shown before you confirm, and transfers are subject to verification and sanctions screening.

Canadian Transit and Institution Number: What It Is and How to Use It