Every Canadian bank account has three numbers that identify it in the payments system: a transit number (branch identifier), an institution number (bank identifier), and an account number. Together these route money to exactly the right account at exactly the right branch of the right bank. For RBC Royal Bank, the institution number is always 003 — it is the same for every RBC account across Canada. The part that varies is your 5-digit branch transit number, which identifies the specific branch where your account was opened.
When a form asks for a “routing number,” it almost always wants your transit number and institution number in combination. In the standard Canadian format that is written XXXXX-003 (transit first, institution number second). Some American or cross-border payroll systems instead ask for a single 9-digit number — in that case the format is 0 + 003 + your transit number (a leading zero, then institution, then transit, totalling nine digits).
RBC Routing Number at a Glance
| Component | Value |
|---|---|
| Institution number | 003 |
| Transit number | Varies by branch (5 digits) |
| Standard routing format | XXXXX-003 |
| 9-digit EFT format | 0 + 003 + XXXXX |
| SWIFT code | ROYCCAT2 |
How to Find Your RBC Transit Number
You need your own specific transit number — not a branch lookup table. The most reliable sources are RBC Online Banking and the RBC Mobile app, both of which display your exact transit number alongside your account number.
Method 1: RBC Online Banking
- Log in at rbcroyalbank.com
- Click on the account you need the routing information for
- Click Account Details or Account Info
- Your transit number, institution number (003), and account number are displayed
- Click Download Void Cheque or Direct Deposit Form for a PDF you can submit directly to an employer or government agency
Method 2: RBC Mobile App
- Open the RBC Mobile app and log in
- Tap on the account
- Tap Account Details
- Your transit number, institution number, and account number appear
- You can generate and share a digital void cheque directly from the app — this is the fastest option if an employer requests a void cheque by email
Method 3: A Cheque
The three numbers printed along the bottom of an RBC cheque appear in this order:
| Position | Number | Digits |
|---|---|---|
| First | Transit number | 5 |
| Second | Institution number (003) | 3 |
| Third | Account number | 7 |
Read them left to right. The transit number comes first. If you have a chequebook, this is the fastest way to confirm your numbers without logging in.
Method 4: In-Branch
Visit any RBC branch with government-issued photo ID. A teller can print a void cheque or a direct deposit form on the spot. Useful if you have no cheques and cannot access online banking.
Transit Numbers for Major RBC Branches
The tables below list transit numbers for RBC’s major branches by region. These are provided as a reference — always verify your own transit number through RBC Online Banking before submitting a direct deposit or pre-authorized payment form, as transit numbers can change when branches merge or relocate.
Ontario
| Branch | Transit Number | Routing Number |
|---|---|---|
| RBC Royal Bank Plaza, Bay St, Toronto | 00016 | 00016-003 |
| Yonge & Eglinton, Toronto | 01712 | 01712-003 |
| Bloor & Yonge, Toronto | 00002 | 00002-003 |
| Sparks St, Ottawa | 04622 | 04622-003 |
| Hamilton, King St | 02622 | 02622-003 |
| London, Richmond Row | 03202 | 03202-003 |
| Mississauga, Hurontario St | 05392 | 05392-003 |
| Kingston, Princess St | 04102 | 04102-003 |
British Columbia
| Branch | Transit Number | Routing Number |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, Georgia & Burrard | 01400 | 01400-003 |
| Surrey, King George Blvd | 01660 | 01660-003 |
| Victoria, Douglas St | 01100 | 01100-003 |
| Kelowna, Bernard Ave | 01240 | 01240-003 |
Alberta
| Branch | Transit Number | Routing Number |
|---|---|---|
| Calgary, 8th Ave SW | 06200 | 06200-003 |
| Edmonton, Jasper Ave | 05900 | 05900-003 |
| Red Deer, Gaetz Ave | 06570 | 06570-003 |
Quebec
| Branch | Transit Number | Routing Number |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal, Sherbrooke St W | 03251 | 03251-003 |
| Quebec City, Grande Allée | 03641 | 03641-003 |
| Laval, Curé-Labelle | 03381 | 03381-003 |
Prairies
| Branch | Transit Number | Routing Number |
|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg, Portage Ave | 08280 | 08280-003 |
| Saskatoon, 2nd Ave | 07620 | 07620-003 |
| Regina, Albert St | 07550 | 07550-003 |
Atlantic Canada
| Branch | Transit Number | Routing Number |
|---|---|---|
| Halifax, Barrington St | 08880 | 08880-003 |
| Moncton, Main St | 08750 | 08750-003 |
| St. John’s, Water St | 09320 | 09320-003 |
| Charlottetown, University Ave | 09180 | 09180-003 |
What Your Routing Number Is Used For
Different payment types require your routing information in different ways. Direct deposits and pre-authorized payments (PADs) are the most common use cases — a paycheque direct deposit, a CRA tax refund, or a PAD agreement with a mortgage lender all need your transit number, institution number (003), and account number. Interac e-Transfers are the notable exception: they use your email address or phone number and do not involve routing numbers at all.
