How to Read a Canadian Cheque Account Number Format

When requesting direct deposit through a financial institution, it is important to know how to read the Canada cheque account number format. This format is outlined below. Checks in Canada contain a four-digit MICR line that is located at the bottom of the left corner of the cheque. The number corresponds to the check's transit number. The four-digit number indicates the home or opening branch of the account. You can find this information online by logging into your account or by contacting your bank.

If you have trouble reading the numbers, the MICR encoding line is the answer. These are the characters printed on a cheque by a special magnetic ink. The numbers are visible on a picture of the cheque if you have an image of the check. The MICR encoding line is also used for e-transfers. You can take a photo of the cheque and upload it to a secure website.

Bank of Montreal and RBC use four-digit branch numbers. The last digit is added to the bank's name. In addition to four slashes, the branch number is also padded with a leading "1" or "0." These are the two major Canadian banks that use this format. However, TD Bank uses the same format as the TD and Bank of Montreal. The CIBC and TD banks use a five-digit version of the account number.