| Purpose | What You Need | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll direct deposit | Transit (5) + 003 + account (7) | Void cheque or direct deposit form |
| CRA tax refund | Transit (5) + 003 + account (7) | Enter in My CRA Account |
| CPP / OAS / EI | Transit (5) + 003 + account (7) | My Service Canada Account |
| Pre-authorized payments | Transit (5) + 003 + account (7) | PAD agreement form |
| International wire (incoming) | SWIFT: ROYCCAT2 + transit + account | Full details to sender |
| RBC Direct Investing link | DI account has its own numbers | Check RBC DI platform |
| Interac e-Transfer | Not needed | Uses email or phone number |
The 9-Digit EFT Routing Number
Some payroll platforms — particularly American systems or cross-border HR software — ask for a single 9-digit routing number rather than separate transit and institution fields. Canada’s EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) standard uses a 9-digit format built from three components: a leading zero, the institution number, and the transit number.
Formula: 0 + institution number (003) + transit number (5 digits) = 9 digits
Example: Branch transit 00016 → 0 + 003 + 00016 = 000300016
If the form has separate fields for transit number and institution number, use the standard Canadian format (transit: XXXXX, institution: 003). Only use the 9-digit EFT format when a single routing number field is provided.
RBC SWIFT Code for International Wires
International wire transfers to an RBC account require a SWIFT/BIC code rather than a routing number. RBC’s SWIFT code is ROYCCAT2, used for all incoming international wires regardless of province or branch.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| SWIFT/BIC code | ROYCCAT2 |
| Bank name | Royal Bank of Canada |
| City | Toronto |
| Country | Canada |
When someone outside Canada is sending money to your RBC account, give them all five pieces of information: the SWIFT code (ROYCCAT2), your full legal name as it appears on the account, your transit number, your account number, and the bank address (RBC Royal Bank, 200 Bay Street, Royal Bank Plaza, Toronto, ON M5J 2J5). Missing any one of these can delay or return the wire.
Former HSBC Canada Clients
RBC completed the acquisition of HSBC Canada in March 2024. All former HSBC Canada accounts were migrated to the RBC platform, and institution numbers changed from HSBC’s former code (016) to RBC’s institution number (003). Transit numbers were also reassigned to RBC transit numbers.
If you had any direct deposits, CRA payment routing, or pre-authorized payments set up with your old HSBC routing information, those need to be updated to your new RBC numbers. Log in to RBC Online Banking — HSBC credentials were migrated — and check Account Details to confirm your current transit number and account number before updating any payment arrangements.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Form asks for 9-digit routing number | Use EFT format: 0 + 003 + your 5-digit transit |
| Direct deposit not arriving | Verify transit number in RBC Online Banking; confirm the account accepts deposits |
| Former HSBC routing rejected | Update from HSBC institution number (016) to RBC (003) with your new transit |
| RBC Direct Investing routing | DI accounts have separate transit and account numbers; check the DI platform |
| International wire not arriving | Confirm SWIFT code ROYCCAT2 and full bank address with the sender |